Las Vegas Weekly

April 17, 2009 · 2:24 PM

Past and present beauty queens gather for trade show, events and parties

By Robin Leach

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

For the first time, the “True Beauty” trade show is alongside the Miss USA Pageant this weekend at Planet Hollywood. The beauty extravaganza is produced by Vegas executive Maureen Atwell, who runs the Miss Nevada and Miss Teen Nevada pageant events, and is attended by former and current titleholders from across the country. Visitors to the ballroom of fashion will be able to see the new Miss USA crown (lick HERE for our story about the $202,000 tiara) and everything from pageant gowns to shoes to makeup and jewelry.

Cosmeticians will demonstrate how to make legs look fabulous and how to walk on a runway. Tonight, I will join the show when the Season 2 winners of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew perform. Then it continues on with a midnight party at Prive with the “True Ladies of Beauty,” with many former Miss USA and Miss Universe contestants and winners. Leah Laviano, last year’s first runner-up, and Lindsey Jo Harrington, Megan Tandy, LauRen Merola and Tiffany Andrade, all pageant participants in the past two years, will host the party.

Tomorrow night, just 24 hours before the live pageant, former Miss USA contestants and Miss Universe Pageant beauties will celebrate a night of fashion and fun with the 2nd Annual “Fashion Rocks the Universe” at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood. The lineup is Dayana Mendoza (Miss Universe 2008), Stevi Perry (Miss Teen USA 2008), Maria Sten-Knudsen (Miss Denmark Universe 2008), Brook Lee (Miss Universe 1997 and Miss USA 1997), Justine Pasek (Miss Universe 2002), Shanna Moakler (Miss USA 1995), Chelsea Cooley (Miss USA 2005), Allie LaForce (Miss Teen USA 2005), Veronica Grabowski (Miss Nevada USA 2008), Michelle Berthelot (Miss Louisiana USA 2008), Kaetlin Parent (Miss Maine USA 2008), Jonelle Layfield (Miss Hawaii USA 2008), Jacque Honulik (Miss Connecticut USA 2008), Michelle Font (Miss Washington USA 2008), Chelsea Rodgers (Miss District of Columbia USA 2008), Leah Laviano (Miss Mississippi USA 2008), Tiffany Andrade (Miss New Jersey USA 2008), Lindsey Jo Harrington (Miss Oklahoma USA 2008), LauRen Merola (Miss Pennsylvania USA 2008), Courtney Erin Carroll (Miss Alaska USA 2008), Keisha Walding (Miss Alabama USA 2008), Rachel Howells (Miss Arkansas USA 2008), Kimberly Joiner (Miss Arizona USA 2008), Amy Diaz (Miss Rhode Island USA 2008), Brittany Mason (Miss Indiana USA 2008), Breanne Silvi (Miss New Hampshire USA 2008), Micaela Johnson (Miss Nebraska USA 2008), Alysha Harris (Miss Kentucky USA 2008), Raelene Aguilar (Miss New Mexico USA 2008), Raquel Beezley (Miss California USA 2008), Lauren Hudman (Miss Nevada Teen USA 2008), Shareece Pfeiffer (Miss Idaho Teen USA 2008) and Meagan Tandy (Miss California USA 2007).

They will strut their stuff on a catwalk runway featuring Sherri Hill gowns and Crowning Touch bikinis. All the glamour girls have promised to sign autographs for fans and pose for photos!

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.

Share This