I saw the live telecast in the comfort of my living room while enjoying a snack of blue chips and salsa and blueberry soy yogurt, while at the same time posting updates and comments on the CB Facebook page. The introduction, which consisted of a fashion show featuring different styles from the Sherri Hill collection, was reminiscent of the opening of the 1997 Miss USA show. The difference is that in the 1997 show, the candidates wore clothes by different designers - thus, you could tell that the clothes were not made or cut from the same mold, which made it more interesting. In the 2012 version, if you're unfamiliar with Sherri Hill's designs, you'd probably gasp in awe of the seemingly diverse collection, but if you're an avid and loyal Miss USA fan like I am, you'd be less enthused by the Sherri Hill collection because you've seen it so many times - in photo shoots by MUO photographer Fadil Berisha, in videos, in programme books, on the MUO website, and everywhere else where Trump's beauty queens appear. Why's that? Because Sherri Hill is the pageant's wardrobe sponsor. That's great. But we're tired of seeing the same designs over and over again, and this habit mocks the real concept of being fashion-forward.
Anyway, as for the results, I am ecstatic that Rhode Island's Olivia Culpo won the coveted title. I was actually rooting for Nevada, Jade Kelsall, because she had Miss Universe (yes, Miss Universe, and not Miss USA) written all over her! So if the goal was to select the U.S. representative to compete with the fiercest competitors especially from Latin America, then Jade would have been ideal. Her regal stature, her smoldering exotic looks, and her hypnotic stage projection were hard to ignore. But she had the misfortune of having picked a daunting question from judge Arsenio Hall: "Why do you think some Miss USA contestants could not name the vice-president of the United States?" I mean, really, how would you even respond to this question? Kelsall could have gone the derisive route by implying that some of her colleagues were merely ignorant, but instead she chalked it up by responding that they just had a long and tiring day (although my instinct tells me that they are all Republicans and could care less about Joe Biden). Apparently, Jade's delivery received a rather lukewarm reaction from the audience.
It seems that it was Olivia's fate to win, and she can thank her lucky stars for having picked the inevitable question - referring to transgender participation in traditional female pageants - submitted via Twitter and asked by judge Rob Kardashian: "Would it be fair if a transgender woman won the Miss USA title?" Olivia's response: "I do think it would be fair ..." she said, recognizing that some people "might be apprehensive" because of tradition. But, she added she would be in favor of it because "there are so many people who have a need to change for a happier life. I do accept that because I believe it's a free country." The crowd gave her thunderous applause. Her response was neither patronizing nor polarizing, unlike Carrie Prejean's infamous statement in Miss USA 2009 in which she proclaimed her disapproval of same-sex marriage.
What's not to like about Olivia? She's naturally gorgeous, articulate, smart, and oh! - that luscious olive skin and those big, beaudacious brown eyes! She idolizes Audrey Hepburn (like I do!), she loves "Funny Face" (my favorite Audrey Hepburn movie), and she can sing! Watch this video by the Pageant Guy where MUO President Paula Shugart introduces her officially as Miss USA 2012 and sings a few verses of "Funny Face":
Winning Miss USA wearing a purple gown is unheard of, but Olivia pulled it off. Color commentator Jeanne Mai said it best: "She looks like a princess." Critics deride her short stature (she's barely 5'4") and argue that it will be her biggest impediment when she competes with glamazons in Miss Universe 2012. But who cares? As long as her height is proportionate to her weight and she oozes perfect symmetry (which she does), that's all that matters. Besides, I'd rather spend a whole year looking at a beautiful face (of a short girl) than a mediocre face (of a tall girl). A girl could have the total package (looks, height, personality, etc.) but she will never please everyone, thus she will always fall short in something. Olivia might be physically short, but she is amazingly tall in everything else. And I just hope the Miss Universe judges don't get too obsessed with height and fail to see the big picture when selecting the new Miss Universe in December.
