Tara Conner Crowns New Miss USA

Miss USA, Tara Conner passed her crown to Miss Tennessee Rachel Smith during Friday’s Miss USA 2007 Pageant. Smith, 21, of Clarksville, Tenn., beat out finalists Meagan Yvonne Tandy of California; Cara Renee Gorges of Kansas; Helen Salas of Nevada; and Danielle Lacourse of Rhode Island.

"It has been the most unforgettable year of my life and I’m back, and better than ever," Conner said after she took the stage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. As for her successor, Conner offers this advice: "Be yourself and put your own flavor on the title. Don’t feel like you have to be the ’Pageant Patty.’" She also revealed her future plans included writing a book, doing correspondence work and some acting.

Let’s hope the book is Playboy, and the acting is porn.