Las Vegas Weekly

April 19, 2009 · 10:09 AM

Miss USA 2009: New judge Holly Madison; Georgina Vaughan’s final blog

By Robin Leach

Holly Madison outside Prive at Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

The Girls Next Door star and Dancing With the Stars contestant Holly Madison has become this year’s go-to gal, first replacing Jewel on this season’s DWTS and now filling in once again last minute as a judge in the Miss USA 2009 Pageant here at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood this afternoon.

“I’m so excited to be able to help judge the pageant,” Holly told me this morning. “I love hot girls!”

Holly joins, among others, Robert Earl, Perez Hilton and Eric Trump at the judges’ table.

Photo: Patrick Prather

Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan takes part in the final rehearsals for Miss USA 2009 at Planet Hollywood.

Miss Nevada USA’s final blog

Meantime, it’s down to the wire for the 51 contestants, including our own Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan. Here’s Georgina’s final blog from yesterday:

“It is officially Miss USA Eve, as I like to call it! We have been through hours and hours of rehearsals for the past week, and I think all of us are exhausted but ready to put on the best show and make it the best Miss USA there has ever been.

Photo: Patrick Prather

Final rehearsals for Miss USA 2009 at Planet Hollywood.

“It really is going to be an amazing show, and you can see my big dancing debut. Haha! Today’s rehearsal was an extra-special one because Mr. Donald Trump himself stopped by! All the contestants and I had 20 minutes to freshen up and change into our opening number outfit. Once we were all dressed, we got in our state order and were about to say our name, age and state on the microphone.

“Little did we know that he would start to randomly call us out and ask us who we thought should win besides ourselves! All of a sudden, girls getting called out would have to stand on one side of the stage and the ones left out had to stay on the opposite side! Then once that was done, we lined up in a big line, and he walked around with a clipboard staring at us and writing down who he liked. I would love to get my hands on that list! :)

Photo: Patrick Prather

Final rehearsals for Miss USA 2009 at Planet Hollywood.

“All in all, it went well because, in my eyes, he is just another person, and every single person in the world has their own opinion of beauty and what makes a Miss USA. I am off to bed now because tomorrow we have to be up by 5 a.m. to get ready and go down to dress rehearsals and then put on the amazing show for which we have been working so hard.

“I am beyond excited, a little bit nervous and ready to make my state and loved ones proud!!!”

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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