Miss USA® 2012, Olivia Culpo poses after the 2012 Miss USA Competition, Sunday June 3, 2012, from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Miss USA® 2012, Olivia Culpo poses after the 2012 Miss USA Competition, Sunday June 3, 2012, from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Security detail (from left to right) Alfred Gonzalez, Reuben Delaconcha, Victor Rivera and Raphael Rodriguez with newly crowned Olivia Culpo, Miss USA® 2012. She will spend her year-long reign making special appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization and will work to raise awareness and funding for breast and ovarian cancer.
HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Security detail (from left to right) Alfred Gonzalez, Reuben Delaconcha, Victor Rivera and Raphael Rodriguez with newly crowned Olivia Culpo, Miss USA® 2012. She will spend her year-long reign making special appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization and will work to raise awareness and funding for breast and ovarian cancer.
HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Miss USA® 2012, Olivia Culpo poses after the 2012 Miss USA Competition, Sunday June 3, 2012, from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Miss USA® 2012, Olivia Culpo washes her feet after the 2012 Miss USA Competition, Sunday June 3, 2012, from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Olivia Culpo, Miss USA® 2012 and her family watch the tape delay telecast of her winning the tiltle of Miss USA 2012. She will spend her year-long reign making special appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization and will work to raise awareness and funding for breast and ovarian cancer.
HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
(Left to Right) Danielle Doty, Miss Teen USA 2011, newly crowned Olivia Culpo, Miss USA® 2012, and Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2011, attend the after party for the Miss USA 2012 pageant at Lavo Italian Restaurant and Nightclub at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday June 3, 2012. She will spend her year-long reign making special appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization and will work to raise awareness and funding for breast and ovarian cancer. HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Miss USA® 2012, Olivia Culpo meets the press after the 2012 Miss USA Competition, Sunday June 3, 2012, from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
A local beauty pageant is attracting ample mockery on social media after a trans-identified male was crowned the winner of the competition and awarded a scholarship intended for young women. Brían Nguyen , 19, was awarded the crown in the Miss Greater Derry pageant, held on November 8 in the Greater Derry area of New Hampshire. The competition is a locally-run event under the national Miss America series of pageants. In addition to winning the crown, Nguyen will receive the Miss Greater Derry Scholarship , a financial award established to support young women. Nguyen, who is male, is a freshman at Nashua Community College majoring in Business Management. After his win, Nguyen wrote on Facebook : “ I am ecstatic to be the FIRST transgender woman to be a Miss America local titleholder, and I hope to make everyone proud and become the first to walk the Miss America stage. I am Brían Nguyen, your Miss Greater Derry 2023 .” Nguyen had previously announced on Instagram that he has intention
2nd UPDATE, 12:03 PM: Miss America Organization CEO Sam Haskell resigned his post today amid an investigation into offensive emails he sent about a pageant winner. In a statement He has resigned along with president and COO Josh Randle and Lynn Weidner, the board chair who sent emails involved in the controversy. Related Two More Ex-Fox News Employees Join Defamation Suit Against Bill O'Reilly - Update According to a Twitter post from Dan Meyers, who is taking over as interim chairman, Weidner will remain on the board during a transition period: View image on Twitter Miss America Org ✔ @MissAmericaOrg Update from the Board of Directors... 3:01 PM - Dec 23, 2017 35 35 Replies 144 144 Retweets 291 291 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy UPDATED, 5:30 PM: The Miss America Organization suspended its chief executive today, less than 24 hours after emails surfaced in which he disparaged the
IMAGE COURTESY: MISS ACADEMY Max Sebrechts, the husband of Crystle Stewart, President of Miss USA organization (and formerly Miss USA 2008), has been accused of sexual improprieties by several Miss USA 2021 contestants, according to a YouTube video “Miss USA Scandal?” by Natly Denise, a “truther and pop-culture enthusiast.” You can watch the entire video here: https://youtu.be/8xM2jXL6MXw On her video, Natly displays a screenshot of an anonymous email sent to the affiliates of IMG/Endeavor including to Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO). The email was cc’d to Crystle and Michael Hannah (franchise director of Miss USA). The author of the email claims that MUO has been sent substantial evidence of Sebrechts’ sexual predatory behavior and Shugart has known about it for a while but didn’t say anything (obviously to cover it up and to protect Crystle). Natly also displays screenshots of direct messages sent to her by former Miss USA contestants (the names hav
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