At the conclusion of the final competition, Chelsi Smith of Texas was crowned by outgoing titleholder Lu Parker of South Carolina. Smith became the seventh Texan titleholder, the first Miss Texas USA and Miss USA to win the Congeniality award and also the only Miss USA from Texas to win the Miss Universe title. She also became the 4th winner to be crowned as Miss USA in her home state. After Smith won the 1995 Miss Universe pageant, first runner-up Shanna Moakler took over the Miss USA title. Moakler was the first former Miss Teen USA delegate to hold the Miss USA title.