The last Miss California to make headlines was Carrie Prejean, an evangelical Christian who discussed her opposition to gay marriage during the 2009 Miss USA pageant and went on to defend her conservative position.

This year’s Miss California, Alyssa Campanella, went on to take the title of Miss USA and is making headlines for another reason.

USA Today’s Faith & Reason reports that during an off-air interview with judges, Campanella said that evolution should be taught in public schools.

“I was taught evolution in high school. I do believe in it. I’m a huge science geek…I like to believe in the big bang theory and, you know, the evolution of humans throughout time,” she said.

A number of other contestants defended Creationism in their responses. From Christian Post:

Miss Kentucky Kia Ben-et Hampton – said that evolution should not be taught, alluding to the differing opinions expressed in the scientific and religious communities. Miss Mississippi Keeley Patterson discredited evolution in her answer. “I think evolution should be taught as what it is; it’s a theory, so I don’t think it should be taught as fact.” A few other contestants including Miss Nebraska Haley Jo Herold, Miss Alaska Jessica Chuckran and Miss New Hampshire LacyJane Folger answered affirmatively, but expressed their desire to see the other side – such as creationism – given equal time in the classroom. Chuckran said in her answer, “I think it’s necessary that evolution is taught in schools … However, personally, I do not believe in evolution. I believe that each one of us were (sic) created for a purpose by God and that just gives my life so much more direction and meaning.” Miss North Carolina Brittany York responded, “I think it’s great to get both sides of the story. I’m personally a Christian so I believe the Bible’s version but you can’t push opinions or beliefs on children so they need to know every side that’s out there. So yes, I do believe that (evolution) should be taught but so should the other side of the story.”

Americans overall are split on evolution and creationism, with 48 percent of the country saying evolution is the best explanation for life on earth, according to the Pew Forum.

Update: Despite a positive mention of evolution by Miss USA, atheists aren’t necessarily seeing the beauty queen’s answer as a victory for science or skepticism.

Hemant Mehta, the Friendly Atheist, wrote that even though it was among the better answers from an atheist point of view, it was still disappointing.

“There’s nothing to ‘believe’ when it comes to science. You accept it or you don’t. The evidence is there or it isn’t. There’s evidence for evolution and the Big Bang. There’s no evidence for Creationism and Intelligent Design. None of the women seem to know that,” he said. See a video of all the responses in his blog.