Miss USA Pageant Sponsors Announced

The Miss Universe Organization, a Donald Trump venture, has announced the sponsors fort the 2011 Miss USA Pageant, which will take place in Las Vegas later this month.

Diamond Nexus Labs has created the Miss USA crown. The evening gown segment is sponsored by Sherri Hill, with Chinese Laundry providing the footwear. Swimwear desginer Kandy Wrappers is sponsoring the swimsuit segment of the competition.

Farouk Systems will provide the contestants with a variety of hair care products and tools, including the CHI ceramic flat iron. OPI, who is launching a Miss Universe Collection of nail polishes in September, will provide manicures. Rain Cosmetics will be providing makeup for the contestants, and Australian Gold will provide skincare and sun products.

The winner of the pageant will receive full tuition, room and board to the New York Film Academy.

The 60th Anniversary Miss USA pageant will air live on NBC on Sunday, June 19 (9-11 p.m. ET) from the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas at the Theatre for Performing Arts. The pageant will feature contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Contestants will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.

Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih, is the first Muslim American to recieve the crown. Miss Fakih gained additional exposure when she appeared on the reality competition show Tough Enough.

Previous Miss USA pageants have been marked by minor scandal. In 2009, semi-nude photos surfaced of Carrie Prejeen, Miss California. And Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner admitted to underage drinking. She has since gone to rehab and recently celebrated two years of sobriety.

[Source: PR Newswire]