Miss USA hopefuls take stage in Vegas to crown pageant winner, country’s pick to Miss Universe

Miss USA hopefuls take stage at Vegas pageant

LAS VEGAS — A group of 51 beauty queens had their eyes set on the 2010 Miss USA title, but just 15 remain in the competition after the pageant’s opening number in Las Vegas.

The 15 finalists Sunday night are: Miss Arkansas USA Adrielle Churchill, Miss Kansas USA Bethany Gerber, Miss Michigan USA Rima Fakih, Miss Wyoming USA Claire Schreiner, Miss Pennsylvania USA Gina Cerilli, Miss California USA Nicole Michele Johnson, Miss Colorado USA Jessica Hartman, Miss Tennessee USA Tucker Perry, Miss Oklahoma USA Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, Miss Missouri USA Ashley Strohmier, Miss Alabama USA Audrey Moore, Miss Nebraska USA Belinda Renee Wright, Miss Virginia USA Samantha Evelyn Casey, Miss Mississippi USA Courtney Breanne Ponder and Miss Maine USA Katherine Ashley Whittier.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A group of 51 beauty queens have their eye on the 2010 Miss USA pageant title.

The contestants from every state and the District of Columbia take to the stage Sunday at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino to compete for the crown and the opportunity for a place in the Miss Universe pageant. The winner receives the crown currently worn by Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton of North Carolina.

The young women already glammed up for lingerie shots that became an online sensation and received online ratings from the public before the women face a panel of seven celebrity judges in the live pageant.

The racy photo shoot posted on YouTube generated some debate about whether it went too far while drawing thousands of viewers.

A handful of contestants were bunched together atop the ratings determined by fans online, including Miss Indiana USA Allison Biehle, Miss Louisiana USA Sara Brooks, Miss Massachusetts USA Lacey Wilson, Miss Michigan USA Rima Fakih and Miss California USA Nicole Michele Johnson.

On Sunday night, they compete in swimsuits and gowns and try not to stumble in the interview portion of the pageant.

Last year’s runner-up, Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, produced the show’s most infamous moment when she stumbled over a question about legalizing same-sex marriage, then gave an answer that divided audience members.

“We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage,” Prejean said. “And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”

Again this year, the pageant airs live on NBC. The network owns the pageant in a joint venture with Donald Trump.

The competition, which is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant, is hosted by celebrity chef Curtis Stone and NBC correspondent Natalie Morales, with commentary by comedian Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa.

The show also will feature musical performances from country star Trace Adkins and Boys Like Girls.

The pageant began as a local bathing beauty competition sponsored by a swimwear company in Long Beach, Calif., in 1952. Its first winner was Jackie Loughery.

On the Net:

www.missuniverse.com/missusa