2008 MISS USA PAGEANT - LAS VEGAS, NV

We headed out to Las Vegas (again!) for the 2008 Miss USA pageant which was being held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. I’d just been there in January for the Miss America pageant, so it seems that is THE place to hold a pageant. I have to admit it is a GREAT venue and I love the fact that a shopping mall is attached to the hotel. That is my kind of place! :)

After arriving on Thursday, we checked into the hotel and freshened up before heading to the super fun Fashion Rocks the Universe event. Miss Universe Riyo Miori and Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz were the featured guests, and tons of former Miss USA/Miss Teen USA state and national titleholders were also in attendance. It was great to connect with so many pageant people that I hadn’t seen in awhile, plus meet some new ones, including Caitlin Upton (Miss SC Teen USA 2007 who gave the infamous “Iraq and such as” final question answer). It was a verifiable “who’s who” of the pageant industry. Fashion Rocks was a fun, cutting edge event with the red carpet, fashion show, and mixer and I hope they do it again in 2009!





On the red carpet with (L to R): Robin Fleming (owner of La Casa Hermosa), Janice McQueen Ward (Mrs. IN Int’l ‘08/Mrs. United States ‘99), me, & Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop)



















A tale of two Sarahs! Sarah Moses (far R) and I chat with the darling Sarah Sprayberry - Miss MN Teen USA 2008 before the start of Fashion Rocks the Universe.






Sarah Moses (far L) and I show our support for two of the “Future Productions” titleholders, Elizabeth Hoffman (SD) and Danielle Scimeca (CO).










Running into the always elegant Suzy Bootz - Mrs. International 2006. Suzy is a class act and we competed together at Mrs. United States 2002.








Talking “pageants” with the delightful Tonya Ratliff - Mrs. Iowa U.S. 2008. Tonya was Mrs. International 2002 and was the outgoing queen when I competed at Mrs. International in 2003.






Minnesota Gals Rule! L to R: Kris Mohlin (one of my FAVORITE pageant people ever!), me, Sarah Moses, and Angeline Gard.






With Cara Georges (Miss Kansas USA 2007 & 2nd RU to Miss USA) and Dani Reeves (Miss Iowa USA 2007) backstage at Fashion Rocks the Universe.







With Caitlin Upton - Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2007 (she’s the one that had the infamous answer at Miss Teen USA). She actually was a very nice and well-spoken young lady!






Mrs. America reunion! It was so fun to reconnect w/ pageant sisters from the Mrs. America Class of 2006! L to R: Diane Tucker (Mrs. America/Mrs. World 2006, Victoria Broz (Mrs. NV America ‘06), and me (Mrs. MN America ’06)






The tall and short of it! Janice McQueen Ward (Mrs. IN Int’l 2008/Mrs. United States 1999) and I walked the red carpet at Fashion Rocks. FUN!





Friday was mostly spent shopping, followed by a fun dinner out at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms with a great group of pageant cronies. For some reason, the VIP hostess approached us while we were waiting for our table, and took care of us for the rest of the night. It was fabulous because they really treated us like royalty (which of course we ARE, ha ha). We shared many laughs and it was a great to reconnect with old friends. Saturday was GORGEOUS so we decided to take advantage of the pool scene and catch some rays. Of course we couldn’t stay out too long because we had to get ready for the pageant and early telecast (if I remember correctly, we had to be in our seats around 4:30 or so to be ready to go on air at 5...which is 7 PM central standard time).







Catching some rays by the pool before the pageant!







The pageant itself was hosted by Donny & Marie Osmond and opened with a super high energy number to Rhianna’s “Umbrella.” Everything just screamed GLAMOUR with a capital G. Our Miss Minnesota USA Kaylee Unverzagt was the first one called into the Top 15 and we of course we super excited for her. The Top 15 then competed in Swimsuit , followed by the announcement of the Top 10. We were VERY surprised not to hear Kaylee’s name, as she looked fabulous. The Top 10 then competed in Evening Gown and after seeing that, I felt that it was Crystle Stewart’s (Miss Texas USA) all the way...and I was right! She just was “on” and was so obviously the winner in my book. Just an absolutely stunning Miss USA! It was fun running into pageant people during the show and there was just so much ENERGY!





