BEAUTY QUEENS GALORE: THE MISS USA CONTESTANTS ARRIVE TO START 15-DAY GLAMOR CHALLENGE!
Over 50 gorgeous girls arrive in Vegas today (THURS) for the battle of “lipstick, hair and mascara” as they go through all 15-days of the preliminary competitions leading up to the April 11 live telecast of Miss USA 2008.
Tonight at the host hotel, Planet Hollywood Resort there will be a 7 p.m. “welcome celebration” right on the Strip before the pageant contestants enjoy a dinner party at the new Koi restaurant there.
Also incoming will be stars Donny & Marie Osmond who will host the NBC broadcast. Although it’s the third time they’ve hosted a pageant together it’s the first time since 2000 that they’ve actually hosted a primetime TV special together (Their eight-day run at MGM Grand in July is already completely sold out and in September they start a long term resident headliner stay at the Flamingo). “Watching the pageant was an anticipated yearly event when Donny and I were growing up,” said Marie. “We are honored to be a part of this U.S. tradition and to hopefully make Miss USA a memorable night for millions of new viewers.”
Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007, also arrives tonight and she will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast of the 57th Miss USA.
It was last March 23, 2007 at the Kodak Theater on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, that a dream came true for 21-year-old Rachel when she was presented with the winning tiara and sash. She said: “It’s pretty amazing to be able to live one of your dreams.” The bi-racial Panama-born Tennessee native who previously held the title of Miss Tennessee Teen USA back in 2002, traveled to South Africa where she volunteered at Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls.
Hard on the heels of her $80 million divorce award by a British High Court judge against her former husband, Beatle Paul McCartney, Heather Mills—who appeared on Dancing with the Stars—also arrives as one of the celebrity judges. She’s in the British headlines this morning for saying she won’t be able to live on and raise their daughter on such a “small amount!” Heather says she wants to hire a new accounting firm to prove he’s worth twice as much as was revealed in court so she can get her award doubled! Hopefully she’ll explain that to me if we meet up during the days ahead.
For me it will also be a reunion with old friend, real-estate developer Donald Trump who owns the Miss USA pageant. He’s bringing in daughter Ivanka and son, Donald Jr. for the festivities because coincidentally he will formally open his brand new golden Trump Tower condo-tel on the Strip next Monday. I get the advance tour this afternoon so we can bring that to you before the grand opening ceremony.
The glamour-girls—including our very own Miss Nevada, Veronica Grabowski who is dating Mindfreak magician, Criss Angel have a full slate of social activities in addition to their pageant sessions and rehearsals. Two of the highlights include a dinner next Wednesday at Maggiano’s Little Italy in the Fashion Show opposite the Wynn and a “Sock Hop” in Planet Hollywood Resort’s new Privé nightclub on Saturday night, this weekend. The 51 contestants and Rachel will pair up with 52 people with intellectual disabilities from our favorite charity Opportunity Village for the Sock Hop organized by the new Best Buddies Vegas outpost founded by Anthony Shriver. The Maggiano’s dinner will also feature Miss Teen USA reigning queen Hilary Cruz for the motivational clothing and products line Once Upon a Dream with founder and creator, Supermodels Unlimited spokes girl, Andrea Forte.
Luxe Life’s ace lens man Scott Doctor will be joining me for our daily coverage and we’ll chronicle all right here so click back each day for the latest news and photos.