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As you might have read in my last few postings here on my blog,  it's "Miss USA" time again and that means one thing: Pageant Gowns! The all-important Preliminary Competition occurred this past Wednesday night at PH Live Theater in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Las Vegas--site of the Finals on Sunday night. In my last post, I discussed my Favorites in Evening Gown (Miss Minnesota USA, Miss Texas USA, and so on) and now it's time to discuss "The Others". Normally, this is the "Oh Dear!" post. However, I have to admit, there weren't that many "Oh Dear's!" this year. This is a good thing and could signify that these pageant girls--and their style handlers--are getting a little more conscious of what defines A MESS. But for some pageant watchers (the catty ones!) it's also a semi-bad thing, since there's not much to wreck, as it were. So, with that in mind, I decided to break down the girls who STILL love a Good Slit, the "Blue Belles" (the color blue was a trend) as well as "Lipstick Ladies" (red gowns) and finally, the Pageant Betty's; contestants whose gowns were a bit of a throw-back to the 1990s. So, let's get to it:







Show Some Leg: (Left to right) Miss Alaska USA, Miss Florida USA, Miss California USA, Miss Nevada USA--these ladies (among others) love a good slit in their gowns. The slit is a very popular detail in Pageant Gowns and has been for years. I also love a good slit and have designed many a NIKOLAKI gown with them. They've even now "invaded" the red carpet with the likes of Angelina Jolie showing what a slit can do! But sometimes, the pageant girls take a slit to new heights (like waaaay up there!). And this is where you might go into "Oh Dear!" territory. The contestants above did just fine, with all their slits, thank you very much. Now, here are two ladies who took the slit to new heights on Wednesday night---First, Miss North Carolina USA Ashley Mills...



Seems OK to me, very sweet and pretty:




Uh Oh, I see something...




GURL!!!!!! Are you wearing SEQUINED HOT SHORTS under there:


Miss North Carolina USA takes the Miss USA 2013 Drag Queen "Give Them Drama" Award for this UBER show of leg.



Next, Miss Virginia USA Shannon McAnally:


One Look and She'll Steal Your Husband: Shannon is a Lady Killer in that gown. Combined with that come-hither look, the up-do and that perfectly curvaceous body of hers, EVERY woman should hold on to their boyfriends and husbands. Now let's discuss her Slit and those Heels:




Is that a nude gusset up there at the beginning of her slit? And why is that up there? Was it added because it was just too dangerously high to begin with (the slit, that is). Or is it a peek-a-boo extension of the nude/sequined detail in the gown? I'm a bit confused. And let's just be honest here, she was already Super Sexy with all that was happening, she really didn't need to take it further with those platform "Stripper" heels. The entire package is two minutes away from looking like a "Real Housewives of Orange County" cast member.



The Blue Belles:







Blue--and many shades of blue--were big at the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Evening Gown Competition. These ladies above (and several others) wore various tones of blue--royal blue, turquoise, ocean blue, baby blue, midnight blue...you name it, it was on stage. Of the eight contestants above, some of my Blue Faves were Miss Idaho USA Marissa Wickland and Miss Missouri USA Ellie Holtman...



Lipstick (Red) Ladies:


Red was also a big "Color Trend" at the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Evening Gown Competition. Two of my Favorite Gowns of the night were, in fact, in this "Lipstick Red" color: Miss Minnesota USA Danielle Hooper (far left) and Miss Texas USA Alexandria Nugent (far right).



Pageant Betty's:


There are always a bunch of contestants at the Miss USA (and especially Miss America) who, for whatever reason, do not want to start a new Evening Gown trend or are being told by their handlers to just look and dress like a Pageant Queen from "Hollywood Central Casting" or as we like to say, a Pageant Betty. These ladies above fit this mold. First off, these contestants are gorgeous, but I question why some of them chose gowns that looked straight out of a Miss USA 1998 pageant (Miss Colorado USA, Miss North Dakota USA). I know that there should be sparkles in a pageant gown but these above look dated. A note to Pageant Gown manufacturers, designers, whoever...Take a look at how Lebanese couturiers George Hobeika, Ellie Saab, Zuhair Murad do sparkle gowns. Please. Now, speaking of Sparkle...




Sparkle, Slit and Pageant Betty:  Why is the lovely Miss New Mexico USA Kathleen Danzer in this "Pageant Betty" section? Shouldn't she be in the Slit Queen category, you may ask? Of course she can be in the Slit Queen section (especially with this see-through sequined slit-happy gown), but it was that big ol' bun of hers which made me give her a "Pageant Betty Runner-Up" prize. That bun can withstand a hurricane. I swear. It was very reminiscent of Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes' bun:







Finally, my (really good) Pageant Betty Queens of the Miss USA 2013 Prelims Are...




Miss Alabama USA Mary-Margaret McCord: Mary-Margaret is a BEAUTIFUL "Pageant Betty". For the evening gown portion of Wednesday night's Preliminaries, she wore a strapless black mermaid-shaped gown. It fit her perfectly and everything else she did--in terms of styling--was just right. She's a Pageant Betty Gone Right! (and some pageant-watchers think she might be the actual next Miss USA).




