Miss USA Falls Flat

The Miss USA pageant and beauty queens are really a wacky bunch compared to the snores over at the Miss America pageant. In another "YouTube" moment, poor Miss USA, Rachael Smith, got her heel caught in her dress and went straight down on her butt. I can not believe how fast she recovered and jumped up, maintaining perfect posture the whole time. She should have won just for remaining calm under pressure. Miss Japan ended up taking the Miss Universe crown.

"Reign of Tara" is Over

A new Miss USA was crowned on Friday night. Rachel Smith, 21, Miss Tennessee received the crown from controversial 2006 Miss USA, Tara Conner.

Before the show, Conner summed up her year to PEOPLE, saying: "The reign of Tara was miraculous. Literally, because I got sober during it, and that's the most important thing."

Now that her reign is over Conner plans to do some acting and write a book and stay sober. Mia and I are speculating that once she was free of the clutches of Donald Trump, she headed straight for a bar to enjoy her sobriety Lindsay Lohan style!

Congratualtions Rachel! Let's hope that your year as Miss USA is scandal free!!

Miss USA: "Basically Insane"

This morning on the Today show,Matt Lauer interviewed, Tara Conner, Miss USA, her first post- rehab interview. Conner admitted to Matt that she displayed "basically insane" behaviour,was an alcoholic, "equal opportunity" drug user, dishonest and a master manipulator . Conner also hinted at "abuse" in her past, but wouldn't discuss details as she wanted to respect the privacy of her family. Lauer didn't accept no for an answer and came at her like a battering ram, trying to get Tara to speak about the "abuse". Tara didn't give in so eventually Matt let it drop.

Tara was also sporting a new hair style, with bangs, a much softer look, I'm sure to make her appear more innocent and younger. There was a lot of "therapy speak" and Tara appeared to be very media savvy and smooth in her answers to Matt. The Miss USA pageant does a great job with PR!

My favorite quote from the whole interview was when Tara said that she had an "allergic reaction" to the drugs and alcohol. An allergic reaction that makes you hook up with Miss Teen USA in Manhattan Bars.

Tara then went on to promise Matt that she would never, ever pose nude for Playboy.

Miss USA Admits To Using Cocaine, And Then Sniffs At $1M from Playboy

Tara Conner, Miss USA, and Donald Trump have reportedly turned down a $1million offer from Playboy for Tara to appear. "She just didn't feel it was appropriate. She will not be doing Playboy," said Trump spokeswoman Rhona Graff.(Is this the same "Rhona" from The Apprentice? She's had a promotion! She's not just bossing around the Apprentices early in the morning!!). NY Daily News has all the details. When told of the $1M offer from Playboy, former Miss Nevada, Katie Rees, laughed that she'll have to hold out for more money from Playboy.

Tara Conner has also admitted to PEOPLE that she was using cocaine prior to her recent stint in rehab. Tara is going to be talking to Matt Lauer about all her issues,tomorrow morning on 'Today'. Set your Tivo.

Katie Is Crowned....

Miss Jet Nightclub 2007. Last night in Las Vegas, Katie Rees, ex-Miss Nevada, was finally crowned. Jet put on a full crowning ceremony for Katie, complete with sash, tiara and red roses. In a bizarre turn of events, it is reported by TMZ.com that Katie's parents, AND grandparents were present at the nightclub for her big moment (I would love to know what they think of the whole story!!) When asked where she was headed next, Katie replied "Hollywood, baby!".

Click here for the TMZ story
Click here for ALL the Katie Rees photos (Not Safe For Work)

Miss USA: "I'm An Alcoholic"

Miss USA, Tara Conner has admitted in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE that she has a problem with alcohol and addiction.

"I didn't think I had any kind of issue going into rehab. I even said, 'I'll get some free therapy,' or something like that – and that was so ridiculous," says Conner. "But I've realized I do have an issue. I suffer from the disease of alcoholism and addiction. And if there's anything that I want people to know it's the severity of this disease and what it can do to people."

