A 24-year-old brunette recovered after nearly stumbling in her evening gown and beat out four blondes and 46 other women to take the 2010 Miss USA title yesterday.

Rima Fakih of Dearborn, Mich., won the pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip after swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions.

Asked how she felt about winning, she said, "Ask me after I've had a pizza."

Fakih replaces Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton and won a spot representing the United States in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant. She also gets a one-year lease on a New York apartment with living expenses, an undisclosed salary, and health, professional and beauty services.

COSBY IN QUID PRO QUO WITH JELL-O

Kraft Foods is freshening up the image of its Jell-O brand by pairing up with an old friend.

Comedian Bill Cosby joins the gelatin and pudding brand again after a 10-year hiatus, but this time he'll be behind the camera as part of the brand's biggest marketing effort ever.

Cosby, whose work with Jell-O dates to 1974, will be an executive producer for the "Hello Jell-O" campaign, which starts with national advertisements today.

In return, Jell-O will be the presenting sponsor of Cosby's new weekly Web series called "OBKB," in which he interviews children in the style of the classic show "Kids Say the Darndest Things."

R.I.P. RONNIE JAMES DIO, MAN OF METAL

Ronnie James Dio, whose soaring vocals, poetic lyrics and mythic tales of a never-ending struggle between good and evil broke new ground in heavy metal, died yesterday, according to a statement from his wife and manager. He was 67.

Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a tour in Atlantic City, N.J., with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath, under the name Heaven And Hell.

Dio rose to fame in 1975 as the first lead singer of Rainbow, the heavy metal band put together by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Dio then replaced legendary vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1980 with the critically acclaimed album "Heaven And Hell," considered by many critics to be one of the finest heavy metal albums of all time.

IRON MAN REMAINS KING OF THE 'HOOD

Steel bested bows and arrows at the movies this weekend, with "Iron Man 2" fighting off the new release "Robin Hood" to stay at the top of the box office.

The superhero sequel starring Robert Downey Jr. took in $53 million domestically to remain at No. 1, according to studio estimates yesterday.

"Robin Hood," which features Russell Crowe teaming up with director Ridley Scott for the fifth time, debuted in the No. 2 spot with an estimated $37.1 million. The blockbuster, a sort of prequel to the Robin Hood legend, co-stars Cate Blanchett as Marian.

— Advertiser News Services