Las Vegas Weekly

August 24, 2010 · 1:02 PM

Miss Universe photos and videos: pageant and after-party at LAX

By Don Chareunsy

Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones and Miss Universe 2010 Jimena Navarrete onstage after the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at Mandalay Bay on Aug. 23, 2010.

Photo: Patrick Prather/Miss Universe Organization

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

Last night, contestants in the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at Mandalay Bay Events Center celebrated with a post-telecast party at LAX in the Luxor after three weeks of pageant work including photo shoots, meet-and-greets, public appearances, interviews and, finally, competition in Las Vegas.

The pageant, hosted by Natalie Morales of NBC’s Today and Poison singer Bret Michaels, was won by Jimena Navarrete of Guadalajara, Mexico, in a two-hour telecast on NBC that also featured Viva Elvis musicians and Grammy winner John Legend and The Roots.

A number of the hopefuls, as well as present and past beauty queens, walked the red carpet outside LAX near Flight Lounge, including newly crowned Navarrete, who was radiant and still overwhelmed by her victory. Thunderous applause and cheers of “Mex-i-co! Mex-i-co! Mex-i-co!” could be heard throughout Mandalay Bay and the Luxor as the pageant aired tape delayed.

After pledging to promote her home country and people, a theme she repeated back stage in the media room, where Lupita Jones, the first and only other Miss Mexico to win Miss Universe in 1991, joined her, Navarrete posed at LAX with her sash and tiara, triumphantly raising her arms in front of an oversized Mexican flag. She was mobbed by fans, blew kisses and posed for numerous photographs.

The panel of judges in this year’s pageant were Luxor headliner Criss Angel, who sweetly mouthed “I love you, Mom” when he was introduced; actor, writer and producer William Baldwin, who was dashing on the arrivals red carpet; Olympic figure skating gold medalist and new Las Vegas resident Evan Lysacek; singer and actress Chynna Philips; drummer and singer Sheila E.; MSNBC host Tamron Hall; actress Jane Seymour; supermodel Niki Taylor; and Oscar-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri, whose A Bronx Tale returns to Las Vegas this fall.

Navarrete was joined inside LAX by Miss Universe hosts Michaels and Morales, Palminteri, The Roots and Angel, who was one of the first celebrities to arrive and held court at a VIP table on the stage near the deejay booth. The Miss Universe VIPs enjoyed Trump vodka, Jose Cuervo Platino Tequila and champagne. Last year’s Miss Universe, Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela, also joined the party at LAX.

A FEW EDITOR’S NOTES

An underage Top 15 finalist who shall remain nameless attempted to enter LAX without an ID and instead left “to spend the evening with my family and friends.” The Miss Universe Organization Web site lists her age as 19. Kudos to LAX and Pure Management Group for enforcing IDs. Which brings up the point: Why host the after-party at a nightclub when a fair number of the contestants each year -- perhaps one-third this year? -- are underage.

The contestants were popular with fans inside the nightclub, especially Miss Japan Maiko Itai in a pantsuit and a tall blonde who resembled Miss Canada Elena Semikina. Some of the pageant queens were still wearing their competition gowns and sashes, while others changed into sexier and shorter attire.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Miss Universe 2010 Jimena Navarrete walks the red carpet at LAX in the Luxor on Aug. 23, 2010.

Miss USA Rima Fakih reportedly skipped the party to spend time with her family, but I could’ve sworn Fakih, whom I interviewed at Todd English P.U.B. last week, made a brief appearance on the red carpet in a sleeveless red dress. It was disappointing that neither Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson nor Fakih made the Top 15. Miss Venezuela has won the past two Miss Universe Pageants, and not having the hometown girl lessened the night’s excitement.

2008 Miss USA Crystle Stewart, who is as stunning as ever, hit the red carpet with a very handsome guest, and both were popular with the cameras and crowd, with many wondering if her escort was a sports celebrity. The couple entered LAX after waiting in line for a while after their red carpet walk.

A rumor that new Miss Universe Navarrete wasn’t Mexican and actually hailed from Arizona was quickly squashed. Speaking of Arizona, Navarrete, in her elegant and flowing red evening gown, was asked about the state’s controversial immigration law twice while fielding questions in the media room through an interpreter after the pageant.

Check back right here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow as Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach wraps up this year’s coverage of the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. Thanks to contributing photographer Tom Donoghue and videographers Richard Corey and Christopher Rauschnot @24KMedia on Twitter for posting their videos on YouTube.

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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