
An African-American nuclear chemist from Washington, DC, won the 2017 edition of Miss USA on Sunday night after telling the audience about her conservative political viewpoints.

Kára McCullough, a 25-year-old nuclear chemist who works for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told the audience how she doesn't necessarily view herself as a feminist and said that health care is a privilege and not a right.

She also won plaudits for wearing her hair natural and curly throughout the competition.

The event, which featured beauties from each state and the nation's capital outfitted in dazzling dresses and swimsuits, came to an end on Sunday night during a two-hour finale at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on the Las Vegas strip. McCullough will now be able to go on to compete in the Miss Universe contest.

Miss District of Columbia was crowned Miss USA 2017 by former title-holder Deshauna Barber in the 65th annual competition

The event, which featured beauties from each state and the nation's capital outfitted in dazzling dresses and swimsuits, came to an end on Sunday night during a two-hour finale at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on the Las Vegas strip

The 65th crowned Miss USA is a 25-year-old chemist working for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a physical scientist

Miss District of Columbia holds her crown and smiles as she is embraced by her competitors following the end of the competition

Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough, center, reacts with fellow contestants after she was crowned the new Miss USA

Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough, center, waves to the crowd after being crowned Miss USA on Sunday night

The finalists included the women representing Minnesota, the District of Columbia and New Jersey.

The runner-up was Miss New Jersey Chhavi Verg, a student at Rutgers University studying marketing and Spanish.

The second runner-up was Miss Minnesota Meridith Gould, who is studying apparel retail merchandising at the University of Minnesota.

McCullough, the 65th crowned Miss USA, is a 25-year-old chemist working for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a physical scientist. She graduated from South Carolina State University with a degree in chemistry and a concentration in radio chemistry.

'I'm extremely thankful for this opportunity,' she said after the event. 'I just want to encourage so many women nationwide to find their passion in any subject possible and understand that nothing is difficult if you really, truly put the work in for it.'

This was the second year in a row that the representative of the nation's capital won the Miss USA title. Last year, District of Columbia resident Deshauna Barber became the first-ever military member to win Miss USA.

The newly crowned Miss USA cries after the announcement is made and is congratulated by some of her rival contestants from New Mexico, Maryland and Arizona

From left Miss New Jersey USA Chhavi Verg, Miss Minnesota USA Meridith Gould and Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough compete during the Miss USA contest Sunday

From left Miss New Jersey USA Chhavi Verg, Miss District of Columbia USA Kara McCullough and Miss Minnesota USA Meridith Gould await results during the Miss USA competition

Show hosts Terrence J and Julianne Hough speak in front of participants at the 65th annual Miss USA competition in Las Vegas

The runner-up was Miss New Jersey Chhavi Verg, a student at Rutgers University studying marketing and Spanish. The second runner-up was Miss Minnesota Meridith Gould, who is studying apparel retail merchandising at the University of Minnesota

McCullough was born in Naples, Italy, and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She wants to inspire children to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

'I love science,' McCullough said after the Sunday event. 'I look at this as a great opportunity to ... get to experience worldwide culture, as well as just having the opportunity to be impacted by so many children, hopefully in the math and sciences.'

While at school, she was a member of the Honors College, the American Chemical Society, the Health Physics Society, the American Association of Blacks in Engineering and the American Nuclear Society.

During the final round of the competition, each competitor was asked what they consider feminism to be, and whether or not they consider themselves feminists.

McCullough said she prefers not to use the word 'feminist,' and instead 'transferred the word feminist to equalism.'

Miss USA is hugged by the other contestants as she cries in happiness after being crowned. In an interview with Refinery 29 , she was asked why she decided to go against the smooth blowout pageant trend, saying: 'You answered it right there! With the paradigm shift of the competition, formerly a pageant, now a competition, we are highlighting aspects of a modern woman'

During the swimwear competition on Sunday night, McCullough opted for a swimsuit featuring both leopard and paisley prints. She paired the swimsuit with nude stilettos

McCullough walked on to stage with a hot pink cover-up over her swimsuit, but she took it off as she flaunted her bikini to the audience. The one-piece swimsuit featured cutouts around her waist, with a ring connecting the top and bottom

Pictured left in the swimsuit round of the competition and right as she makes it to the final 10 contestants, Miss District of Columbia, now Miss USA Kara McCullough walked down the runway before being declared the winner later on Sunday

During her interview portion on Sunday, McCullough revealed to host Terrence J that she doesn't like to use the word 'feminist'

'I don't want to call myself a feminist,' McCullough said. 'Women, we are just as equal as men, especially in the workplace.'

After the pageant, McCullough expanded on her views on feminism.

