MISS USA OFFICIAL SITE
| 03.24.07 | Saturday
Posted 12:38 AM, 03.24.07 (Boston time)
Miss Tennessee crowned new Miss USA
Rachel Smith, a journalism graduate from Tennessee,
was crowned Miss USA on Friday night, edging out 50 other aspiring beauty queens. Smith, 21,
of Clarksville, graduated from Belmont University and also interned last year for the production
company behind "The Oprah Winfrey Show." In winning the crown, Smith edged out finalists Danielle
Lacourse of Rhode Island (first runner-up); Cara Renee Gorges of Kansas (second runner-up); Meagan
Yvonne Tandy of California (third runner-up); and Helen Salas of Nevada (fourth runner-up).
Contestants from all 50 states and the District of
Columbia started off the competition in hopes of succeeding Miss USA Tara Conner in a televised
pageant that didn't shy away from the 2006 winner's much-publicized bout with alcoholism.
Early in the show, Connor appeared onstage wearing a strapless,
ruffled gown. Under the glow of a spotlight, the 21-year-old proclaimed: "It has been the most
unforgettable year of my life and I'm back, and better than ever," drawing wild applause
from the audience at the Kodak Theater.
Tim Vincent and Nancy O'Dell of "Access Hollywood" hosted the
pageant, which was making its return to Hollywood after two years in Baltimore.
During the swimsuit competition, the beauty queens performed
a synchronized strut wearing blue, pink or lilac bikinis before posing individually for the judges.
All the competitors also had brief walk-ons in their evening gowns before the finalists took their
solo strolls for the audience.
The audience was also given the opportunity to cast votes, selecting
Rebecca Moore of Alabama as Miss Photogenic. The contestants voted Stephanie Trudeau of Montana as Miss Congeniality.
A panel of six judges were tasked with determining the winner: Along with Springer, "Blow Out" star
Jonathan Antin, "E! News" co-host Giuliana De Pandi, MTV's Vanessa Minnillo; Baby Phat President Kimora
Lee Simmons and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss. (Associated Press, 3/24/2007)
| 03.22.07 | Thursday
Posted 8:00 PM, 03.22.07 (Boston time)
Who will win Miss USA 2007?
Angela Medina for Critical Beauty
Any one of the 51 candidates could take the crown, but Kentucky's Michelle Banzer is the least
likely to win for two reasons: her state name still reeks of Tara Conner's ill repute and there are
girls who are far more stunning than her. Meagan Tandy of California, Magen Ellis of Texas and
Rachel Smith of Tennessee lead the CB poll, and not far behind are Lauren Barnette of
Virginia and Ashley Zais of South Carolina. If they want to send a supermodel-type beauty to Miss Universe, then
it would be a toss between California and Tennessee, although for sentimental reasons I would love
to see California take it all because it's my home state, and I think that we already deserve to win after
having placed second two years in a row!
It's funny because the local media (i.e. L.A. newspapers) could care less
of the pageant; this was the same attitude they had when Miss Universe was held here last July. Not much
brouhaha or fanfare. It seems that if the media has to mention the pageant, they always have an excuse
to further exploit Tara's tribulations; or that had it not been for Tara, the media would barely even report
on the pageant. Well, let the media do their job. For now, my job is to boldly predict who will be in the top 15!
It's not easy to make this list, since this year has proven to be extremely competitive. But here it goes (in
random order):
table test
Tennessee
|
Texas
|
California
|
South Carolina
|
Virginia
|
Hawaii
|
Utah
|
Florida
|
District of Columbia
|
Minnesota
|
New York
|
Indiana
|
Georgia
|
Mississippi
|
Nevada
|
May the best girl win, and may her reign be scandal-free!
Contestants use their iPods, mobile phones or just rest to pass the time during rehearsals for the
56th Annual Miss USA competition in Hollywood, California March 21, 2007. The competition will be
telecast March 23 from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES)
| 03.21.07 | Wednesday
Posted 6:20 PM, 03.21.07 (Boston time)
Miss USA: swimsuits, sashes and scandals
By Alex Veiga, The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The Miss USA pageant gears up to name a new queen this week in a
live televised competition that organizers say will spotlight how titleholder Tara Conner nearly lost
her crown and ended up in rehab.