Tara spent 31 days in rehab, and checked out this week. Tara's first TV interview will be on the Today Show on February 1st.

Miss USA - First Interview on "Today"

Miss USA, Tara Conner, will be giving her first post-rehab interview to Matt Lauer on the Today Show, Thursday February 1st.

Tune in to find out all the exciting details of rehab, Trump forgiveness and making out with Miss Junior USA!

We can't wait!!

Katie Rees Takes on Donald Trump - Round 1.

Former Miss Nevada USA, Katie Rees, has spoken out about Donald Trump and her forced resignation, during and interview with Extra TV.

"I asked for a second chance and it wasn't given.I would have to agree with him (Donald Trump) that they (the photos) were extremely racy, however, I'm not in rehab, I didn't test positive for illegal drugs and I wasn't caught making out with Miss Teen USA. "

When asked about Donald Trump, Katie said "I admire him. I think he’s a smart businessman. He did what he had to do; however, I do
believe there was a double standard given."

“We were just a few silly girls having a good time, just taking a picture and people were egging us on. For now I’m just working on getting out of the mold of the bad girl. Because I am not a bad girl.”

Hahahahaahah. Good luck with all that Katie. I'm sure that's really going to change The Donald's mind.

Miss USA says "NO!" to Oprah!!

Miss USA, Tara Conner, says "no" to Oprah and "yes" to the Today show and Tonight show with Jay Leno reports TMZ.com.

Tara does not want to share the stage with Donald Trump and others, which she would have to do if she appears on Oprah, and she probably doesn't want to have to put up with hearing another outburst from Trump about how great he is for giving her a second chance. The interview with Today would be all about her. It will be her first post-rehab interview. She has also agreed to appear on Jay Leno.

Apparently there is also a fight brewing with pageant organizers over which entertainment magazine Tara will be allowed to appear on. The TV shows should concentrate their story on the fight for Tara's story. I'm sure it's going to be more interesting that "I went out and got drunk because I'm a stupid 20yr old and then Mr Trump forgave me". I'd love to find out more about the internal politics of beauty pageants, I'm sure it's more cut throat than running for President.

Tara Conner Returns To Trump Place!

The New York Daily News reports that Miss USA, Tara Conner is out of rehab and has returned to her apartment in Trump Place. Yesterday the Daily News reported that Tara Conner would be attending a welcome home party at Stereo, but reps for the pageant denied the rumor and said that Conner would be resting and returning to her Miss USA duties soon.

"Tara Conner will not be at Stereo for a coming-out party - or any party at
Stereo, for that matter," said pageant spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton

Too bad there's no rehab for hard partying ex-Miss Nevada, Katie Rees. I'm sure she would love to be back in the The Donald's good graces and wearing her crown again.

Miss USA is Clean!

According to TMZ, Miss USA Tara Conner is already getting out of rehab. After partying a bit too hard, The Donald put Conner in a rehab facility in Wernersville, PA last month rather than taking away her crown. She got "back on track" pretty quickly! Hopefully she will be able to keep herself clean because between her, Katie Rees and Ashley Harder, the Miss USA name has taken quite a hit.

Beauty Queen Update

All is not lost for former Miss Nevada USA, Katie Rees. On January 29, she was crowned Miss Jet Las Vegas, at Jet Mirage Nightclub.

Althought it doesn't have quite the same prestige as being crowned Miss USA, she still gets to wear a crown and party - her own way!

Another One Bites the Dust

Following in the footsteps of Miss USA Tara Conner and Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees, Ashley Harder, Miss New Jersey USA is the latest beauty queen to no longer have her crown. Well, ok, maybe not exactly in their footsteps. She wasn't caught drinking underage and tossed into rehab (Tara) and no dirty photos of her have surfaced (Katie). According to the Philadelphia Daily News , Harder says she voluntarily stepped down because she is pregnant. Whoops. Unfortunately for her, it is against pageant rules to compete while pregnant. Harder tells the newspaper that she is due in late summer and plans to marry her live-in boyfriend. This might just put The Donald over the edge.