Las Vegas Weekly

April 3, 2009 · 7:44 AM

Miss USA Pageant contestants head to Las Vegas for competition April 19

By Robin Leach

The 2008 Miss USA Pageant top five.

Photo: Miss USA Pageant

All day today, the 51 Miss USA Pageant contestants will slowly check in to Planet Hollywood to get ready for two weeks of preparation before the NBC telecast April 19 to crown Miss USA 2009. The reigning beauty queen Crystle Stewart will be on hand from 11 this morning to welcome the contenders. The pageant will call Las Vegas home this and next year under terms of a renewed two-year contract.

Paula Shugart, president of Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Organization, which operates Miss USA, worked with me when we produced Star Search with Ed McMahon.

Paula said: “Returning to Vegas was not a difficult decision to make. The great success of working together last year with the Planet Hollywood team and the support of the Convention and Visitors Authority was so incredible, we decided to come back for the next two years. Last year’s contestants had a great time in the desert seeing many of the attractions Las Vegas offers. We can’t wait to show this year’s delegates and our viewers more of your exciting city!”

Crystle, who was crowned at Planet Hollywood last April 11, has traveled America as an advocate for breast and ovarian cancer awareness, education, research and legislation. She will crown her Miss USA 2009 successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime TV show with its estimated 7 million viewers in the U.S. Each contestant from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Real-estate mogul and casino owner Donald Trump serves as the pageant’s executive producer, and he will attend the live broadcast.

Here’s their schedule for this weekend:

Saturday, April 4

10 a.m: The Miss USA contestants will visit with cancer patients and families at the Nevada Cancer Institute’s Bottles of Hope support group. Each state titleholder will create and design a covered chemotherapy bottle that will be auctioned off later to raise funds to continue the program.

6 p.m.: The official Planet Hollywood welcoming ceremony on the resort’s Strip front forecourt takes place with Thomas McCartney, Planet Hollywood president, and Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly, LVCVA director.

7 p.m.: Vegas throws the first welcoming dinner at Buca Di Beppo just off the Strip on East Flamingo.

Sunday, April 5

12 noon: Crystle takes 25 of the Miss USA contestants to a charity luncheon at Vintner Grill on West Charleston to benefit the Greater Las Vegas After School All-Stars charity.

12:30 p.m.: The remaining 26 contestants head off to the Palms Place pool for swimming and sunning and Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon’s weekly pajama party and brunch.

6 p.m.: The 2009 beauties will lead the applause for Crystle as she makes her runway debut at Fashion Show Mall in Bebe designs.

7 p.m.: Diamond Nexus Labs, the official jewelry sponsor for the Miss Universe Organization, hosts a dinner for Crystle and the 51 contestants at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Fashion Show Mall.

Vegas Deluxe will post our updated photo reports all weekend long, with a wrap-up Monday as we track the day-to-day happenings with Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan. Georgina will be blogging for us with all the behind-the-scenes secrets!

In fact, here is Georgina's first tweet for Vegas DeLuxe: "Sitting in hair and makeup right now. I am very excited! I already did my NBC interview and fittings! Next up is my swimsuit photo shoot and then my Fadil photo shoot. Altogether the pageant is going to be unique this year. Let's just say showgirls and couture! I will keep you posted!" Keep checking back to Vegas DeLuxe for all of Georgina's tweets!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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