Las Vegas Weekly

May 16, 2010 · 3:51 PM

Live blog: And the new 2010 Miss USA is …

By Robin Leach

2010 Miss Michigan Rima Fakih is crowned Miss USA during the 2010 Miss USA Pageant at Planet Hollywood on May 16, 2010. At left is host Curtis Stone.

Photo: Darren Decker/Miss USA

Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach tweets from the 2010 Miss USA Pageant in the Theater for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood:

Feisty interview with Joan Rivers and Melissa Rivers hoping backstage will be chaos and mayhem. “We’re here for the beauty. Let’s call it what it is.”

Donald Trump says Steve Wynn is at today’s Miss USA Pageant. Donald says three more years for pageant on NBC from Las Vegas but talking with other hotels.

Just 35 minutes to start of Miss USA Pageant. Looks like a full and very excited house. We will tweet throughout. Photo of new Miss USA at 6:15 p.m.

Shanna Moakler in the Miss USA audience awaiting start of the show.

Steve confirms that he’s single and romance with Andrea Hissom ended. He says he’s a bachelor for the first time and can’t imagine a better place to be than Miss USA.

The pageant has started with an introduction from The Donald and the parade of 51 contestants in short, sparkly and glittery dresses.

The evening’s hosts are Natalie Morales of NBC’s Today and Australian chef Curtis Stone. Red carpet icons Joan and Melissa Rivers are backstage. Joan has a sash that reads Miss Mayflower.

The Top 15 are announced in no particular order : Miss Arkansas Adrielle Churchill, Miss Kansas Bethany Gerber, Miss Michigan Rima Fakih, Miss Wyoming Claire Schreiner, Miss Pennsylvania Gina Cerilli, Miss California Nicole Michele Johnson, Miss Colorado Jessica Hartman, Miss Tennessee Tucker Perry, Miss Oklahoma Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, Miss Missouri Ashley Strohmier, Miss Alabama Audrey Moore, Miss Nebraska Belinda Wright, Miss Virginia Samantha Casey, Miss Mississippi Breanne Ponder and Miss Maine Katherine Whittier.

Steve and Donald confirm three business meetings while here in Las Vegas over breakfast, lunch and dinner. Is the pageant moving next year?

Joan and Melissa joke backstage about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan and herpes. Reigning Miss America Kristen Dalton recaps her year.

The judges are introduced: The Food Network star Paula Deen, The Office star Oscar Nunez, 2006 Miss USA Tara Conner, figure skater Johnny Weir, Melania Trump, Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin, Glamour Executive Fashion Editor Suzy Yalof Schwartz and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets.

I am very happy Miss Nebraska Belinda Wright made it into the Top 15 after last weekend’s tragic death of her father. Her family is here at Planet Hollywood watching. They say that they all agreed she could and should carry on. There will be a service this week back in Nebraska.

Top Las Vegas model and 2008 Miss Indiana Brittany Mason flew in from China to watch the pageant, with a brief stop at Michael Boychuck’s Amp Salon in the Palms.

Joan and Melissa critique the swimsuits: “Miss Kansas has a real and athletic body. Miss Michigan works it. Miss Oklahoma’s bra for her breasts has its own coach.”

I am betting Miss Michigan makes it to Top Three. Check my Flip video with her from earlier in the week. The Top 10 are next.

The Top 10 are Miss Tennessee Tucker Perry, Miss Maine Katherine Whittier, Miss Mississippi Courtney Ponder, Miss Alabama Audrey Moore, Miss Michigan Rima Fakih, Miss Oklahoma Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, Miss Missouri Ashley Strohmier, Miss California Nicole Michele Johnson, Miss Virginia Samantha Casey and Miss Colorado Jessica Hartman.

We are at halfway mark. Ball gown and the dreaded do-or-die judges’ question are up next. Top Five after the gowns with Trace Adkins’ “This Ain’t No Love Song.”

Joan and Melissa critique the evening gowns: Miss California and Miss Oklahoma look amazing. Miss Michigan tripped! “Miss Missouri’s top and bottom are disconnected. She looks like she was dipped in Gatorade.”

A video of the infamous photo shoot of the 51 contestants is played. The audience response is lukewarm. 2009 Miss Teen USA Stormi Henley announces that 2010 Miss Congeniality is Miss Nebraska Belinda Wright. A deserved win! 2009 Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez announces that 2010 Miss Photogenic is 2010 Miss Alabama Audrey Moore. This award is voted on by fans.

The Top Five are Miss Oklahoma Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, Miss Michigan Rima Fakih, Miss Colorado Jessica Hartman, Miss Virginia Samantha Casey and Miss Maine Katherine Whittier.

Miss Oklahoma talks about being artistic. Miss Michigan talks about selling her car to fund her pageant dream. Miss Colorado talks about being a laid-back country girl. Miss Virginia says she makes an amazing grilled cheese sandwich. And Miss Maine, who is very tall, is a pilot.

Oscar Nunez asks Miss Oklahoma about Arizona’s immigration law -- right of states v. federal law? She says she sees both sides. Tara Conner asks Miss Michigan if birth control pills should be covered by health care. Miss Michigan says yes! Johnny Weir asks Miss Colorado about a new online social site that allows people to post anonymous posts that are sometimes nasty and sexually charged. Should they be regulated? She says people should take the responsibility into their own hands.

Paula Deen asks Miss Virginia about the oil spill off Louisiana. Should BP take full responsibility? Her answer is yes and no. Melania Trump asks Miss Maine about the contestants’ glamour shots. How do they make you feel? She says it represents a beautiful, sexy and classy Miss USA.

Is it between Oklahoma, Virginia or Maine? Or will Michigan or Colorado win? My bet: Oklahoma to win! Betting in my row: It’s between Michigan and Oklahoma.

Photo: Patrick Prather/Miss USA

2010 Miss Michigan USA Rima Fakih has been crowned 2010 Miss USA.

Steve Marcus

2010 Miss Michigan Rima Fakih reacts after being crowned Miss USA during the 2010 Miss USA Pageant at Planet Hollywood on May 16, 2010.

Everybody is back onstage for the big winner crowning, and 2009 Miss USA Kristen Dalton takes her final walk.

The fourth runner-up is Miss Maine Katherine Whittier, the third runner-up is Miss Colorado Jessica Hartman, the second runner-up is Miss Virginia Samantha Casey, the first runner-up is Miss Oklahoma Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, and the new 2010 Miss USA is Miss Michigan Rima Fakih.

Rima was born in Lebanon and raised Muslim and Christian. Her family moved to Queens in New York when she was a baby and then to Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2008 with a degree in economics. She holds three jobs, taking a third job to help finance her pageant expenses.

Onstage for my second interview in a week with Miss Michigan, except now she is Miss USA. Steve Wynn is onstage with The Donald.

Here’s the dueling Flip video I recorded of Miss Michigan that we posted Monday; you can go to her Facebook page to see her version of it.

Please click through Vegas DeLuxe to see our voluminous stories and photo galleries leading up to today’s 2010 Miss USA Pageant.

Vegas DeLuxe Editor Don Chareunsy contributed to this report.

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