Las Vegas Weekly

August 18, 2010 · 4:58 PM

Miss Universe photos: Todd English hosts contestants at P.U.B.

By Don Chareunsy

The contestants of the 2010 Miss Universe competition at Todd English P.U.B. at Crystals in CityCenter.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

The 83 contestants in the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant took a break from all the public appearances and photo shoots for dinner and a cooking demonstration at star chef Todd English’s Todd English P.U.B. in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals last night.

The beautiful pageant winners, dressed in everything from long glittering and flowing gowns to short shorts, were cordoned off at the back of the P.U.B. while English was in the line kitchen with some of the hopefuls, including Miss Canada, Miss Japan, Miss USA Rima Fakih and Miss Puerto Rico, who was one of the ladies who opted for the shortest of shorts to show off her gorgeous gams.

Fans young and old -- and mostly male -- gathered at the end of the bar to watch the women eat and to politely ask them to pose for photographs, with Miss USA, Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Peru especially popular and friendly posing for patrons, who applauded as the women entered and exited Todd English P.U.B.

Star chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay, the recent runner-up on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, was among the patrons and talked about how he is hosting Project Dinner Table, most recently at the El Cortez, in October.

So how did English feel about hosting 83 of the world’s most beautiful women in his restaurant? Laughing, he replied, “Do I really have to answer that? I never thought something like this would ever happen in my life. It’s incredible. If heaven is like this, sign me up! I’m going!”

Some of the Miss Universe hopefuls are very tall. Did any of the women stand out to the handsome chef? “I’m 6’ 2 1/2,” 6’3” on a good day, and I was looking up at some of them! Miss Canada and Miss Poland stand out. Miss Japan is tall -- it must be the Kobe beef!”

Miss Michigan Fakih, who cheered on customers who took part in the 7-second pint challenge at the bar and carried a bright red purse with her champagne-colored ensemble, answered a few questions in between dining and posing for photographs with fans.

How do you feel with less than one week left before the Miss Universe Pageant?

“I remain very positive about the experience. I’m really psyched! The thought of winning keeps me very excited and hyper. I’m here to show the world that the U.S. still has it.”

I saw a photo of your golden eagle costume today. What inspired you to dedicate it to President Obama?

“There was a lot of controversy when I won Miss USA because I don’t fit the perfect all-American image, but that’s untrue. This is a diverse nation with all types of ethnicities that make us strong. When President Obama was elected, I remember seeing the presidential seal, and that inspired me, affirming that we are one nation united. My costume represents me: strong, sexy, beautiful and hot,” Fakih laughed.

Of course you want to win, but who else stands out?

“All of these women are amazing. My roommate, Miss Puerto Rico, is a standout. I also like Miss Turkey.”

What has been your most memorable experience so far?

“Walking through Mandalay Bay at 5:30 a.m., when a lot of people are still drunk, in our robes!”

The contestants ended the night with a performance of Viva Elvis, Cirque du Soleil’s seventh spectacular on The Strip, and we’ll have those photos right here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow. Thanks to contributing photographer Tom Donoghue for shooting his photo gallery at Todd English P.U.B. for Vegas DeLuxe.

The 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at Mandalay Bay Events Center airs Monday at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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

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

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

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