Remember when Miss USA Pageant contestants once wanted to cure cancer and be the first female president? Or do you recall when swimsuits and two-piece bathing suits were all the rage? Well, get with the times– that was so last century! This year’s Miss USA pageant is trying to boost rapidly sagging television ratings by promoting its upcoming pageant with an erotically explosive expose of the contestants shown in busty and skimpy photos and videos. 
A pageant spokeswoman calls the underwear photos tasteful. The contenders for the pageant title ALL dream of being Victoria’s Secret Angels, reveals pageant president Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, which operates the Miss USA pageant.
“They’re not looking to bring peace to the world,” Shugart explained to Today Show co-host Matt Lauer on May 11. That’s why it was not just OK, but it actually made sense to have the 51 contestants photographed in bust- and leg-revealing, bras, panties, fish-net stockings and open men’s shirts, while laying on beds and chaise lounges, for their pageant promo shoots.
The “come hither” black and white photos make the contestants look more like members of Tiger Woods‘ harem than the young ladies who supposedly combine beauty and brains we’re used to seeing in pageants.
The tenuous line between wholesome family entertainment and soft porn has now, apparently, been obliterated- one for the dusty history books.
Girls in bikinis appear chaste and sublime next to this year’s crop of potential Miss USAs, who are adorned in masses of long wild hair, heavy smoky make-up and pouty lipstick, sprawled seductively on beds.
But pageant officials are quick to point out that the seductive shoots were all voluntary and had no force or effect on the judging. Yeah, right. Nearly all contestants participated.
Swirling controversy, however, has been common fodder for the pageant as of late.
Former pageant winner and now judge Tara Connor says she doesn’t have a problem with the revealing looks, questioning why many have their “panties in wad.” She nearly lost her crown after reports of substance abuse cropped up in 2006 and even had to go into rehab.
The next year, Miss Nevada, Katie Rees, lost her title after racy photographs surfaced on the Internet.
And last year, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, got into some trouble for comments against gay marriage — and her own set of racy photos appeared. Eventually, she was fired.
Pageant owner and well-quaffed Donald Trump seems to feel that the sexed-up look is necessary for the contestants if the pageant is going to compete for ratings on TV. He says he has no problem with the pictures. He calls them “a little bit sexy” and is glad people will be watching.
“If you look at Miss America, it’s now off network television,” Donald told the New York Daily News.
So, BFFs — wanting to be a beautiful brain surgeon who happens to also look good in elbow-length gloves and a ball gown just isn’t enough to compete in a beauty pageant anymore.
You also have to be willing to crouch on a bed, pouting on all fours in Madonna-style soft-core porn pics.
“There used to be an idea that pageants … were about upstanding young women with a future and it wasn’t at all surprising to find a woman of stature in public life, in government or corporate America who had a pageant tucked into her resumé,” says Pamela Paul, author of Pornified. ”There was an idea that pageant contestants could be well-rounded woman with ambition. This ad campaign chucks aside any other qualifications than they look good in a bra.”
On the Miss Universe/Miss USA website for the 51 contestants, brief bios list their ages, hometowns- and nothing else. They do, however, all get star ratings. Interestingly, the top-rated contestant was Miss Louisiana, Sara Brooks, a 21-year-old from Lafayette who happens to be the most clothed of all of the 51 contenders. Maybe people do like having pageant beauty leave a little something to the imagination and just maybe they would like them to be brain surgeons as well as beauties after all?
Just a few decades ago, more than 20 million viewers watched women in one-piece bathing suits in the Miss America pageant. But as the suits got skimpier, that portion of the competition was downplayed — and viewers fled. That contest is now off the air, a fate Miss USA is trying to avoid like the plague- at any cost.
“Any press is good press,” Conner admits. “So — keep talking!”
NBC’s “59th Annual Miss USA Pageant,” which will broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on May 16 (7-9 p.m. ET).
Tickets to the Miss USA Preliminary and Finals competitions at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com and at (800) 745-3000.
{Pictured is Miss USA 2010 contender Nicole Johnson from California.}
beyond the expected by tossing aside her pasties and taking to the stage completely topless. The positive response to this performance has led to a return engagement for the 37-year-old former Playmate. Electra will once again be on the cabaret stage at the Crazy Horse Paris starring in two shows nightly starting Monday, October 7. She will participate in the ensemble routine “Etoile de Paris” as well as solo routines choreographed around her personal dance style.