"Certainly, our reigning Miss USA is going to be on television,
and we're certainly not going to shy away from referring to what happened," executive producer
Phil Gurin said. "Why shy away from what's part of our family? We embrace our family."
While not a centerpiece of the show, Conner will be "all over
our telecast," Gurin said. The 56th annual pageant will be broadcast Friday, with Nancy O'Dell of
"Access Hollywood" as host.
Gurin said viewers can watch Conner and "make their own determinations
by seeing how she presents herself, what she has to say about what happened this past year ...
and that's something we've never been able to do before."
Conner endured intense scrutiny after reports she was frequenting
New York bars. The Kentucky native held on to her crown after Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe
and Miss USA contests in a partnership with NBC, decided to give her a second chance. She underwent
a stint in rehab.
The behavior of other Miss USA contestants over the last
few months also drew unwanted scrutiny: Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees lost her title after racy
pictures of her surfaced on the Internet, and Miss New Jersey USA Ashley Harder resigned when
she got pregnant.
Gurin said he doesn't think the Conner flap has hurt the pageant's
reputation. "I think there's been more focus on the pageant, perhaps, than there might have been otherwise,
but I don't think it's tarnished anything," he said.
If anything, Gurin conceded, the controversy may draw more
viewers to the show. "We don't want to capitalize from someone's misfortune," said Gurin. "Anytime
there's something that stirs up the pot, certainly more eyeballs are going to come to watch."
Asked about how the controversies might affect ratings or the
pageant's image, NBC issued a statement saying the network is "delighted" with the pageant this year.
Miss USA goes on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.
Miss USA Tara Conner will get plenty of pageant time Friday.
| 03.20.07 | Tuesday
Posted 8:28 PM, 03.20.07 (Boston time)
Miss Oregon pens candid pageant blog
By TERESA BELL, kgw.com Staff
Sharitha McKenzie spent the past 10 years working toward a chance to become Miss USA, but now that
she’s actually a contestant in the 2007 pageant in Los Angeles, the current Miss Oregon candidly admits it’s not
always the glamorous scene she had wished for. McKenzie, 23, is writing a blog for kgw.com which offers a rare glimpse
into the pressures Miss USA contestants face to schmooze sponsors and even ignore health concerns
in order to please the pageant promoters.
Excerpts from her blog explain how McKenzie has felt forced to “wag the dog”
as she called it, or “fake like we’re having fun to put it on the Internet for people to think we’re doing more than we are.”
McKenzie said she got her first taste of the pressure to schmooze during a welcome cocktail event at the Wilshire Ballroom on March 9.
“During the party, they pretty much forced us to mingle with sponsors, a lot of whom were men who were intoxicated,” she said.
Mckenzie describes herself as “down to earth and transparent” and wants to win
just like all the other young women, but said she gets discouraged at times by the politics and feels like “just a number.”
Her blog also details the perks of making it to the Miss USA competition, including everything from designer purses
and free products from sponsors to making new friendships with other contestants.
The 2007 Miss USA pageant will be broadcast Friday on NBC. Contestants will be
rated based on interviews with the judges, as well as how they look in an evening gown and a swimsuit.
The winner earns a one-year modeling contract with Donald Trump's modeling agency, a ritzy apartment,
cash and numerous other prizes. (KGW.com, 3/20/2007)
READ SHARITHA'S BLOG
| 03.19.07 | Monday
Posted 10:20 PM, 03.19.07 (Boston time)
Miss USA Pageant Gears Up for a New Queen
LOS ANGELES Mar 19, 2007 (AP)— The Miss USA pageant gears up to name a new queen this week in a live televised
competition that organizers say will spotlight how reigning titleholder Tara Conner nearly lost her crown
and ended up in rehab. "Certainly, our reigning Miss USA is going to be on television and we're certainly not going to shy away
from referring to what happened," executive producer Phil Gurin told The Associated Press on Monday.
