Las Vegas Weekly

May 23, 2012 · 1:07 PM

2012 Miss USA Day 2: Red Rock Resort, wedges, gowns, SFAB

By Robin Leach

2012 Miss USA Pageant contestants at Red Rock Resort on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.

Photo: Darren Decker/Miss USA Organization

The pressures and pace picked up Tuesday in preparations for the 51 contestants competing in the 2012 Miss USA Pageant. The official Miss USA Pageant photographs tell a better story than words can convey; our thanks to the organization’s photographers Valerie Macon, Darren Decker and Patrick Prather for today’s galleries.

RED ROCK RESORT

2011 Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, now with only 11 days left in her reign before turning over her crown on the NBC telecast June 3 at Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts, led a group of contestants to Red Rock Resort for poolside photo sessions.

WEDGE RUN

Under a blazing sun and 100-degree-plus temperatures, two lanes of the Strip were shut down briefly for a one-legged Chinese Laundry Wedge Run hosted by actress Dania Ramirez (“Entourage,” “Heroes,” “The Sopranos”) and assisted by Kyle Eftnemes of Chippendales at the Rio.

2012 Miss Missouri USA Katie Kearney was the winner, and she donated her $2,000 prize to charity. Our 2012 Miss Nevada USA Jade Kelsall competed with her roommate, 2012 Miss Montana USA Autumn Muller.

EVENING GOWNS

*The 51 hopefuls of the 61st pageant also posed for their first evening gown portrait sessions, and Jade looked spectacular in her show-lots-of leg Grecian-style gown.

SUGAR FACTORY

*Redheaded Alyssa, Miss California and a former Las Vegas model, wound up in the front windows of Sugar Factory American Brasserie at the Paris, where the glamour girls snapped photographs before shopping in the candy store.

Today, the contestants present a poolside runway fashion show in Kooey Swimwear at Trump Towers International Hotel pool, and then tonight, TV personality Jerry Springer hosts their official welcome with Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart at Planet Hollywood.

Robert Earl, president of Planet Hollywood International, afterward hosts their dinner at his restaurant Buca di Beppo on Flamingo just east of the Strip. Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue and videographer Richard Corey will have photos and video, respectively, for our Thursday 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.

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