By Abbey Niezgoda
aniezgoda@abc6.com
Rhode Island's pride and joy Olivia Culpo took home the crown at the Miss Universe pageant. Everyone was rooting for the hometown girl, and now, they cannot wait for her to come home.
"My dad called me and said, 'Oh my gosh! A girl from Cranston is Miss Universe!' and I said, 'Dad that's kind of weird that you're watching, but yeah!'"
The beauty queen dominated conversation in Cranston. Culpo's name was painted all over the sidewalks of Bay View Academy. Her former classmates choosing to spell out their pride in chalk.
"The thing about Olivia is she is so down to earth," Emma D'Arpino, a Bay View student said.
"She was in all advanced classes here," student Kaycee Asquith said. "And she plays the cello and she's just a role model to girls all across the world."
Their role model's pictures is everywhere, from classroom doors to the Mayor's office.
"All Cranstonians think we are the center of the universe," Mayor Allan Fung said. Olivia proved it. She is the center of the universe."
Culpo plans on spending the holidays at home relaxing before traveling the world and advocating for HIV/AIDS prevention. The mayor says their will be a special homecoming for her, but a date has not yet been set.
