Las Vegas Weekly

August 18, 2010 · 1:24 PM

Miss Universe photos: MAGIC Fashion Week, Minus5, CityCenter

By Robin Leach

Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih, Miss Mexico 2010 Jimena Navarrete and Miss Canada 2010 Elena Semikina pose in their Dar Be Dar swimsuits at Mandalay Bay on Aug. 15, 2010.

Photo: Darren Decker/Miss Universe Organization

The glamor girls of the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant put their best feet forward today with two fashion shows as part of MAGIC Fashion Week that’s in town. First stop will be this afternoon at the Las Vegas Convention Center when the contestants from Aruba, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Georgia and Great Britain turn heads in their Dar Be Dar swimsuits designed by Tala Raassi.

Then tonight in the hardwood basketball suite in the Fantasy Tower of the Palms, owner George Maloof welcomes contestants from Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Miss USA Rima Fakih for their swimsuit show.

Last night, Editor Don Chareunsy received his first up-close look at all 83 contestants when he joined them at celebrity chef Todd English’s P.U.B. in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals. Todd, who is a four-time James Beard Award winner, hosted 2009 Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez and the contestants while NBC cameras recorded vignettes for inclusion in Monday’s live telecast.

Check back right here at Vegas DeLuxe later today for Don’s report and a photo gallery from contributing photographer Tom Donoghue. After dining at Todd English P.U.B., the contestants were guests of Cirque du Soleil for a performance of Viva Elvis at MGM CityCenter’s Aria. The dancers and acrobats of Viva Elvis are performing on Monday’s telecast.

Meantime, Stefania debuted the exclusive Miss Universe edition Couture Pop at Sugar Factory in The Mirage, and it joins the roster of celebrity-designed Couture Pops that includes Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, The Pussycat Dolls and Mel B of The Spice Girls. The Miss Universe contestants also made visits to MGM’s CityCenter and to Monte Carlo for the new Minus5 Ice Lounge and for a chicken wings eating contest at Diablo’s.

Photo: Carlos Larios

2009 Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez unveils the Miss Universe edition Couture Pop at Sugar Factory in The Mirage on Aug. 16, 2010.

TV cameras filmed all their stops, and footage will be included in Monday’s live NBC telecast from Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Miss Universe Organization revealed the panel of judges this morning, and Vegas DeLuxe was at the head of the pack to post a story. We had already revealed that Mindfreak magician Criss Angel is on this year’s panel.

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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