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David Tingey/DonoghuePhotography.com
2011 Miss Universe Leila Lopes of Angola walks down a catwalk during the official welcome of the 89 contestants in the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at Planet Hollywood on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012.
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 | 8:58 a.m.
You be the judge: Are they healthy and wholesome? Is lacy lingerie the same as swimwear at the beach? Are they sensationally sexy or salacious? There’s no question the 89 sexy stunners competing in the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant airing on NBC from Planet Hollywood on Wednesday, Dec. 19, are glamorous, gorgeous and bountifully beautiful.
But every time fashion photographer Fadil Berisha eyes them through his lens, he manages to capture a look, an appeal and an allure that leads to controversy. As he did with the 2010 Miss USA Pageant photos here three years ago, one again they are provocative enough to turn up the heat and prompt intense conversations.
Now you can decide as Vegas DeLuxe posts the gallery of all 89 of the princesses in their provocative poses for this year’s pageant -- with beauties from Australia to Vietnam and every country in between.
Each contestant had the opportunity to decline the bedroom lingerie and select more modest attire, but the girls I chatted with loved their lacy layouts and were thrilled that they knocked the stockings off the rival Victoria’s Secret supermodels!
I interviewed Miss Universe chief Paula Shugart and the curvy contestants at Michael Boychuck’s salon Color in Caesars Palace last week. In addition to photo shoots and wardrobe fittings, the glamour girls have been juggling an around-the-clock schedule that included Sunday’s 10 hours of rehearsals and choreography.
Now that Journey has left the Planet Live stage, the contestants will share it with the Eighth Annual OutMusic Awards and then take it over exclusively Dec. 17. The scheduling was complicated with the last-minute location switch by Miss Universe from the Dominican Republic to here.
We’ll have behind-the-scenes rehearsal photos later today along with official gown and swimsuit shots, plus, visits to The Linq, Pure at Caesars Palace, Gordon Ramsay Steakhouse in the Paris and Robert Earl’s off-Strip Buca di Beppo.
When 2012 Miss USA Olivia Culpo won the right to compete in Miss Universe, everybody was amazed at her cello skills. I’ve learned that Olivia is just one of the talented musical girls in the pageant, and on Tuesday we’ll meet five others who strut to their own beat with their musical styling.
Don’t forget this Thursday is the one and only preliminary pageant because of the shared stage and then on Friday all 89 girls showcase their national costumes. Vegas DeLuxe will report daily on their activities and then blog from the pageant Dec. 19 when reigning queen Leila Lopes of Angola crowns her successor.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
Catering to the young and modern crowd, Planet Hollywood is a one-stop shop for entertainment with its massive shopping mall, slew of restaurants, spacious casino and clubs.
The ambiance of the casino is retro-chic meets high-tech with black granite floors throughout and colorful LED lights throughout the space. The theme carries into the 100,000 square-foot casino with 250 flat screens topping off slot machines. The casino is also home to 87 tables, a sports book and a poker room.
There's also the Miracle Mile Shops, one Vegas' largest malls, with 140 stores including BCBG Max Azaria, bebe, Urban Outfitters and The Discovery Channel Store.
Following an afternoon of shopping, guests can satisfy their appetites at one of the gourmet restaurants in Planet Hollywood, like the non-traditional approach to steakhouses at Strip House or check out the exotic Far East motif at KOI restaurant and lounge. And if guests are still looking for more, they can spend the after hours at Privé, Triq or Krave nightclubs.
Perhaps one of the resorts biggest attractions came in March with the addition of "Peepshow." The naughty twist on the story of Little Bo Peep is modern-day spin on the run-of-the-mill Vegas topless review. The "Peepshow" stage has seen visiting celebs like Scary Spice Mel B, "Dancing with the Stars" Kelly Monaco and Playboy's Holly Madison.
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