Rhode Island cellist, 20, wins Miss USA

A 20-year-old cellist from Rhode Island won the Miss USA crown and will represent the United States in this year’s Miss Universe pageant after embracing transgender beauty queens.

Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens on Sunday to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt. She spent her summers at band camp, playing her cello.

Miss Iowa USA Rebecca Hodge was named Miss Congeniality, and Miss Oregon USA Alaina Bergsma was named the most photogenic. They both won $1,000, but didn’t make the top 16.

Culpo will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year. An American has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.

The Miss Universe Organization is co-owned by NBC and Donald Trump. The competition is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant.

Edwards’ ex-mistress writes tell-all

The trial of John Edwards is over, but the public soon will learn more details about his career-ending affair with Rielle Hunter.

Edwards’ former mistress has written a tell-all memoir, to be released June 26.

The book, “What Really Happened: John Edwards, Our Daughter, and Me,” details Hunter’s affair with the former presidential candidate during the 2008 contest that led to an out-of-wedlock birth, campaign finance fraud charges and a high-profile trial.

“The book is a memoir about Ms. Hunter’s life, her relationship with John Edwards and their daughter,” Hunter’s spokeswoman, RoseMarie Terenzio, said Saturday.

Hunter has not spoken much about the affair in which Edwards fathered a daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter. Edwards at first denied he was the father of the child.

Hunter gave an interview to GQ magazine in 2010 in which she said she did not want to capitalize on the affair to make money.

“I could have cashed out big. But that’s not what I’m about,” she told the magazine, adding that she was not paid for the interview. “I love Johnny and I love my daughter more than anything in the world, and I don’t want to ever do anything to hurt them or hurt their relationship.”

The birthday bunch

Actor Bruce Dern is 76. Singer-actress Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and The Papas) is 68. Bassist Danny Brown (The Fixx) is 61. Actor Parker Stevenson is 60. Singer El DeBarge is 51. Singer Al B. Sure! is 44. Actor Scott Wolf (“Party of Five”) is 44. Actor Noah Wyle (“ER”) is 41. Actor Russell Brand is 37. Actress Angelina Jolie is 37. Bassist JoJo Garza (Los Lonely Boys) is 32. Drummer Zac Farro (Paramore) is 22.