Las Vegas Weekly

April 15, 2009 · 6:52 AM

Photo Gallery: Miss USA judges and Best Buddies; co-host is named

By Robin Leach

Lindsey Nelsen, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2009, and Jessi Pierson, Miss West Virginia USA 2009, pose for a photo with their Best Buddies before a morning of events for the Miss USA contestants and the Best Buddies at Planet Hollywood on April 11.

Photo: Darren Decker

Real estate mogul Donald Trump's son Eric will be joined by Peepshow and General Hospital star Kelly Monaco and gossip guru Perez Hilton as judges for Sunday's live NBC broadcast of Miss USA 2009 at Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood owner Robert Earl also will have judging duty in the Theatre for the Performing Arts with Days of Our Lives star Shelley Hennig, Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey, MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Willie Geist, MTV Networks President Brian Graden, Deal or No Deal model Claudia Jordan, Saturday Night Live comedian Kenan Thompson and KVBC entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs.

Recording artist Kevin Rudolf will perform his chart-topping single "Let It Rock" during the swimsuit competition, and The The Veronicas will perform their hit "Untouched" during the evening gown competition.

The two-hour telecast starts at 4 p.m. Pacific Time to meet the 7 to 9 p.m. East Coast primetime broadcast window. Additionally, the Miss USA telecast will kick off "Green Week" to launch NBC Universal’s campaign "Green Is Universal," which promotes the importance of environmental awareness across the globe. In keeping with this initiative, Diamond Nexus Labs, the official jewelry sponsor for the Miss Universe Organization, has created an eco-friendly, custom-designed crown for Miss USA 2009. It will be unveiled for the first time tomorrow, and Vegas DeLuxe will have the shining shots shortly afterward!

The newly crowned Miss USA will travel the nation for one year as an advocate for breast and ovarian cancer awareness, education, research and legislation. The Miss Teen USA, Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants are a joint venture between   Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal. They are committed to a current three-year deal for Miss USA here in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood.

It’s now also confirmed that My Name Is Earl’s sexy firebrand Nadine Velazquez will co-host the pageant with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush. Not only was Nadine ranked in the 100 sexiest women in the world, but she also placed No. 39 on Maxim’s Hot 100 List.

Nadine’s never to be forgotten for the nude print ad she made for peanut butter in which nearly 20 jars of the sticky spread were smeared on her body! Nadine has appeared in several films and TV movies and went from Prison Break to the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl. She was a judge of last year’s Miss Universe Pageant.

Billy Bush first joined Access Hollywood in 2001 and was promoted to co-anchor in 2004. He is the cousin of former President George W. Bush.

Our official Miss USA photographers Darren Decker and Patrick Prather have been busy adding to our photo galleries with coverage of the Best Buddies charity walk at Planet Hollywood and the contestants’ rehearsals.

Today, I have my one-on-one interview with Miss USA President Paula Shugart and the final interview with Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart that we’ll run later in the week. Tomorrow, we’ll attend the stage rehearsals for Sunday’s big event and also look at the brand new Miss USA crown designed by Diamond Nexus Labs.

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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