'I believe we've come a long way and there is more work to be done,' McCullough, said. 'I think domestically we are making progress and I do believe that we will become equal one day.'

In the questions portion, she was also individually asked if affordable healthcare is a right or privilege, responding that she thought that healthcare should only go to those with jobs.

'As a government employee, I'm granted health care. And I see firsthand that for one, to have health care, you need to have jobs, so therefore we need to continue to cultivate this environment so that we're given the opportunities to have health care as well as jobs for all Americans worldwide,' she explained.

McCullough said she will be discussing with her supervisor whether she will take a leave of absence from her job at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during her one-year reign.

The show kicked off with a performance from a Cirque du Soleil show - a Las Vegas staple - based on Michael Jackson songs

McCullough was born in Naples, Italy, and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She wants to inspire children to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Miss USA, Kara McCullough, wore a gold beaded dress as she greeted the press following her big win on Sunday night

While at school, she was a member of the Honors College, the American Chemical Society, the Health Physics Society, the American Association of Blacks in Engineering and the American Nuclear Society

For her evening gown during the competition, McCullough opted for a white flowing dress that was embellished with gold beads around the waist and chest

Miss Minnesota USA Meridith Gould celebrates making the top five during the Miss USA contest Sunday, May 14, 2017

Throughout the competition, McCullough received attention for wearing her hair natural and curly.

In an interview with Refinery 29, she was asked why she decided to go against the smooth blowout pageant trend, saying: 'You answered it right there! With the paradigm shift of the competition, formerly a pageant, now a competition, we are highlighting aspects of a modern woman.'

They modeled their final look of the night during a performance of Pitbull's 'Options' featuring Stephen Marley.

The beauty pageant this year included five women who immigrated to the United States at a young age and now as citizens hoped to represent the nation on a global stage.

Verg and the women representing Florida, North Dakota, Hawaii, Connecticut and New Jersey told The Associated Press this week they have faced challenges and opportunities as immigrants.

Verg told The AP that she and her parents immigrated from India to the U.S. with only $500 in their pockets when she was four years old. Her first winter she did not have a winter coat and the family struggled to adjust.

During the final round of the competition, each competitor was asked what they consider feminism to be, and whether or not they consider themselves feminists. McCullough said she prefers not to use the word 'feminist,' and instead 'transferred the word feminist to equalism'

They modeled their final look of the night during a performance of Pitbull's 'Options' featuring Stephen Marley

Julianne Hough (second from the left) and Terrence J (far left) hosted the show, and this year's competition included five women who immigrated to the U.S. at a young age and now as citizens hoped to represent the nation on a global stage, including miss New Jersey (5th from the right)

Contestants stand in the final 10 found of the 2017 competition. President Trump used to co-own The Miss Universe Organization with NBCUniversal, before eventually settling and selling the pageant to talent management company WME/IMG

Miss New Jersey USA Chhavi Vergcompetes during the Miss USA contest Sunday (left) while Miss Minnesota USA Meridith Gould spins for the judges

Miss California USA India Williams, (left), and Miss Tennessee USA Allee-Sutton Hethcoat embrace after making the top 10 during the contest

Miss New York Hannah Lopa (left) struts down the runway during Miss USA as does Miss South Carolina Megan Gordon

'I want to show Americans that the definition of what it means to be American is changing,' the 20-year-old said. 'It's not just one face. There are many different people who are Americans, and I feel like Asian-Americans often times are left out of the conversation.'

The contestants' remarks contrast with the controversy that surrounded the pageant in 2015, when then-part owner and now U.S. President Donald Trump offended Hispanics when he made anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his bid for the White House.

Trump co-owned The Miss Universe Organization with NBCUniversal, but the network and the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision quickly cut ties with him, refusing to air the show. Trump sued both networks, eventually settling and selling the pageant to talent management company WME/IMG.

The show kicked off with a performance from a Cirque du Soleil show - a Las Vegas staple - based on Michael Jackson songs. The contestants took the stage as Jackson's 'Black or White' played and acrobats performed.

Miss Illinois Whitney Wandland during the Miss USA contest. This was the second year in a row that the representative of the nation's capital won the Miss USA title

Miss Alaska Alyssa London wows the judges on Sunday night as Miss Tennessee Allee-Sutton Hethcoat swaggers down the runway

CMA Award-winner Brett Eldredge performed his new single 'The Long Way' as the women modeled their evening gowns.

Julianne Hough, Ashley Graham and Terrence J. hosted the show.

Now that her preparation toward the pageant is over, McCullough said she is looking forward to eating a Texas cheesesteak at Waffle House.

"All you need is mayonnaise," she said.