Attention, gentleman: Olivia Culpo is officially single — despite being linked to Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte in September.

The Rhode Island native, who was crowned Miss Universe 2012 on Wednesday, had been spotted with the gold medalist during New York Fashion Week. At the time, Lochte E! News, “She is beautiful. I love hanging out with her.”

But Culpo told Celebuzz she and Lochte definitely aren’t a couple.

“That ended. We were friends and we were never [in the same city],” she explained. “We were always just friends.”

So who has a shot with the gorgeous 20-year-old?  “I like tall, dark and handsome,” she said with a smile.

Meanwhile, there’s one man Culpo will always stand by: Donald Trump.

“He’s such a great businessman,” she said of mogul, who owns the Miss Universe Organization. “So I admire him for that. I see him as a normal person and not somebody to be intimidated by.”

Next up for Culp: after a busy pageant schedule this year, a blissfully restful holiday season. The brunette beauty says she’s planning to go to Rhode Island — “and just chill with the family.”

Who do you is the perfect man for Culpo? Send your suggestions below.

For the first time since 1997, Miss USA has been crowned Miss Universe.

Olivia Culpo, the 20-year-old from Rhode Island, told Savannah Guthrie on Thursday’s episode of Today that she “couldn’t be happier” about her win despite having not slept since being crowned.

“It does feel really good and I think in the midst of everything that’s going on in the country it’s a good thing, just to hopefully uplift the spirit in such a tragic time,” said the 20-year-old. “It’s an honor.”

Culpo beat out 88 competitors from six continents in the pageant held at the Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

When asked about whether she was scared about the little stumble she experienced during the competition as her her velvet dress got stuck on her shoe, she said, “It was terrifying, but I knew that was going to happen. That dress and that floor with the shoes — it was inevitable. It was so slippery. I’m so happy I didn’t fall on my face. That little slip was fine.”

As for the cause she will be championing during her reign, she has chosen HIV and AIDS.

“Miss Universe travels internationally, so I am going to be working with HIV and Aids raising awareness and prevention,” she explained. “With Miss USA, I was focusing on breast and ovarian cancer but it was more just nationally so now I’m going to have the chance to travel a lot more and help with HIV and AIDS.”

What do you think about Miss USA taking the crown? Let us know below!

He’s won five gold medals and she’s won a crown — and if it were up to Miss USA’s mother, her daughter and Ryan Lochte would be a winning couple too.

“It’s a perfect match because he’s Mr. USA,” exclaimed 20-year-old beauty pageant stunner, Olivia Culpo‘s mother Susan Culpo to Celebuzz.

The handsome Olympian and the gorgeous brunette sparked rumors of a romance after they were spotted together during New York Fashion Week. In fact the 28-year-old swimmer was so smitten he told E!; ”She is beautiful. I love hanging out with her. She has a great sense of humor. She makes me laugh.”

What does Olivia’s mother think of Ryan’s adoration for her daughter?

The mother of the Rhode Island beauty, who told The New York Post they were just friends, admits Lochte’s reaction is common when it comes to her daughter; “He’s not the only one who comes across Olivia and has that reaction.

“He can get in line,” Susan said laughing. “You know, he’s not so bad looking himself.”

She says her daughter met Lochte by chance and to her knowledge they haven’t stayed in touch. But if they were to get together, she admits it would be like a dream come true.

“It’s almost too much because it would be like a fairytale.

“I’m sure he’s busy and so is she. But it would be sweet if it were a romance.”

Lochte hasn’t been shy about his celebrity crushes, admitting to Celebuzz that newly-married Blake Lively and an engaged Carmen Electra were high on his list.

He also told E! that when it comes to Culpo, “she has something” and her mother thinks just the same of Lochte.

“It actually would be nice [if they were a couple],” she said. “He’s so popular and everyone wants to have a piece of him.”