Las Vegas Weekly

April 5, 2009 · 5:24 PM

Photo Gallery: Miss USA at Nevada Cancer Institute, Palms and Buca di Beppo

By Robin Leach

From left, Miss Florida Anastagia Pierre, Miss California Carrie Prejean, Miss Texas Brooke Nicole Daniels, Buca di Beppo corporate chef Michael Miyahara, Miss Nevada Georgina Vaughan, Miss Arizona Alicia-Monique Blanco and Miss Illinois Ashley Bond.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Everybody else wore pajamas, but many of the 26 Miss USA 2009 beauty queens turned up in smart swimming pool day dresses when Palms owner George Maloof invited them to brunch.

And Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz was mobbed by the pageant contestants when he turned up for Sunday brunch in Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon’s restaurant Simon at Palms Place. Even Kerry got behind the buffet sushi counter to serve the glamour girls.

The pajama brunch at Simon has become a Las Vegas tradition since New Year’s. The other 25 Miss USA contestants took part in a charity luncheon.

Vegas DeLuxe will have the full photo report of the girls at play in the Palms. Tonight, they head off to Fashion Show Mall to take part in a runway show of new Bebe designs modeled by 2008 Miss USA Crystle Stewart, who is making her modeling debut in Las Vegas. We’ll have that photo gallery as early as possible tomorrow.

George told me: “What a fantastic weekend to show Vegas is the place to be. Hef’s 83rd birthday last night. The Miss USA ladies today, and then the big NHL Awards announcement tomorrow.”

Miss Washington, who is the roommate of our Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan, said: “We are all having an incredible time. Everybody we’ve met is incredibly nice and giving us a warm welcome to Vegas. We’re loving it, but we know that in a week’s time, all the play turns to work as we get ready for the pageant itself.”

In addition to Pete Wentz, Avril Lavigne and former The Girls Next Door beauty Holly Madison all enjoyed brunch at separate tables.

Contestants visit Nevada Cancer Institute

Several Miss USA contestants visited cancer patients and their families at Nevada Cancer Institute’s “Bottles of Hope” support group yesterday.

“Bottles of Hope” is a free monthly patient support activity that allows patients, their families and supporters to spend time together creating polymer-covered chemotherapy bottles that hold an inspirational message for newly diagnosed patients. The contestants interacted with the patients while putting their imagination to the test by creating artistic bottles.

Participants included Crystle, Georgina, Miss Arizona Alicia-Monique Blanco, Miss Utah Laura Kirilova Chukanov, Miss Louisiana Lacey Minchew, Miss New Jersey Kaity Bettina Rodriguez, Miss South Carolina Stephanie Smith, Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, Miss Virginia Maegan Elizabeth Phillips and Miss Maine Ashley Underwood.

Cooking lessons at Buca di Beppo

The 51 contestants looked like royalty for their dining adventure last night at Buca di Beppo just off the Strip on East Flamingo. They wore their crowns and sashes, but like all people with a hearty appetite, they threw away caution for calories and carbs and feasted on a family-style menu.

The gorgeous girls tucked into delights that included mozzarella caprese salad, apple gorgonzola salad, prosciutto stuffed mushrooms, lemon chicken, salmon with pesto, spaghetti marinara, broccoli with greens beans and tiramisu and gelato cones for dessert.

After greeting other surprised diners and posing for fan photos, several lovely ladies joined Buca di Beppo corporate chef Michael Miyahara for a cooking demonstration with pasta, peppers, tomatoes and other fresh ingredients for which Buca di Beppo is famous.

The Miss USA Pageant has returned for its second year to Las Vegas and the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood and airs live on NBC on April 19.

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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