"Why shy away from what's part of our family? We embrace our family."
While not a centerpiece of the show, Conner will be "all over our telecast," Gurin added.
Viewers will be able to see Conner and "make their own determinations by seeing how she presents
herself, what she has to say about what happened this past year … and that's something we've never
been able to do before."
Published accounts last fall suggested that Conner, a native of Kentucky, was boozing it up at New
York clubs not exactly the kind of public behavior expected of a role model tapped to be Miss USA
and then represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant.
The behavior of other Miss USA contestants over the last few months also drew unwanted public
scrutiny: Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees lost her title after racy pictures of her surfaced on
the Internet, and Miss New Jersey USA Ashley Harder resigned when she got pregnant.
Conner hung on to her crown after Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe and Miss USA contests
in a partnership with NBC, decided to give her a second chance. She underwent a stint in rehab in
Pennsylvania for her drinking.
Trump's decision sparked a war of words between The Donald and "The View" co-host Rosie O'Donnell.
On Monday, 51 contestants representing all the states and the District of Columbia participated
in a non-televised preliminary competition, each taking turns wearing a swimsuit and an evening
gown and modeling them for the judges. The beauty queens met with judges on Sunday to conduct
the interview portion of the competition.
The scores earned by contestants in the preliminary contest were not released. They are used to
determine the 15 top finalists named early on in the telecast Friday.
Gurin said he doesn't think the Conner flap has hurt the pageant's reputation. "I think there's been more focus on the pageant, perhaps, than there might have been otherwise, but I
don't think it's tarnished anything," he said. If anything, Gurin conceded, the controversy may draw more viewers to the show.
"We don't want to capitalize from someone's misfortune," said Gurin, who marks his fifth year
producing the pageant. "Any time there's something that stirs up the pot, certainly more eyeballs
are going to come to watch."
Asked about how the controversies might affect ratings or the pageant's image, NBC issued a statement
saying the network is "delighted" with the pageant this year. That sentiment was echoed by some of the
pageant loyalists in Los Angeles for the big event Monday.
Gail Clark, a state director for the Miss Texas pageant, said she hadn't seen any evidence of negative
effects from the pageant scandals on morale among pageantgoers. Recruitment of new contestants in her state
remains strong, she added. Still, she conceded the negative publicity was not good. "It's unfortunate because a lot of young women are looking up to them as role models, but on the
other hand they're definitely human," Clark said. "I have to trust that Mr. Trump made the right decisions."
The Miss USA Pageant began in 1952 as a swimwear promotion in Long Beach. Contestants pay a fee to enter. They must win a state title before competing for the Miss USA crown.
Miss USA goes on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Like its rival, the Miss America Pageant, Miss USA will incorporate a few new wrinkles to keep
viewers tuned in to the action Friday.
Viewers can expect more behind-the-scenes shots of the beauty queens, including the reaction backstage
of the contestants who fail to make the initial cut. The audience will also be able to cast votes from home for Miss Photogenic.
The 56th Annual Miss USA Pageant will be televised Friday live from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
Nancy O'Dell, host of "Access Hollywood," has been tapped to host the pageant.
(The Associated Press, 3.19.2007)
2007 Miss USA hopefuls Meagan Yvonne Tandy of Fontana, California; Dani Reeves of Hamburg, Iowa; Cara Renee Gorges of Clearwater,
Kansas; Michelle Stephanie Banzer of Louisville, Kentucky; and Courtney Lorraine Barnas of Mesa, Arizona take the stage during the swim wear portion of the Miss USA
2007 preliminary competition on Monday, March 19, 2007 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
Co-host Mark L. Walberg, left, speaks with 2006 Miss USA Tara Conner, right, during the the Miss USA 2007 preliminary competition on Monday,
March 19, 2007 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
| 03.17.07 | Saturday
Posted 11:00 PM, 03.17.07 (Boston time)
Tara Conner Talks Tattoos, Sobriety & Childhood Abuse
LOS ANGELES (March 16, 2007) – Just a week before her reign as Miss USA 2006 comes to an end, Tara Conner sat
down with Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell for an exclusive interview, where the embattled beauty queen opened
up about her childhood abuser, reaching 90 days of sobriety and how the pageant has come to accept her six tattoos.
