Alyssa Campanella of California crowned her successor Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island at the end of the event.

Meriwether became the second woman from Maryland to hold the Miss USA title; the first, Mary Leona Gage, was dethroned shortly after winning.

The preliminary competition took place on May 30, 2012, at 10 pm (ET) hosted by Chet Buchanan and Alyssa Campanella, and was broadcast online over Xbox Live via their YouTube and MSN applications.

‡ Voted into Top 16 as America's Choice via Internet ∞ Culpo won Miss Universe 2012.

Due to protocol, Culpo resigns her title as Miss USA 2012.