Part of the Minnesota Contingency! L to R: superfun Sandy Thoele, Maddie Thoele - Miss MN Teen America 2008, Brie Anderson, me, and Sarah Moses





Sarah and I pose with the always stunning Barbara Peterson Burwell, Minnesota’s only Miss USA (she won in 1976).








Sarah Moses and I sneaking in a photo of the stage...we weren’t supposed to take pictures but everyone else was, so I did too. Lemming effect!








The final two...Crystle Stewart (Miss Texas) and Leah Laviano (Miss Mississippi)...although they were both gorgeous, I just knew Texas was going to win.








Running into Miss Hollywood (FL-USA) Kelly Saks...of course I had to have my photo taken with her!





I love those gals from Colorado! L to R: Raeann Duca (Mrs. CO America ‘00), Christine Sacha (Mrs. CO America ‘08), & Emily Stark (Mrs. CO America ‘02). For some reason, I have really hit it off with many of the CO queens--they’re a great bunch of women!






With the incomparable Sherri Hill, dress designer extraordinaire! Sherri designed my favorite-dress-of-all-time, my silver gown that I won Mrs. MN America in (and Kaylee won Miss MN USA in!)









The Minnesota gals again...L to R: Sonja Fisher (Happy Birthday girlfriend!), Angeline Gard, Kris Mohlin, and me.







Could Kaylee look any more beautiful? It is easy to see why she made Top 15! I still think she should have placed MUCH higher!








Running into the always lovely Diane Tucker, Mrs. America/Mrs. World 2006. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Much nicer than myself, ha ha!







After dinner, we were invited to the Miss USA After-Party at Prive nightclub, and it was SUPER fun. Upon walking in, the first person we saw was celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves, who was one of the Miss USA judges (he is Jessica Simpson’s hairstylist--you’ve seen him in US Weekly, etc). He was VERY gracious and we chatted with him for a bit and I really got a kick out of him. I also met interview coach extraordinaire Dohn Dye from Alabama, and had a great conversation with him. He sure knows his stuff! During the party, we ended up chatting with some of the Miss USA judges, first Joey Fatone (of NSYNC fame) and also Kelly Carlson (a native Minnesotan) of the hit show “Nip/Tuck.” Joey Fatone could not have been any nicer and he was pretty funny, too. As it turned out, Sarah Moses’s sister Bridget coached Kelly for Danceline in their high school days, so we enjoyed chatting about that. Katie Blair - Miss Teen USA 2006 (and star of “Pageant Place”) was also at the party and was SO MUCH FUN. She got us up into the VIP area and we really enjoyed hanging out with her.


I had a blast reuniting with my “Class of 2006” pageant sisters from the Mrs. America pageant, and enjoyed meeting Tracy Elliot - Mrs. Arizona America 2007. I love the fact that these friendships endure despite the fact that we all live so far apart. It was a great pageant and I can’t wait for 2009!






Sarah Moses and I chat with celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves.









Ken Paves surrounding by beauty queens! L to R: Victoria Broz (Mrs. NV America 2006), Ken, Diane Tucker (Mrs. America ‘06/Mrs. World ’07)








Chatting with actress (and native Minnesotan!) Kelly Carlson from the hit show “Nip/Tuck.”









Mrs. America girls have got it goin’ on! L to R: Victoria Broz (Mrs. NV America ’06), Tracy Elliot (Mrs. AZ America ’07), Diane Tucker (Mrs. America ‘06/Mrs. World ’07), and me (Mrs. MN America ’06)






Meeting Joey Fatone of NSYNC. I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to do my “Bye Bye Bye” dance but luckily refrained from doing so. I’m not so sure he would have appreciated it!




Mrs. America Class of 2006 cutting it up on the dancefloor! L to R: Diane Tucker (Mrs. America ‘06/Mrs. World ’07), Victoria Broz (Mrs. NV America ’06), Patty Markos (Mrs. MD America ’06)), and me (Mrs. MN America ’06).






Chatting with the darling and FUN Katie Blair, Miss Teen USA 2006.