The stunning beauty contestants in the Miss Universe 2012 competition took to the stage at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada, United States (US), on Wednesday night in gowns from the conservative to the outlandish. But they were all beautiful, many in shades of white and ivory fit for a wedding or bridal expo.

As band Train and Australian singer Timomatic performed, the women strutted in gorgeous evening gowns. Miss Venezuela's straight-cut, emerald-coloured gown was perhaps the most distinct, its long sleeves virtually invisible but for the navy blue, garland-like trim encircling them.

Miss USA's red velvet number was full-skirted and wintery, except for the deep, plunging neckline. Miss Australia's gown evoked a wedding dress - pure white with sparkles at the waist and a corset-style bodice.

Olivia Culpo took the crown from Leila Lopes of Angola after strutting in a purple and blue bikini and a red velvet gown.

Culpo, from Rhode Island, was trying to end a long losing spell for the US in the competition. An American had not won the right to be called Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.

Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, who is currently recovering from bone marrow transplant surgery, attended her colleague Sam Champion's marriage to photographer Rubem Robierb Friday afternoon.

Champion, GMA's weather anchor, and Robierb wed in an intimate ceremony at his New York apartment, his rep told People magazine. Fellow GMA anchors Lara Spencer and Josh Elliott were also in attendance.

NY State Supreme Court Justice George J. Silver conducted the ceremony. Roberts read an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

A photo of the happy couple and their friends was released, showing Roberts bald and wearing a red dress. Roberts was released from the hospital just two months ago and has been on medical leave since September.

Champion and Robierb met three years ago in Miami during a New Year's Eve party, so they plan to celebrate their marriage with another New Year's party in Miami.

“We met on New Year's and he proposed on New Year's Eve, so we thought let's get married on New Year's Eve,” Champion, 51, told People. “That's going to be the big party...This is the legal moment that we wanted to celebrate with friends and family and loved ones.”

Champion also said that he's happy to have the marriage legal. “Rubem said it best,” he told People. “It's the societal affirmation of our relationship. We feel like it's the most important relationship in our lives, and so to be able to share that with the people we love and have it legitimized in that way is really profound. It's not something we take lightly at all.”