In regard to hints of experiencing childhood abuse that Conner brought up
in a "Today" show interview with Matt Lauer last month, Tara told Nancy, "I have confronted that [person] with my
family…I am taking steps everyday to uncover some of the hidden things that used to eat at me…Now I am freed from
all of these things, so everything is so much better."
When asked if she went directly to talk with the abuser, Conner said, "Yeah,
you directly talk to people and the thing is; you have to forgive them. You have to forgive people for what
they have done in order for yourself to be forgiven."
"I feel one million times better," she added.
Conner, who entered a Pennsylvania rehab facility on December 21, 2006,
said she has just passed her 90 days of sobriety (94 days as of March 15, 2007) and said that she is sensing
things that she never felt before.
"Yeah, I was completely numb. When I got my 90 day chip or coin
I cried…I will cry when I am happy or I will get so excited…" Conner added that her next sobriety milestone
she is aiming for is her "one year" and said that "is going to be great, God-willing, I will make it there."
Conner described the memorable day saying, "I celebrated my '90 Day' with my
friend. He celebrated his ‘Two Year' and it was the best feeling in the world just to be able to share it with
family around you and people watching you grow." (Access Hollywood, 3/17/2007)
| 03.16.07 | Friday
Posted 9:00 PM, 03.16.07 (Boston time)
Conner's stormy Miss USA reign to end soon
BURBANK, Calif., March 16 (UPI) -- Miss USA Tara Conner said in a Burbank, Calif., interview she
has confronted and forgiven her childhood abuser and reached her 90-day sobriety mark.
Conner also has six tattoos -- one inked during her reign -- and the pageant staff has learned to accept them
and her, she told "Access Hollywood" in an interview to air Monday.
Conner, who hinted of childhood abuse in earlier interviews, said she met her abuser face to face and now feels
"1 million times better. You have to forgive people for what they have done in order for yourself to be forgiven."
Given a second chance to mend her hard-partying ways, Conner entered a rehab facility in December. She said
she cried when she passed 90 days of sobriety, and was eager for her 1-year anniversary. Regarding her tattoos,
Conner said pageant officials were dismayed, telling her, "You can't do that to your image because it's an image thing."
When she crowns the new Miss USA on March 23, Conner said she won't hide the body art as she did when she was a contestant.
She said her relationship with pageant officials has improved so much that "it is like this huge family." (UPI, 3/16/2007)
Miss USA 2007 contestants Miss Idaho, Amanda Rammell, center, shows Miss Virginia Lauren Barnett, left,
their picture on a her camera as Miss South Dakota Suzie Heffernan watches the Los Angeles Kings take on
the Chicago Blackhawks during the hockey game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Thursday, March 15, 2007.
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
| 03.15.07 | Thursday
Posted 5:40 PM, 03.15.07 (Boston time)
Miss USA Judges Selected
Vanessa Minnillo (photo), Kimora Lee Simmons, Jerry Springer & Others To Judge Miss USA Pageant
Bravo's "Blowout" star, Jonathan Antin; Los Angeles Lakers owner, real estate tycoon Dr. Jerry Buss;
"E! News" Co-Host Giuliana De Pandi; MTV's "Total Request Live" VJ and "Entertainment Tonight" Correspondent
Vanessa Minnillo; President and Creative Director, Baby Phat Kimora Lee Simmons; and Jerry Springer
will headline the celebrity-judging panel for the 2007 Miss USA Pageant.
Among others "Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell will host the live telecast from the Kodak Theatre
in the famed 'glamour capital' of the world, Hollywood, on Friday, March 23 at 9-11 p.m. ET/PT.
O'Dell is hosting for the fourth consecutive year.
