Las Vegas Weekly

April 8, 2009 · 11:28 AM

Photo Gallery: Miss USA 2009 swimsuits, gowns and the Liberace Museum

By Robin Leach

Miss Washington USA Tara Turnure, Miss Tennessee USA Kristen Motil, Miss Rhode Island USA Alysha Castonguay and Miss Utah USA Laura Kirilova Chukanov at the Liberace Museum.

Photo: Darren Decker

It was another long day of filming yesterday throughout Las Vegas for the 51 contestants in the upcoming Miss USA 2009 pageant, with everything from a private tour of the Liberace Museum to a backstage meeting with the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Ka at MGM Grand.

Official Miss USA photographer Darren Decker captured the glamour girls at play on Liberace’s pianos and snapped them modeling some of the late entertainer’s over-the-top costumes. Our photos show Miss Virginia USA Maegan Phillips and Miss New Mexico USA Bianca Koonce looking at Liberace’s amazing car collection; Miss Virginia USA playing on one of Liberace’s pianos; and Miss Washington USA Tara Tumure, Miss Tennessee USA Kristen Motil, Miss Rhode Island USA Alysha Castonguay and Miss Utah USA Laura Kirilova Chukanov posed in front of the costumes.

Miss Texas USA Brooke Daniels even tried on a show costume, and Miss North Dakota USA Kelsey Erickson and Miss West Virginia USA Jessi Pierson checked out some of the marvelous memorabilia at the museum.

Vegas DeLuxe also proudly presents the first set of photos of several of the contestants from their portrait, evening gown and swimsuit sessions. Singer Jessica Simpson’s new bikinis will be worn on the live NBC broadcast April 19 from Planet Hollywood.

Take note of the Las Vegas showgirl influence in Miss Nevada USA’s evening gown. Georgina Vaughan, 21, of Summerlin has been blogging exclusively for Vegas DeLuxe, and here is our embedded special correspondent’s report from yesterday:

“After all of us enjoyed an early breakfast at the Spice Market Buffet, I was all dressed up and ready to go on the morning outing to the Liberace Museum. However, as I came down the escalator, two NBC producers stopped me and said, ‘Change of plans for you today, Nevada. You are going with our Miss USA makeup sponsor Darac to the NBC studio for an interview.’ I was super excited! I was rushed over to hair and makeup and put in a car to head over to the studio. It was super fun, and I learned all about the Darac line of makeup and brushes from Darac himself. It doesn't get much better than that!

“Once back at Planet Hollywood, all the NBC producers held a meeting with everyone. They showed us the new Miss USA Web site, which had just launched (www.missusa.com), and I got to see my Fadil photo shoot picture. I am in love with it -- it is so old school Hollywood glamour! The new site is awesome and very interactive for visitors. (Please make sure to vote for my photo as the most glamorous!) The meeting went well with the NBC executives. I won’t tell you all the secrets yet, but just know we have some exciting surprises up our sleeves for the live telecast!

“To end the night, we headed over to MGM Grand to see Cirque du Soleil’s show Ka. I was so lucky because I had actually not seen this show yet even though I live here in Vegas. It was amazing! Afterward, we got to meet the cast, and they told us some behind-the-scenes stories.

Photo: Miss USA

Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan.

“I am making some close friends as the days go by, and though I have not gotten a chance to talk to everyone yet, I love hanging out with the contestants from Utah, Arizona and my roommate Miss Washington! We ended the night with a workout in our room and a little girls’ chat before calling it a night. I am having the time of my life!”

Check back later to Vegas DeLuxe: We’ll post the photos of the girls at Ka as soon as the editors have made their selections.

Today, several of the 51 contestants have a 7:30 a.m. start with a visit to our beloved local charity Opportunity Village, the not-for-profit organization that serves people with disabilities to improve the quality of their lives and their families. The contestants will join in painting a 30-foot pageant-themed mural for O.V.’s art enrichment program.

Tonight, the 51 competitors dine at Diablo’s Cantina in the Monte Carlo, followed by master magician Lance Burton welcoming them all to his illusions show there. Afterward, he will greet them and individually levitate them for a souvenir photo.

Vegas DeLuxe will have photo coverage of all of today’s events. The traditional swimsuit photo shoot takes place at 7 a.m. as the sun comes up tomorrow. The 51 bikini belles will strike their best pose poolside on the sixth floor of Planet Hollywood for the shots that will go round the world in advance of the telecast, and we’ll post them as soon as possible.

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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