The 52 hopeful contestants in the Miss America Pageant arrived at the Planet Hollywood resort casino—and were welcomed by hotel president Mike Mecca.

TV cameras from the daily EXTRA show filmed the glowing girls including our hometown UNLV interior design student Caleche Manos.

Each state winner was presented with a long-stemmed iris and nine were given the first award of their 10-day visit to Vegas: “The Quality of Life” winners were Miss Alabama, Miss Florida, Miss Massachusets, Miss Minnesota, Miss Nevada, Miss North Carolina, Miss, Oklahoma, Miss Rhode Island and Miss Tennessee

This morning (FRI) first rehearsals get underway for the 2-hour pageant to be broadcast live next Saturday. Tonight I’ll join with Lynn Weidner, former Miss New Jersey and wife of the Las Vegas Sands President Bill Weidner in St. Mark’s Square at the Venetian to welcome them to the gondola rides there. Our full up-close photo album will be here at Luxe Life on Monday.

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