The 56th Annual Miss USA Pageant, where Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner will crown her successor at
the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, makes a return to Los Angeles after
airing the last two years live from Baltimore, Maryland. (Starpulse.com, CT, 3/15/2007)
| 03.15.07 | Thursday
Rafa's Critical Choices
I have reviewed all 51 delegates in their Fadil Berisha glamour shots. I must say that there are many girls
who have incredible bodies, but the fifteen above are the ones that pleased me in their pose and overall projection.
I like Alaska's sexy kitten pose, New Hampshire and Oklahoma exudes sensual prudishness, and Virginia's Playboyesque stance.
And check out the Tennessee gazelle's athletic limbs and torso! Ooooomph!
Why only ten? Well, most of the gowns look like cheap prom dresses or are too showy or frilly. Even if the cut
or style is remarkable, it does not always mean that it's appropriate for the wearer. Gowns are meant to enhance
the wearer's beauty, and not the other way around. These ten beauties definitely know how to wear their gowns of
choice. One can be sexy without being vulgar. One can also wear a thrift-store-bought gown and make it look expensive.
I am not fond of black gowns on blondes, but Indiana seems to pull it off. I am loving Minnesota; besides her exquisite
gown, her bio says that she does crossword, cryptoquip, Sudoku, and Mah Jong!
| 03.09.07 | Friday
Posted 9:00 PM, 03.11.07 (Boston time)
"We were the only two fans at the hotel so we felt that the pageant was ours"
Good morning Rafa,
Yesterday, I was at the Wilshire Grand Hotel, in downtown Los Angeles, welcoming the MISS USA delegates.
I was not wearing any 'vintage' memorabilia like I did during Miss Universe last July.
My newfound friend, Miguel Castro-Rivera came along, with camera in hand,
and kept snapping away.
I had heard that about 30 or so contestants had driven to Los Angeles, I assume, to soak in all the sights,
on their way to LA.
They all arrived at the Wilshire Blvd. entrance when they entered the hotel. The MUO media wall was up,
with the Hotel's logo on it. The three same, security guards were present, and Miguel spoke to them,
and they seemed somewhat softer than they were in July. Please, note that Miss USA does not have the
interest or craziness as Miss Universe does. I even told the guards, "This will be an easier job for you, this time!"
On Wednesday morning, I had breakfast with two of the head chaperons, and as always, very gracious.
These are Southern Belles - something from the past, and not the Paris Hiltons or Britney Spears of today.
They were amazed at my tales of the pageants of decades ago.
While having a buffet breakfast at the City Grill in the hotel the two beauties that we saw were Misses South
Carolina and Texas, very happy to pose for Miguel. When Iowa arrived, her first words were, "I'm surprised that
there is no snow on the ground." Arkansas, arrived with her parents, (driving) and she had so many clothes,
many had to be hung on a rack, along with her three large suitcase, and and even a big case of water. She came prepared.
The MUO staff were also very friendly when they greeted me. Public Relations lady Esther Swan was kind and gracious,
and let us get our photos; she really has a lot to deal with during pageant time! I also saw many familiar
faces of those who work at the Hotel and they all remembered me.
Fashion photographer Fadil Berisha was there with his staff, taking the official glamour shots.
He has great style and even arranges their hair for the shoots and of course, the poses. Go Fadil!
Rumors start this way: I noticed a young girl, arriving with a huge suit case, as she approached two of the
chaperones and hugged them. Her hair was in a pony tail, NO MAKE UP on. I was in horror and said to myself,
"Her director could not even tell her how to dress when she make her arrival, and how was she going to be
interviewed by the press, to find out that she was the assistant choreographer of Scott Grossman.
This is how, rumors start! Scott was very friendly and gracious to pose for a photo with me.
We were the only two fans at the hotel so we felt that the pageant was ours. Later in the afternoon,
two other fans arrived, one of them is the gracious Alvin Paris, the Filipino who reported the Miss Universe
affair for another website.
Well, everyone, this if my first-and-last report for Miss USA 2007; you see, tomorrow I leave for Bogota,
Colombia and will be there during the finals of USA. My friend Miguel Castro-Rivera has volunteered to cover
the pageant for Critical Beauty. Until then, stay well and GOD bless you all.
Yours sincerely,
William Prendiz de Jurado
