Las Vegas Weekly

January 21, 2010 · 1:32 PM

Contestants arrive today for the 2010 Miss America Pageant

By Robin Leach

2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund, 2000 Miss America Heather French Henry, Miss America Organization Chairman Sam Haskell III and 1981 Miss America Susan Powell.

Photo: Miss America Organization

For the fifth consecutive year, the Miss America Pageant is headquartered in Las Vegas, and today, 53 of the nation’s most talented, intelligent and beautiful young women arrive at Planet Hollywood for this year’s competition. For the first time in nearly 50 years, Miss Puerto Rico is returning to the pageant.

This afternoon, Planet Hollywood’s new President Marilyn Winn and Planet Hollywood Worldwide Resorts President Bill Feather will officially welcome the contestants and present a rose to each of them. Marilyn, who also runs the Paris and Bally’s for Harrah’s corporate, is at Planet Hollywood since Harrah’s took over management affairs last weekend.

Heavy rain today has forced the normal outdoor Strip-front ceremony inside up at Holly Madison’s Peepshow theater area on the mezzanine. Follow the ceremony with reports and photos in real time via my tweets, and we’ll have photo galleries from our contributing photographers tomorrow.

The arrival festivities kick off a full week of preliminary competitions, public appearances and judges interviews that lead up to the live telecast hosted by Mario Lopez on Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on TLC.

The preliminary competitions for Talent & Evening Wear, Lifestyle & Fitness and Interview are next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Each contestant also will meet the judges one-on-one for Q&A sessions.

This year’s judges are actress Vivica A. Fox, 2002 Miss America Katie Harmon, Olympic gold medalist gymnast Shawn Johnson, American Idol Season 7 finalist Brooke White, jazz musician Dave Koz, actor-comedian Paul Rodriguez and radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. I’ll meet with them next week to get their take on this year’s contestants and just exactly what they plan to put them through.

Here’s the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN for the 2010 Miss America Pageant entrants:

Friday, Jan. 22

7 a.m.: IHOP breakfast to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.

7 p.m.: Gondola rides at St. Mark’s Square in The Venetian.

Saturday, Jan. 23

5:30 p.m.: Runway meet-and-greet autograph session at Fashion Show mall.

Sunday, Jan. 24

6:30 p.m.: Electric go-karts at Pole Position Raceway opposite Palms Place.

Monday, Jan. 25

Judges’ interviews.

Tuesday, Jan. 26

First rehearsals, judges’ interviews and Miss America preliminary competition at Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts.

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Rehearsals, judges’ interviews and preliminary competition.

Thursday, Jan. 28

Rehearsals, judges’ interviews and final preliminary competition.

10:30 a.m.: Press conference with 2009 Miss America Katie Stam, former Miss Americas and Quality of Life Awards.

Noon: Miss America luncheon hosted by Lynn Weidner, 1971 Miss New Jersey, at Neiman Marcus.

Friday, Jan. 29

Host Mario Lopez arrives for final rehearsals and press conference.

6:30 p.m. Evening of Dreams hosted by yours truly and Katie Stam. Entertainment from Dorothy Benham (1977 Miss America), Kylene Barker-McNeil (1979), Sharlene Wells-Hawkes (1985), Kate Shindle (1998), Jennifer French-Henry (2000) and Ericka Dunlap (2004). The night includes a performance by Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2010 Jeanette Morelan, a two-hour dance party for the 53 contestants and a military tribute with Sharlene and Miss America Organization Chairman Sam Haskell III.

Saturday, Jan. 30

5 p.m.: Live telecast on TLC, with the crowning of the new Miss America at 6:55 p.m.

Vegas DeLuxe will report daily on all the activities of the Miss America beauties, and tomorrow, we’ll have the photo gallery of this afternoon’s welcoming ceremony. Next week, we’ll also have our exclusive interview with Christina Keegan, our Miss Nevada representative.

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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