Las Vegas Weekly

August 20, 2009 · 8:28 AM

2010 Miss America Pageant contestants meet for first time

By Robin Leach

2010 Miss America Pageant contestants with 2009 Miss America Katie Stam of Indiana.

Photo: Miss America Organization

Our 2010 Miss Nevada, 23-year-old Christina Keegan, has met for the first time the 52 other Miss America Pageant contestants she will compete against next year. Christina’s race for the coveted crown and sash begins on the Strip at the pageant to be held at Planet Hollywood in January.

Christina said: “Five days after being named Miss Nevada, I’m still in shock. Cloud 9 doesn’t encompass what I feel. I hoped and dreamed for six years and put my blood, sweat and tears into the title of Miss Nevada. I was left speechless.”

Christina was Miss Northern Counties when she won the Miss Nevada title in Reno. It was her last chance to win the state crown because of her age, and she really wanted her last shot at additional college scholarship money. She is a medical student attending the University of Utah.

Photo: Miss America Organization

2010 Miss Nevada Christina Keegan.

She added: “As I prepared for my final year at Miss Nevada, I knew that above all else, I needed to enjoy the process and take in every moment because win or lose, this was it, and I can honestly say that my experience at Miss Nevada week was the most memorable, enjoyable and wonderful I have ever had.”

Christina flew last week to Florida and for the first time at the Universal Orlando Resort met the 52 other contestants competing for the Miss America title -- the pageant is here on the Strip on Jan. 30. The lineup this year has grown from 52 to 53 because for the first time in more than 50 years, a Miss Puerto Rico will be taking part, joining the District of Columbia and Guam, along with the 50 states. Mimi Pabon is the 2010 Miss Puerto Rico.

For the second consecutive year, billionaire time-share real-estate developer David Siegel, who owns the new Westgate Towers here at Planet Hollywood, opened up his massive Florida estate to welcome the contestants for the Miss America Scholarship Gala.

Photo: Miss America Organization

2010 Miss America Pageant contestants at Universal Studios Orlando.

Miss America’s Las Vegas Pageant committee chairwoman, Lynn Weidner, who is married to former Venetian head honcho Bill Weidner, was among the special guests at the lavish mansion. Our friend Katie Stam, the current Miss America, hosted the evening and was presented with a portrait of herself created by renowned artist Neil Loeb.

The event raised more than $25,000 for the scholarship fund. Many of Florida’s most prestigious chefs created signature dishes for the guests who had the chance to meet all 53 contestants, several of whom performed their instrumental talent that will be showcased during the live January telecast on TLC from the Strip.

The contestants got to know one another at their first social outing to Universal Studios Orlando and experiencing its attractions and rides, including the Superman 3D Experience, the Hulk Rollercoaster and The Simpsons ride. The beauties took part in Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day in support of the Miss America charity and the Children’s Miracle Network, and at a Thunder Falls restaurant luncheon, our Christina and the 52 other beauty queens participated in a weekend program to support the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant.

Photo: Miss America Organization

2010 Miss America Pageant contestants at Universal Studios Orlando.

The Miss America Pageant moved from Atlantic City to Planet Hollywood here in 2006. The three nights of preliminaries will take place Jan. 26-28 at Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the preliminaries, as well as the Miss America Pageant finals, will be available at Ticketmaster in December.

“We are so excited to have the most talented, smart and beautiful girls in the nation returning here to their home at Planet Hollywood,” said Bill Feather, president of Planet Hollywood Worldwide Resorts. “The last four years have been wonderful experiences for not only Planet Hollywood, but for the city of Las Vegas, and the Miss America Pageant returning to our property gives us the opportunity to showcase our magnificent resort once again.”

“The 2009 Miss America Pageant on TLC was a great success, taking the ratings crown as the most-watched program on cable,” said Brent Zacky, vice president of development for TLC. "We look forward to working with the Miss America Organization and Planet Hollywood to make the 2010 broadcast event even bigger.”

Photo: Miss America Organization

2010 Miss America Pageant contestants at Universal Studios Orlando.

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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