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2012 Miss Universe Pageant contestants and 2011 Miss Universe Leila Lopes with Jon Gray at Linq on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012.
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 | 10:54 a.m.
2012 Miss Universe Pageant
- Check out the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant page for more stories and photo galleries.
2012 Miss USA Olivia Culpo onstage for the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show at PH Live in Planet Hollywood on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012.
Final rehearsals and technical run-throughs were made Tuesday on the eve of the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at PH Live in Planet Hollywood to be broadcast on NBC and Telemundo to a global audience of 1 billion in more than 100 countries.
Hosts Andy Cohen from Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” and E! News and “Fashion Police” anchor Giuilana Rancic have arrived at Planet Hollywood for the winter wonderland-themed holiday show. Jeannie Mai from Style Network’s “How Do I Look” will co-host with backstage fashion and contestant commentary.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning rockers Train will perform for the swimsuit segment of the competition, and Nigerian-born singer and dancer Timomatic from “So You Think You Can dance” will perform his hits “Set It Off” and “If Looks Could Kill” to announce the Top Five finalists.
Pageant owner Donald Trump will fly in to walk the red carpet pre-show with reigning Miss Universe Leila Lopes, who will hand over her crown to the new winner at the end of the telecast, and 2012 Miss Teen USA Logan West.
A preliminary judging panel last week voted on the 16 women who will move forward in the competition at the start of the broadcast after all 89 have taken the parade walk. Then the new judges take over with the toughest of assignments: to select the new Miss Universe.
The judges are CeeLo Green, singer-songwriter, coach of NBC’s “The Voice” and Planet Hollywood “Loberace” show headliner; Pablo Sandoval, two-time World Series champion and MVP with the San Francisco Giants; Nigel Barker, photographer, Oxygen’s “The Face” host and longtime “America’s Next Top Model” judge; Diego Boneta, singer and actor (“Rock of Ages”); and Scott Disick, reality TV star (“Keeping Up With the Kardashians”).
Plus, Brad Goreski, celebrity stylist and star of Bravo’s “It’s a Brad, Brad World”; Claudia Jordan, TV personality and host starring in the Donald’s “Celebrity Apprentice All-Stars”; chef Masaharu Morimoto (“Iron Chef”); 2011 Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete; Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball and former Las Vegas resident; and Lisa Vanderpump, (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” “Vanderpump Rules”).
Once the new Miss Universe is crowned, she’ll spend 30 minutes onstage for photographs and then meet the worldwide media contingent for a half-hour Q+A before attending the gala party. She will stay on at Planet Hollywood tonight instead of flying to New York and on Thursday morning will do all of her satellite TV interviews from the Strip.
Check back this afternoon beginning at 2:30 p.m. for red carpet arrival tweets @Robin_Leach and a live blog kicking off at 5 p.m.
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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