Las Vegas Weekly

August 11, 2010 · 4:24 PM

Photos: Miss Universe Pageant contestants out and about in L.V.

By Robin Leach

Mayor Oscar Goodman and Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela with the 2010 Miss Universe contestants at the Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Sign on Aug. 11, 2010.

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

All 83 of the world’s most beautiful women have completed their registration and costume fittings for the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant, and today they start a busy round of appearances throughout Las Vegas filming segments that will wind up on the Aug. 23 NBC live telecast from Mandalay Bay.

Here are the latest official Miss Universe photos from the first hair and makeup sessions and swimsuit pictorial. The contestants and Miss Universe executive team and staffers are headquartered at Mandalay Bay and the adjoining Luxor.

The first public showcase of the glamour girls was today at 8 a.m. with our merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. The bevy of beauties were clad in Dar Be Dar bikinis from designer Tala Raassi for the show-opening photograph and were led by 2009 Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela. We spoke with Stefania as she rode a bus into Las Vegas over the weekend with a handful of the hopefuls.

This afternoon, 30 of the pageant contestants, still in their stunning swimwear, will be at Fashion Show mall to set up a lemonade stand as a fundraiser for the Nevada Cancer Institute. It’s a promotion to help Las Vegas visitors beat the 100-degree heat and encourage them to donate. There is another fundraiser for NCI on Saturday at Mandalay Bay with the Miss Universe National Gift Auction.

Tonight, Stefania leads the 83 pageant princesses downtown to World Market Center, and several culinary kings will join our favorite local celebrity chefs Rick Moonen of RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay and Todd English of Olives at Bellagio and Todd English P.U.B. in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals. They’ll serve an international dinner representing the 83 countries in competition.

Tomorrow, it’s a 6 a.m. start for the girls to get the best of dawn’s early light as they pose on Mandalay Bay Beach for the annual official swimsuit photo shoot. Vegas DeLuxe will have full photo coverage of all the Miss Universe events and behind-the-scenes, too, so check back often as the days tick to the crowning Aug. 23.

Today, contributing videographer Richard Corey had an exclusive interview with Miss Israel that we’ll post tomorrow. I’ll also be talking exclusively to Miss Michigan turned Miss USA Rima Fakih, who was crowned at Planet Hollywood in May. Thanks to Richard for his videos at the Las Vegas sign that he posted on YouTube.

All I can say for now is that the first Arab-American Miss USA is one very determined young lady and plans to be right there onstage under the center spotlight when the final five girls are announced!

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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