Nasty Natalie: Miss USA 2010

Last night, millions of viewers across North America tuned in to watch the 2010 Miss USA pageant. The winner of the pageant would go on to represent the US at the Miss Universe pageant in August, so there is a lot at stake. The 52 contestants came out on stage dancing to Ke$ha's Tik Tok in sparkly Sherri Hill dresses that were appropriate, considering the locale of the pageant. The event was held in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

The event was hosted by a "Marriage Ref" host (who was she???) and Curtis Stone. Half the production consisted of former Apprentice contestants, which was expected because of the Donald Trump connection. But seriously, when Trace Adkins came out to perform a song during the elegant evening gown competition, the soundtrack couldn't have been more out of place and inappropriate. Miss USA is not a high school dance in Kentucky.

Joan Rivers and her daughter, Melissa offered commentary and humour between commercial breaks. Joan even wore a sash that said "Miss Mayflower" and made quips about beauty and the pageant world. She didn't hold back though, and even went so far as to describe one contestant's neon green evening gown as, "It looks like it was dripped in Gatorade." Which to be honest, was the truth.

The fashion of the evening was questionable. The host wore three heinous dresses, including a floor-length blue number that looked like it was $69.95 from Fairweather, and an olive prom dress that was reminiscent of a bad bridesmaid. The only fashionable person there was judge, Johnny Weir who wore a dramatic multi-coloured feather jacket and even had an outfit change later in the show. The girls wore the most repulsive pink and orange bikinis that had an awkward fit. The tops made chesty girls look droopy, and small girls looked even smaller. The print was a ghastly tye-die that didn't do justice for anyone's colouring. Don't even get me started on the evening gowns...

The winner was Rima Fakih, who was the first Muslim to win Miss USA and the first Miss Michigan to win the crown. It was a bit suprising that she won, considering her trip in the evening gown competition, and lower scores in the swimsuit competition...throughout the show, I was certain either Colorado (who placed 3rd) or Oklahoma (who was the runner-up) would win. They embodied the grace and elegance of a Miss USA contestant that I felt Fakih lacked.

It was reported that Fakih was a winner of Stripper 101. You heard that right. The beauty queen won the competition in 2007 during which photos were taken... and if you're wondering... clothes did come off. Her prizes included jewelery, adult toys, a stripper pole and some cash that was appropriately stashed down her bra).

So much for a wholesome "American Girl image"... It has me wondering whether her title is in danger, and to be perfectly honest, I think it should be. This was not a topless lingerie photoshoot to help a struggling model make money, but a blatant display of trash. It's one thing to take pole dance class as a means to exercise or treat your boyfriend, but to compete in public and expose yourself, when you intend to be a part of an esteemed organization is wrong. This does not represent the ideal American girl, and shouldn't represent the United States on a world stage at Miss Universe.

The Miss USA organization came under a lot of fire the previous week, when they released their official photoshoot, shot by famed photographer, Fadil Berisha. The public thought the photos were too racy, because the girls were shot in lingerie. The photos were black and white, and to be perfectly honest, they were more covered up in men's dress shirts and corsets than if they were posing in bikinis on the beach.

Here are some of my favourite shots.

Miss Oregon, Kate Paul looks like a young Farrah Fawcett.

Miss Wyoming, Claire Schreiner, looks like a sultry mix of Catherine Deneuve, Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot. I'm wondering... where was this beauty in the top 5?