On Friday, Sept. 4 the Studio 54 line-up will include the ultimate Playboy Playmate experience with some of the most celebrated models in recent years, including Lindsay Wagner, left, 
Next Door fan-favorite Holly Madison, right, will host the evening’s festivities. The blonde bombshell is currently starring in the lead role of the sultry adult production Peepshow on the Las Vegas Strip. 
First, Fleiss gave a boost to Pahrump, Nevada tax revenues in 2007, and since, by opening her very successful Dirty Laundry coin-op laundromat business. Now, she’s got a new plan– taking dead aim at cleaning all the dirty dogs in Las Vegas. 
Fleiss’ business partner in the venture is Kendra Jade Rossi, left, a porn star and recovering sex addict who said she plans to regularly commute to Las Vegas from her home in Los Angeles. 
Penthouse Gentleman’s Club in Las Vegas has been taken over by the legend of The Crazy Horse. At one time, Crazy Horse defined the genre for Las Vegas adult entertainment. Now, the Crazy Horse III is taking the next step and redefining the Las Vegas adult entertainment experience. 
The adult entertainment industry in Las Vegas has suffered yet another blow, as some dancers at Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club, the world’s largest gentlemen’s club, are being asked to put their clothes back on. Last week the plug was pulled on the Sapphire pool retreat at the Rio. The topless pool has been closed indefinitely, according to Rio’s management. 
As one of the longest-running shows on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, the retro -glam showgirl extravaganza Jubilee! at Bally’s Las Vegas has entertained more than 11 million guests. On July 31 the show celebrates 28 years of gorgeous showgirls, lavish costumes, dazzling scenery, world -renowned specialty acts, dynamic music and graceful pageantry.
Guitarist Oz Fox of the reactivated Christian hard rockers Stryper will marry Annie Lobért, a 41-year-old former call girl who founded the international Christian ministry Hookers for Jesus, on June 5 in Las Vegas. 
the Riviera, a new Crazy Girls Cafe could perhaps be coming to a neighborhood near you. 
American TV and film personality Carmen Electra is geared up to star in a new ‘topless’ Vegas show, but she will not be going topless.
show has recently converted its format and is largely topless.
against VCX Ltd. of North Las Vegas. Arrow claims VCX is infringing on its “Deep Throat” trademark by selling copies of that production. 
wife’s disappearance, said he’s considering a tempting brothel job offer he has received from the HBO reality show “Cathouse,” filmed at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch near Reno. 
is the first African-born playmate and the magazine’s 50th Playmate of the Year. She came to the United States five years ago from Dar es Saluam, Tanzania, to study fashion design, and is featured in the June issue.
Simon Restaurant at Palms Place. The guy with the most Viagra in the world, Hugh Hefner, will be there, along with his Playmates from the past 55 years- a total of 68 beauties. 
their 49-year-run, Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce also called it quits, succumbing to the ongoing ravages of the economy last weekend after more than four years of being in the retail shops area adjacent to MGM Mirage’s Mandalay Bay. 
Hugh Hefner will be prancing around all this weekend in his aged red robe all over the Palms Casino in Las Vegas celebrating his 83rd birthday. 
getting back into another relationship anytime soon. 
Las Vegas feels less is best. While the singer was recently fitting her costumes she felt they weren’t suggestive enough and began immediately taking parts of her costumes off and hiking up the hemlines to make them ultra skimpier. 
magazine voted Sin City the top place honor for having the best pubs to get sloshed…er, sorry, no it was officially for having the “largest-volume of independent nightclubs, bars, and lounges in the United States,” reeling in almost 25 percent of the Top 100 spots. 
Donald Trump through contract provisions isn’t letting the Playboy model, film star, and entrepreneur tell for certain if she’ll be one of the two finalists left standing in “The Celebrity Apprentice” when The Donald makes a decision in the live May TV finale. 
“Chippendales: The Show” will be “Men of X” which opens at Hooters on March 13. The six-man revue is produced by Angela and Matt Stabile, who also operate “X Burlesque” at the Flamingo. The revue replaces comedian Bobby Slayton.
article.) However, there are many things she is: quirky and unpredictable are words that immediately come to mind. But Fleiss is also a consummate businesswoman. Testimonial to that fact, her Pahrump, Nevada “Dirty Laundry” coin-operated laundromat that started a year and a half ago continues to be very successful. In fact, she plans to open another, perhaps many of them.
Vegas Backstage Access (VBA) 