Las Vegas Weekly

January 7, 2010 · 11:07 AM

2010 Miss America Pageant begins at Planet Hollywood in two weeks

By Robin Leach

Host Mario Lopez with 2009 Miss America Katie Stam of Indiana.

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

It’s now definite that the 53 women who will compete for the 2010 Miss America Pageant title will arrive at Planet Hollywood exactly two weeks from today. Once they’ve checked in at the casino resort, they will gather on the hotel’s Strip front forecourt for the red rose welcome ceremony and pose for the first group photographs.

The first event for the contestants -- now including Miss Puerto Rico for the first time -- will be the next morning at a breakfast sponsored by IHOP honoring Children’s Miracle Network at the resort’s major ballroom, followed that night by their first outing for gondola rides at The Venetian.

Then on Jan. 23 on the runway of the Great Hall at Fashion Show mall, Miss New Jersey 1971 Lynn Weidner, who lives here in Las Vegas, will emcee the runway presentation, where the lovely ladies will be available for autographs and photos. On Jan. 24, the girls will go racing in the electric-speed karts at Pole Position Raceway opposite Palms Place.

Then follows a week packed with judges’ interviews and preliminary pageants. Their only break will be the screening of the Disney film When in Rome starring Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell and Angelica Huston. This year’s panel of judges -- which includes Rush Limbaugh, who has recovered from a Hawaii hospital scare, Vivica A. Fox, Paul Rodriguez, Dave Koz, Shawn Johnson and 2001 Miss America Katie Harman -- will meet on Jan 27.

I’ll chat with host Mario Lopez on Jan. 29. That night, I will emcee the Dinner of Dreams, with 2009 Miss America Katie Stam of Indiana as my co-host. It’s difficult to believe that 12 months have gone by since I was the first to interview Katie after she was crowned.

The TLC telecast on Jan. 30 will start at 5 p.m. PT from Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for the Performing Arts. I’ve learned that there will be a completely new opening to the pageant. Once rehearsals are underway, we’ll share the scoop.

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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