Las Vegas Weekly

December 2, 2008 · 11:33 AM

Diverse panel of judges is selected for Miss America Pageant at Planet Hollywood

By Robin Leach

Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund was crowned at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Photo: Tom Donoghue

The 2009 Miss America Pageant officials have selected a strikingly diverse panel of national judges. For the first time, there are seven experts, and you’ll see them all on the national telecast Jan. 24 from our Planet Hollywood on TLC.

The seven judges will evaluate the 52 contestants from the preliminaries through the final night of competition in each of the fields in which a young woman must excel in order to be named Miss America.

The pageant rules require that the judges’ verdicts are based on Miss America’s prowess in beauty, talent, intelligence and being well-spoken. She also must be a leader, have a commitment to her community, be contemporary in her style and fashion, and be a relatable and individual ‘it girl’ who can connect with today’s modern woman, in addition to being physically fit.

Representing the fashion world will be former model-turned-denim designer Paige Adams-Geller. Singer-actress Laura Bell Bundy, who starred in the Broadway musical Legally Blonde, has received Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations and has recorded two albums, will represent the world of entertainment. Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson, who spent a year raising awareness for Type 1 diabetes, will be looking for the contestants’ commitment to community service.

Olympic gold medal swimmer Cullen Jones, who was only the second African American in history to win gold in swimming, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, represents the fitness field. Beth Klein, who as senior VP of talent and casting at Showtime oversees the hits Weeds, The Tudors, Dexter and The L Word, will be looking at the talent skills of the contestants.

My longtime colleague Jim Moret, who worked with me at CNN and is now the chief correspondent for Inside Edition, will be judging the communication and interview skills. And hot Hollywood hairdresser Ken Paves, who has styled the hair of Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba, will be the beauty expert.

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