Miss USA latest pageant to move to Las Vegas
Live from the Planet Hollywood Resort in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip: It's the Miss USA pageant!
And before you say "we just did this in January," you're half right; that was Miss America. Hot on the high heels of that vaunted beauty contest, Miss USA pageant co-owners Donald Trump and NBC are unleashing their glammed-up version of American beauty on the same Las Vegas stage.
No, this isn't a sign that Las Vegas is being annexed by the deep South. It's doubtful the pageant lifestyle will become as ingrained in our city culture as, say, political corruption or strip clubs. But something does seem to be up. Why are these beauty pageants moving to Las Vegas?
Some might say they're a marriage made in heaven, or hell, because Sin City and pageants both objectify beautiful women. Or, the collaboration is a good way to reinvigorate the flagging pageant world, which once titillated millions but has become somewhat passe in a society where images of half-dressed, hot women are as near as the neighborhood billboard.
"I actually don't think that's a complicated answer from my perspective," says Lynn Comella, assistant professor of women's studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "These pageants are commercial entities. If their ratings have been dropping, lagging, what better way to improve them than change the venue? And what better change than the epicenter of popular culture?"
That's about right, according to Planet Hollywood and Miss USA representatives. Las Vegas is cool and trendy; do something in Las Vegas and it could become cool and trendy by default.
But it's also a great way to bring attention to Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood, says Robert Earl, co-chairman of Planet Hollywood Resort. These broadcasts can attract millions, Earl says, and reach people who may one day be guests at the hotel.
"It was an irresistible opportunity for Las Vegas. Two hours live on NBC where we get the chance to portray the whole city and our new resort, it was an opportunity that we didn't want to go by," Earl says.
In watching tapes of previous broadcasts, Earl says he was struck by the way the host city was featured so prominently.
"They always make a point that their broadcast is a good reflection of the city where they're broadcasting from," he adds.
It also helped that Earl was "friendly" with Donald Trump.
The Miss Universe pageant was broadcast from Las Vegas 10 years ago, says Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, which also operates Miss USA.
The organization had been talking about moving here for years, she says, and 2008 was the perfect timing.
It helps that Las Vegas is considered the entertainment capital of the world, Shugart says.
"There's an excitement here that's easy to tap into," she explains. "It's great for a television show, that excitement. I don't want to say the party atmosphere but the excitement."
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4564.
SEE FOR YOURSELF
Miss USA contestants will be judged on swimsuit, evening wear and interview categories. Each is worth one-third of the final score. Here is a schedule of events open to the public:
Preliminary competiton: 7 p.m. Saturday in the Theatre of Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets cost $25 to $75.
Finals: 6 p.m. April 11 in the Theatre of Performing Arts. Ticket prices range from $55 to $150. A dress rehearsal also will take place April 11 at a time to be announced; tickets for that event are $25.
All tickets can be purchased at the Planet Hollywood box office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sundays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets also are available online at www.ticketmaster.com; or by calling 474-4000 or (877) 307-8667.
