miss usa las vegas - has had its share of scandals - by Kiki

Miss USA Las Vegas

Miss USA Las Vegas is being hosted at "Planet Hollywood" on the Strip this year. Las Vegas will be home to the Miss USA pageant for the first time. Donald Trump, who owns Miss World Competition and Miss USA franchise, hopes Las Vegas will add glitz and glamour the Miss USA pageant that has been lacking in recent years.

Photograph of Miss USA Las Vegas shows several hot contestants in swimsuit in the preliminary competition hosted at Planet Hollywood on the Strip. The preliminary competition is held one week before the final contest. All candidates must wear the same swimsuit. Out of 15 semifinalists only one will reign as Miss USA until next year's competition.

This is a picture of Miss Colorado in evening gown at the Miss USA Las Vegas preliminary competition in Planet Hollywood. She designed her own gown and hopes to take home the crown at the Miss USA contest held one week after the preliminary competition.

Tara Conner, Miss USA Las Vegas, was dethroned in 2006 by Trump for her scandalous behavior when she admitted to using drugs, drinking while underage and kissing Miss Teen USA Katie Blair in public. Another scandal reached the media last year when Miss Nevada, Katie Rees, was stripped of her title in 2007 for inappropriate photos on the Internet, unruly partying conduct and resisting arrest. Scandal is not new to the pageant. Mary Leona Gage resigned in 1957 when it was revealed she was married.

Photograph of Miss USA Las Vegas candidates in evening gowns at the preliminary competition being hosted at Planet Hollywood on the Strip. 51 contestants are competing for the title this year. The final competition is held one week after the preliminary.

Donald Trump is hoping Donny and Marie Osmond will restore a peaceful, wholesome look to the pageant when they host it live on April 11, 2008 at Planet Hollywood. 80 countries will be watching the telecast as it unfolds. Planet Hollywood, formerly the Aladdin is also home to the Miss America pageant.

Photograph of Miss USA Las Vegas contestants with judges at the preliminary competition in Planet Hollywood. Judges will narrow down the list of 51 candidates to 15 semi-finalists before choosing the winner of the Miss USA pageant.

The Miss USA Las Vegas pageant was started in 1950 by Catalina Swimwear when Yolande Betbeze, winner of the Miss America pageant refused to pose in their swimwear. Donald Trump purchased it in 1996. Well-known game show hosts like Bob Barker and Dick Clark have hosted the pageant over the years. Viewership has been dropping since the 1990's. So Donald Trump gave NBC half ownership in not only the Miss USA pageant but also Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe.

Historically there is no dance and number section in the Miss USA pageant like they do in the Miss America pageant. Instead, contestants model swimwear, evening gowns and are allowed a short interview. A Preliminary competition is held one week before the actual contest. Judges review each candidate and choose semifinalists who will compete again in swimsuit and gown. These semifinalists will be interviewed with the winner and the runners-up chosen at this time. It is interesting to learn different judges are assigned to the final competition.

This picture features Miss Florida in evening gown at the Miss USA Las Vegas preliminary competition in Planet Hollywood on the Strip. She is one of 51 contestants hoping to win the title of Miss USA for one year.

Several delegates have been featured on TV and in films, like Hale Berry, Miss Ohio USA 1986 the well-known actress and Oscar winner. Six contestants were chosen to appear on Fear Factor, an NBC reality show from 2003-2005. In 2007, MTV aired Pageant Place featuring candidates Tara Conner and Rachel Renee Smith, Miss Tennessee and 2007 winner of Miss USA Las Vegas.