Liz Burke, WPRO News

Cranston residents and Rhode Islanders all over have something to celebrate this week. Cranston Native, Miss. USA Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss. Universe.

“I looked at it and said, ‘you gotta be kidding me, Miss.Universe? That’s fantastic,” said Helen Lusi, a recent Rhode Island resident.

Shoppers at the Garden City Center in Cranston were beyond excited that their city was being represented for the first time in the Miss. Universe pageant.

“I think it’s great that she won representing Rhode Island, finally. It always seems like Miss. Rhode Island always lost so I’m really happy that she won and is representing our great ocean state here,” said Cranston resident Becky Burns.

Rhode Islanders like Angela Gasparri say that Culpo is an inspiration and a great role model to girls everywhere.

“I was so proud of her standing up for women and enable women to be forefront and even speaking of a woman president so I think that’s fantastic and I give her all the encouragement,”