Crystle Stewart, 26, from Missouri City, Texas, beat out 50 other aspiring beauty queens on Friday, April 11, when she was crowned Miss USA 2008.

During one of the year's most exciting events broadcasted live on NBC from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, last year's Miss USA, Rachel Smith, passed the crown on to Stewart, who models professionally and is also the head of a party-planning and motivational speaking company.

"I want to talk to people about how to set a goal and achieve it," Stewart, who edged out first runner-up Leah Laviano of Mississippi and Tiffany Andrade of New Jersey, was quoted by The Associated Press as saying after the show, "Because I just achieved my goal."

Stewart, who completed her degree in Consumer Science and Merchandising at the University of Houston, founded and runs her business "Inside/Out" which aids young women in building self-esteem and volunteers with many organizations in the community.
A "gifted teacher and motivator," as she described herself, Stewart also won the Swimsuit Award at the 2008 Miss Texas USA Pageant. She is now set to represent the country in the Miss Universe contest to be held in Vietnam later this year.

Talking about her future aspirations, the model revealed she is eager to travel all around the world and spread her message of self-improvement to young women, noting that she is a very good public speaker.

The judging panel for the 2008 Miss USA® Pageant included: Heather Mills, contestant on season four of "Dancing With the Stars"; Rob Schneider, star of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry"; Joey Fatone, host of "The Singing Bee"; Kristian Alfonso, entrepreneur and star of NBC's "Days of our Lives"; Olympic gold-medal swimmer Amanda Beard; Christian Siriano, this season's winner of Bravo's hit show "Project Runway"; San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne "Lights Out" Merriman; celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves; Kelly Carlson, star of "Nip/Tuck"; founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc. Robert Earl and Vanity Fair's celebrity journalist George Wayne.