“THE DONALD” VOWS MISS USA BEAUTY PAGEANT WILL RETURN TO VEGAS
Billionaire real-estate developer and relentless promoter Donald Trump racked up two more incredible success stories on his 24-hour rush Vegas visit.
First up was the opening of his new Trump International Hotel and condo tower on the Strip opposite former rival and now best friend, Steve Wynn. Donald told me: “You’re going to see a lot more of me in Vegas from now on. We are thrilled at the level of luxury we have attained here. Our Vegas property now becomes the flagship of our worldwide Trump hotel empire.”
Hours later he presided over his Miss USA beauty pageant where Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith wound up crowning her successor, 26-year-old Miss Texas Crystle Stewart. Click here for our Friday night as-it-happened coverage! She said: “I am very proud of being one of only a handful of black women crowned in the pageant’s 57-year history. I am eager to travel and spread my message of self improvement to young women.” While I was out of town my friend Frank Lieberman covered for me and observed: “After the initial reaction to all the excitement she really had it together. Being older and an entrepreneurial woman she was all business—she wasn’t giddy at all.”
Happiest of all was Planet Hollywood Resort owner Robert Earl who told Frank: “This was a big night for us. It was wonderful exposure around the world for both Vegas and Planet Hollywood Resort. The girls were beautiful and awesome. Our group of judges were insane and I loved being one of them.” His president Mike Mecca added: “Everything was spectacular. We are thrilled the show is here because it is great for all of Vegas. The perfect person was chosen for the title.” Trump agreed when I talked with him next day in Florida: “Everything went great—the hotel opening was spectacular and I promise you, Robin, we’ll have the Miss USA pageant back in Vegas next year—I’m inviting you right now to be one of my judges!”
This year’s judges included Project Runway winner, Christian Siriano, Nip/Tuck star Kelly Carlson, Olympic gold medalist Amanda Beard, actors Rob Schneider, and Kristian Alfonso, Singing Bee host Joey Fatone and recently divorced Beatle Paul McCartney’s wife Heather Mills. Heather did a British TV interview while at Planet Hollywood Resort explaining why she’d dumped a pitcher of water over her ex-husband’s lawyer when she was only awarded $50 million in their divorce settlement. “She deserved to be baptized for what she muttered under her breath when the verdict was handed out.”
Tomorrow Luxe Life will have Frank’s chat with pageant hosts Donny & Marie Osmond with news of their upcoming world tour which will be officially announced in 10-days time. Right after Crystle was crowned she went off to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign for her first official photo-session.
She then joined all the other contestants and judges and pageant officials at the star-studded after party in the new Privé nightclub at Planet Hollywood Resort.
Some of the Miss Universe contestants attending the Miss USA pageant, including Miss Puerto Rico, Marie Rivera and Miss Dominican Republic, Marianne Gonzalez joined Riyo Mori, Miss Universe at the Moon nightclub at the Palms.
Just 24-hours earlier Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz and Miss Universe Riyo Mori hosted the “Fashion Rocks the Universe” party at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood Resort along with Nick Verreos of Project Runway who designed Miss Alaska’s gown, Susie Castillo Miss USA 2003, Millionaire Matchmaker Paul Murad and 2008 Miss Teen Nevada Lauren Hudman from Palo Verde High School in Summerlin. Over 20 former Miss USA state titleholders walked the red carpet for the fashion show of bikinis by Syrup Swimwear, YMI Jeans, Sherri Hill gowns and Gail Schneider Tops.
Now that I’m back in town I will try today to get to the bottom of all the printed problems surrounding Mindfreak magician Criss Angel. Apparently disappointed that his new galpal, Veronica Grabowski, Miss Nevada didn’t make it into the Top 15 candidates he wound up in a scream fest with my gossip-guru pal Norm Clarke. He’s also alleged to have unleashed an F-bomb tirade and used his center-finger in an obscene gesture to the NBC cameras when they focused on him stunned that Veronica didn’t make the final fifteen! Instead of attending the official post-pageant Planet Hollywood Resort party celebration Criss took her off to the rival LAX nightclub at the Luxor for their own party celebration.
Check back to Luxe Life tomorrow for his side of the story if he tells me all.