Miss USA 2010 Evening Gowns; Nick Verreos Gives His "Pageant Red Carpet" thoughts!

Pageant Red Carpet Dish...and Johnny Weir? Miss USA Rima Fakih

Last night, Miss Michigan USA Rima Fakih was crowned Miss USA 2010. She was gorgeous, exotic and her answers to the Interview questions made her very natural--at least within the pageant world. Now, let's discuss those gowns...
Final 3-All in White: Rima is the first (reportedly) Muslim-American woman to have won the Miss USA pageant. The Lebanon-born beauty wore a white strapless gown with a silver crystal trim. She tripped on it several times (bless her heart!) which led me to think, "GIRL!, learn how to kick a gown!" but that's a whole other issue! Her gown, to be honest, seemed cheap, but obviously, the judges did not mind. The bust corset stood out and was ill-fitting and that hem was too long (hence the tripping). Her personality and beauty stood out above that "I just bought this from David's Bridal" gown. It was inferred that she barely had enough money to compete at all, so Congratulations Rima for winning the crown on a budget...now have the Miss Universe Organization buy you some better gowns!On the complete opposite end of the spectrum was Miss Oklahoma USA, Morgan Elizabeth Woolard who wore a gown designed by Gionni Straccia (who created the dress worn by Stefania Fernandez when she was crowned Miss Universe) as well as...the current Miss Venezuela 2009, Marelisa Gibson, who was crowned last September in a Gionni Straccia silk Zibeline crystal-encrusted gown. As I said in my previous blog posting, I was "on the fence" with this 1980s off-the-shoulder gown. I had only seen internet photos but I must say, on air, it was more impacting. It was definitely the most polished look of the night. The funny thing is that the minute she stepped on stage with the gown, I remarked "She looks like a Miss Venezuela!". Well. of course, because she was wearing a gown--and matching earrings--from a Venezuelan designer who outfits all those South American beauties! Just one problem: she looked SOOOOOO much like Heidi Montag !
Miss California USA, Nicole Johnson, wore the same one-shoulder gown she wore in the Preliminary Competition. It was a 7 out of 10 in my book. She just didn't "work it" the way she should have. Runway Coaching Alert!
Third Runner Up Miss Virginia USA, Samantha Casey also wore a white gown (a theme this year!), a jersey high-neck key-hole number featuring a shirred waist and rhinestone detailing. This gown was OK in my book; it did not re-invent the pageant gown wheel and honestly, didn't make me say "You Go Girl!". It did, however, have a great back which she made sure to feature as much as possible.
Miss Tennessee USA Tucker Nicole Perry's gown was a silver beaded strapless one-- which stood out from all the ubiquitous white ones. It had a sense of drama, looked expensive and fit well.
Miss Mississippi USA, Breanne Ponder, made a lot of STRAIGHT MEN happy , wearing this stripper cut-out high-slit almost-showing-her-business red gown on the Final Telecast night. She wore this to the Preliminary Evening Gown Competition, as I discussed and I was not a fan. I could just imagine Judge Johnny Weir thinking "GIRL, do you realize you are NOT accepting an AVN AWARD!!???". Just sayin'-- I'll leave it with that. Speaking of Miss Johnny Weir...
LOVE HIM!!! He gets "Nick Verreos At-A-Girl" points for this ensemble above--and for the fact that he had TWO outfit changes while judging the Miss USA 2010 Pageant! A first! Obviously, people will HATE this but would you really want Johnny to wear anything else?!? Hope you guys enjoyed this year's Miss USA pageant and my Nick Verreos Pageant Gown Red Carpet. Until next time: No Stripper Heels and keep the "cut-out's" to a minimum!

