FIRST PHOTOS—MISS USA BEAUTY PAGEANT
Reigning Miss USA, Rachel Smith and Planet Hollywood president Mike Mecca welcomed the 51-new contestants of the Miss USA pageant to the Strip last night (THURS)—and Luxe Life has the first photos.
All eyes were on 22-year-old Veronica Grabowski who is representing Nevada in the show to be broadcast on April 11 on NBC-TV. For the next 15 days all the beauty-queens are “under lockdown” at the Planet Hollywood Resort with chaperones and security guards.
“That includes me,” laughed Veronica. “Even though I live in Henderson I am not allowed out.” Mindfreak magician Criss Angel is currently dating Veronica and she added: “For the two weeks of the pageant we can’t even see each other for a dinner-date! So we’re relying on our cell phones and text messages!” The first time they’ll see each other again is on the night of the pageant telecast when he’ll be in the star-studded audience.
Also joining in the first-night ceremonies was Miss USA/Miss Univers chief, Paula Shugart who used to work with me when we produced Star Search—and she told me that both she and Miss USA owner, Donald Trump are thrilled to be in Vegas for the show. “We’re a pageant that’s all about glamour and beauty—and this year’s group of girls are simply stunning. We’ve never had so many tall ladies in competition. There’s many a future TV and movie star in this lineup.” This is the first year for Miss USA in Vegas although its sister pageant Miss Universe was here in both 1991 and 1996—also at the Planet Hollywood Performing Arts Theater when it was the former Aladdin casino.
After their Strip-front welcoming ceremony where Mike Mecca presented each contestant with a white rose the beauty-queens went up to the new Koi restaurant in the resort—and like all healthy girls tucked into the sushi and sashimi Asian food buffet!
Luxe Life will have more photos and stories each day next week and leading up to the pageant.