All posts containing the tag: "MissAmericA"
Posted May 21st 2009 3:17AM by TMZ Staff
Vanessa Williams and "biblically correct" Miss California have both had their reputations tarnished by nudie pics in their past -- but according to the "Ugly Betty" star, it's pageantry in general that's damaging to one's credibility.
Williams was on "Larry King Live" last night, and when Carrie Prejean's name came up, she blasted beauty pageants as a whole -- calling them a "setback" to anyone trying to be a "serious artist."
Filed under: Pageantry, Carrie Prejean
Tags: carrie prejean, CarriePrejean, larry king live, LarryKingLive, miss america, miss california, miss usa, MissAmerica, MissCalifornia, MissUsa, vanessa williams, VanessaWilliams, video
Posted May 1st 2007 1:18PM by TMZ Staff
There she isn't.
Miss America Lauren Nelson helped police nab 11 alleged sexual predators by posing as a 13-year-old online -- and actually greeted them at a "sting house" -- but now she might be wrecking prosecutors' cases against the suspects by refusing to testify against the scumbags.
Just today, in a statement to TMZ, Suffolk County D.A. Thomas Spota called on Nelson to cooperate with his investigation, but admitted yesterday to Newsday that one case might already be "compromised" if Nelson won't go back to Long Island to testify against the alleged predators. The D.A.'s office wouldn't specify what it might do to compel Nelson to take the stand.
The beauty queen participated in the sting op in conjunction with the television series "America's Most Wanted." The episode featuring Nelson aired last Saturday.
Late this morning, "America's Most Wanted" shot back, saying in a statement on its website that Nelson never said she wouldn't cooperate, adding, "We don't know why the D.A. would make the comments attributed to him without knowing all of the facts." Telephones at the Miss America Organization gave a busy signal this morning.
UPDATE: Apparently Miss America's had a change of heart. In a statement just sent to TMZ, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota says, "This afternoon, I received a telephone call from the attorney for the Miss America organization to assure me that despite the fact that we were originally told her schedule would prevent her from doing so, Ms. Nelson now fully understands her legal obligations. The attorney said she would be available to testify, if necessary, in the prosecution of those arrested in the recent undercover sting conducted in Suffolk County."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: America's Most wanted, America'sMostWanted, Lauren Nelson, LaurenNelson, Miss Americ a, MissAmericA
Posted Feb 22nd 2007 3:29PM by TMZ Staff
NBC announced today that "Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell will host next month's Miss USA Pageant, but if it had gone Donald Trump's way, that wouldn't be the case.
A source tells TMZ that the enigmatic real estate mogul wanted to drop O'Dell as host because he doesn't like the way pregnant women look. But it's not The Donald's call: O'Dell is under contract with NBC and is the host of the "Access Hollywood" (which is syndicated on many NBC stations), and she will also be fronting the network's Oscar coverage this weekend. The lesson here: Don't pick on the Peacock's golden girl, Donald!
What was particularly troubling to O'Dell, our source says, is that the Miss USA Pageant is supposed to embody more than just how a woman looks in a bikini. It's safe to say that O'Dell, who will be six-months pregnant when the pageant airs, won't be sporting a two-piece.
Trump's camp had no comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Feuds
Tags: donald trump, DonaldTrump, miss america, MissAmerica, nancy o'dell, NancyO'dell
Posted Jan 22nd 2006 3:28PM by TMZ Staff
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Under the glitzy lights of the Las Vegas casino, a 22-year-old ballerina from Oklahoma was crowned Miss America, but officials hope the problem-plagued pageant will be the real winner.
The pageant was held in Las Vegas for the first time in a bid to revive interest after years of declining interest from its longtime base in Atlantic City, N.J. Without coverage from a major television network for the first time since 1954, it aired on Country Music Television.
Even the new Miss America, University of Oklahoma student Jennifer Berry, said she hoped to help the scholarship organization by creating interest and marketing it to a younger crowd 18-34.
"I hope to have sponsors knocking on our door," Berry said after winning the crown Saturday night. She also earned a $30,000 college scholarship and a yearlong speaking tour.
Berry wowed the judges by dancing ballet for her talent routine, and pledged to advocate the prevention of drunken driving, a cause she chose because a childhood friend died in an alcohol-related crash at age 16.
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Filed under: TV, Beauty, Awards/Awards Shows
Tags: Miss America, Miss Oklahoma, MissAmerica, MissOklahoma
Posted Jan 17th 2006 4:28PM by TMZ Staff
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS -- Judges for the 2006 Miss America pageant will include two former contestants, a fashionista and a former NFL receiver.
Pageant organizers have named seven celebrity judges who will rate the 10 finalists on the final night of competition Saturday.
The judges for the first pageant to be held outside Atlantic City, N.J., are: television personality Leeza Gibbons, "Malcolm in the Middle" star Jane Kaczmarek, Miss America 1985 Sharlene Wells Hawkes, R&B artist Brian McKnight, fashion commentator Robert Verdi, football star Jerry Rice and "Desperate Housewives" narrator Brenda Strong, who competed as Miss Arizona in 1980.
"Desperate Housewives" star James Denton will host the pageant, which will be held at the Aladdin Resort & Casino and aired on cable network Country Music Television.
The 52 contestants are judged throughout the week by preliminary judges. The talent competition counts for 35 percent of their overall score, the swimsuit competition is 15 percent, evening wear is 20 percent and a one-on-one interview with the judges counts for 25 percent. An on-stage interview is 5 percent.
Filed under: TV, Beauty
Tags: Celebrity judges, CelebrityJudges, Miss America, MissAmerica
Posted Nov 19th 2005 10:28AM by TMZ Staff
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - With its bags packed for Vegas and its bank balances sagging, the Miss America pageant is asking former winners to donate money for the scholarship that goes with the crown.
In an unprecedented step, Miss America Organization CEO Art McMaster appealed to former winners to kick in for the $50,000 scholarship, citing the pageant's new push for fundraising.
In a Nov. 3 letter obtained by The Associated Press, he noted the pageant's loss of network television revenue and said donations were needed to underwrite the Miss America scholarship. "I am asking that all of you make a donation towards this scholarship and support the organization that helped to shape all of your lives, just as you would support your alma mater as alumni," McMaster wrote.
McMaster, who announced this week that the next Miss America will be crowned in Las Vegas, did not return several telephone calls seeking comment.
The closely knit group of former winners had mixed emotions about the plea.
"I knew this program was at a critical time and, in many ways, in dire straits," said Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner. "It didn't make me think things were worse than they are. It confirmed my worst fears that we really are at a crossroads and that something powerful needs to happen."
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Filed under: Beauty
Tags: miss america, MissAmerica
