Las Vegas Weekly

May 13, 2010 · 7:24 AM

Photos: Hopefuls shine at Miss USA presentation; risque video debuts

By Robin Leach

The first night of preliminary judging in the 2010 Miss USA Pageant at Planet Hollywood on May 12, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The racy, risque and now controversial photos of the 2010 Miss USA contestants in their lacy lingerie and come-hither, bedroom, stocking-and-garter-belt looks will be shown during Sunday’s live broadcast. Last night, the video of the pinup photo shoot was a feature of the glamour girls’ first presentation show as all 51 contestants paraded in sensational swimsuits -- all bikinis, of course -- and their sometimes slashed-to-the-thigh evening gowns.

Reigning Miss USA Kristen Dalton, who will pass on her crown in just 72 hours when NBC telecasts live at 7 p.m. ET from Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts, hosted the dress rehearsal. Las Vegas Morning Zoo creator and DJ Chet Buchanan was her co-host, and Donny & Marie Osmond Show producer Chip Lightman served as one of last night’s presentation judges.

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue shot this super collection of photographs last night, and the show marked the courageous and elegant return to competition for Miss Nebraska USA Belinda Wright. She had flown back home late last Thursday after learning of the tragic death of her father reportedly from a tractor accident on a farm.

Belinda stood tall, proud, beautiful and composed. She smiled with not a hint of the grim and sad six days she’d just endured. No mention was made at last night’s preliminary about the death. Nobody but the lovely ladies and their chaperones are permitted backstage, so it may be a while before we learn more.

The backdrop sets for the pageant are a colorful marvel of the Las Vegas skyline showing The Strip at its neon best. Two hours of spectacular Las Vegas promotion on network television come Sunday! The sweeping aerials for the bikini blast feature the Trump International Hotel insignia prominently as a tip of the hat to real estate mogul Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants. The winner here Sunday represents the United States in the Miss Universe Pageant in the Bahamas in August.

The contestants looked knockout gorgeous last night, both confident and classy. Miss Nevada USA Julianne Erdesz shined among three tall competitors all standing at 6’3” before adding in their heels. As you can see in our photo gallery, many of the evening gowns were simply sensational, with the all-white shimmering one worn by Miss California USA drawing wild applause.

I sensed somewhat of a stunned silence when the vixen video was screened in between the swimsuit and ballgown parades. The hosts tried to whip up enthusiasm for the extraordinary and unexpected departure from pageant norm into the sexy Helmut Newton photo shoot, which we posted Monday, but the invitees remained fairly quiet.

It was the first time state pageant officials and contestants’ families and fans saw the video from the stills shoot, and there’s no doubt that it’s created controversy. But Donald and Miss USA President Paula Shugart -- and the contestants themselves -- have all defended the shoot. It will be interesting to gauge reaction Monday after Sunday’s telecast.

Backstage commentators Joan and Melissa Rivers will be certain to add fuel to the fire when they reveal all the behind-the-scenes secrets during Sunday’s broadcast. We reported Tuesday the hosts, stars and judges set for this year’s pageant.

I have interviews set tomorrow with Paula, Julianna and Kristen, who will retire her crown to start a career as a TV host in New York, and we’ll have those conversations Saturday and Sunday here at Vegas DeLuxe. Then Sunday, we’ll tweet live from inside the theater and about 6:15 p.m. bring you first photos of the winner and our interview from the stage.

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.

Share This