Miss USA 2010 tonight! Here are some Best and Worst of the Preliminary Evening Gowns

Pageant Queens!Miss Texas USA, Kelsey Moore, in a feathered golden-beige gown reminiscent of the one Stefania Fernandez won her Miss Universe 2009 title in

Well kiddies, the Miss USA 2010 Pageant is on tonight, LIVE from Las Vegas. I was not commissioned to design any of this year's contestants gowns in case you were wondering (too busy of a schedule right now unfortunately!) but in the past, I have had the pleasure of designing the Final Gowns for... Miss California USA 2007, Meagan Tandy and... Miss Alaska USA 2008, Courtney Carroll, whom won Third Runner Up and Miss Photogenic Titles respectively (in my gowns!). So of course, as a fashion designer (and pageant fan), I will be watching for one thing, well...TWO: 1)What gowns these girls wear? And 2) Which one will not know where Iraq, Afghanistan or who our Vice President is and whether or not President Obama was born in Hawaii or Kenya. Hopefully they also studied up on what Goldman-Sachs is. Here's a hint: It's not a brand of shoes. Hopefully, Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir who is one of the judges (yes, he is this year's Perez Hilton I guess!) will ask a "controversial" question--Can't wait! Bring it on Johnny!
As always the Preliminary Swimsuit and Evening Gown Competition already occurred earlier in the week and in lieu of tonight's pageant, here are my "Nick Verreos" Highlights and Low-lights of those gowns:There were several "Color Trends" this year with contestants choosing White, Royal Blue or Red as the most popular colors. In the White Gown Category, Miss California USA, Nicole Johnson featured a strong gown with side lace re-embroidery. Not too "racy" and somewhat elegant (pageant girls LOVE the white, it makes them look "pure" I guess).Miss Ohio USA, Amanda Tempel's was one of my favorite White Gowns. Simple elegant, silk charmeuse cowl draped gown with not-too-bold crystal details. Very "Hollywood Glamour".Miss Oklahoma USA, Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, also chose white, with coral and multi-colored beaded embroidery. She looks like she has a great figure and the sculptural gowns shows it off. I'm just not a fan of that sweetheart neckline and the off-the-shoulder design; very 1986 for my taste.Another "White Gown" girl was Miss Washington USA, Tracy Turnure. She's over 6 feet tall and again, was wise in opting for a fitted and column silhouette. The gown was OK, I just wanted to remove that damn feather! It's like someone went to Michaels and really thought she needed an "accent"!Finally, for the White Gown Section, Miss North Carolina, Nadia Shirin Moffett (love that name, is she part Persian?) just gets "Nick Verreos Points" for giving "Drama" with that back "over-piece". That is so Fashion School 101, and I could just see the designer thinking "Oh, it will be FABULOUS to have that back piece...you will WORK IT, on the stage huney!".In the Royal Blue Color Trend, Miss Delaware stood out as one of my favorite. I like the top with the fanned criss-cross "bow" and crystals; I even like the slit. Not too bad. Go Miss Delaware!Miss Arkansas USA, Adrielle Churchill's royal blue gown was just right. Strapless, elegant, draped beautifully and the crystal brooch was perfect.In the Scarlet Gown Trend Category, Miss Florida USA, was probably the best. Again, fitted, strapless, elegant Duchesse satin and very "red carpet" worthy. I like how the back train looks here (as opposed to on Miss North Carolina USA). It's "organic" to the gown, not something that looks like it could be snapped on and off in a HOT MESS minute!
Speaking of HOT MESS:Oh Miss Mississippi USA, Courtney Breanne Ponder. You are soooo pretty! GIRL, why this gown? Like the high slit wasn't enough, you had to then have half your gown cut off on the side (of course, to reveal that 6-pack ab you've been working so hard for--but that's what the Swimsuit Competition is for!!!). Then I almost fainted when I looked down and saw them heels! Ladies, you are not STRIPPERS or ex-wives of Lorenzo Lamas! leave those to Shauna Sand!
Some of the contestants wear the same gown for the Final Telecast and some do not (they want to "Bust Out" with that "stunner" of a gown if they get picked as a Finalist!). We'll see!
Well, have fun watching--you know I will! Happy Miss USA 2010 Viewing!