Miss Kentucky USA Allie Leggett wore this dusty rose pink mermaid-shaped gown with sequined bodice and feathered bottom section. It's very "Pageant Betty" but not in a dated, negative way. I actually think she looks pretty Pageant Perfect; it's got drama, it's sweet, it's impressive and on the very beautiful Allie, I couldn't have chosen a better gown.

In my last SASHES AND TIARAS post, I discussed my Faves from the Miss USA 2013 Website Evening Gown "Portraits" that were released last week prior to the upcoming Preliminaries (this Wednesday!) and Finals on June 16th. Now, as we know (if you are a Beauty Pageant aficionado--or a Missosologist, the term for a "Pageant Follower"), these evening gowns in the Miss USA 2013 Website Portraits may or may not be the actual gowns the contestants wear during the all-important Preliminary Competition as well as the Finals once they get chosen as a Semi-Finalist.







A lot of times, the girls "bust out" with a new "Super Duper" gown that they have secretly held in the back of their closet just for that moment. But, at the same time, many will just wear the same gowns worn in these portraits, whether they should or not...Anyhow, without further ado, here is my Part Two Miss USA 2013 Evening Gown Website Photos Review--





Let's start with the Sex-a-Licious Slit Queens:




Miss Alabama USA 2013 Mary Margaret McCord--Mary Margaret is all things Sex-a-Licious in this super Va-Va-Voom of a gown. It's PLUNGING up there and PLUNGING down there. First off, she's got the super high side slit, and secondly, her "sisters" are all out on display for all of America to see. Not sure if this gown is just way too distracting for the judges to even take her seriously. Don't get me wrong, she looks beautiful, but it is certainly a LOT of look.




Miss Tennessee USA 2013 Brenna Mader--Brenna began this posting with this red hot gown with, yes, a slit up to there and very exposed top section with an open back. Once again, Miss Tennessee USA Brenna Mader, fills the "Slit Queen" requisite here but then takes it too a "Oh Girl!" moment with the rest of the gown. Like I said in the beginning, this is the girl who will steal your huzzzband ladies (in this dress) so watch out! On a good note: LOVE those gold strappy heels!




Miss Virginia USA 2013 Shannon McAnally--Shannon is a beautiful girl (like all the others of course!), and while she does look serene in this ivory gown with a slit/opening at the side, it's both the pose and wide thigh exposure that makes it look as if she's about to do something very, very naughty.




Miss Nevada USA 2013 Chelsea Caswell--Chelsea is in the "Slit Queen" category, naturally because of this black sequined gown with a high side slit. I actually like this gown; it's got Glamour, red carpet sparkle and fits her well. Not sure if I would have accessorized it with nude pumps (black strappy ones might have been better), and the Uber-platform is becoming very tired.




Miss California USA 2013 Mabelynn Capeluj--Mabelynn chose this strapless shirred chiffon gown with a beaded waistband and high side slit for her "Miss USA Evening Gown Portrait". She looks sweet enough but yet again, it's the "See my entire thigh and leg" pose and come-hither face tilt that takes her to a "Sex-a-Licious" moment. The big ol' red hoop earrings are a tad too "Cha-Cha", even for me (I Love a good "Cha-Cha"!). I don't actually dislike the dress, it is more the pose and styling that is the problem.




Miss Alaska USA 2013 Melissa McKinney--Three words: Go On Melissa. She's vibing "Cleopatra" in this ivory gown with center front slit, plunging front keyhole and gold and silver sequined neck-plate. I like this gown, but...I only wish the front keyhole wasn't so...deep. It didn't need to be. She's already got the front slit happening. But I know, when it comes to Pageant Gowns and these Pageant girls, too much is never enough. I may not agree with it, but what can I do.




Miss Oregon USA 2013 Gabrielle Neilan--Gabrielle looks pretty in this white with beaded torso dress with a side slit. It's very "Pageant 101" and frankly not very original; safe in fact, and something I could have seen at the Miss USA 1998" pageant. Yes, that's FIFTEEN years ago.





Miss Illinois USA 2013 Stacie Juris--Stacy wore this strapless red applique with nude backing gown with a high-lo silhouette. It reminded me A LOT of a NIKOLAKI custom gown I created for "Entertainment Tonight's" co-anchor (at the time she was with "Access Hollywood"), the GORGEOUS Nancy O'Dell, when she co-hosted the Miss Universe 2006 pageant with Carlos Ponce (see above). I like the way the gown fits on Stacie and the nude/red colors work well. This is another way of showing a SLIT...in fact it's a big ol' OPENING!




Miss New Hampshire USA 2013 Amber Faucher--Amber is my final "Slit Queen". I left her for last because she wore a slit gown but it wasn't HOOCHIE or too "Sex-a-Licious", in fact it was just right. The gown is very similar to Miss Oregon USA's but I just think this style works better on Amber. The fact that her "sister's" aren't, well, OUT THERE (like Miss Oregon's) just makes it look more elegant and less "I'm a former stripper". Just sayin'.



The Pageant Betty's:


Miss North Dakota USA 2013 Stephanie Erickson--Nothing wrong with this gown choice by Stephanie Erickson "Miss North Dakota USA", but it just looks a little dated. The top sequined section is pretty and looks expensive but the entire thing screams "Miss USA 1994" and not something more modern, reflecting the gowns one sees on the fashion runways of Milan, Paris or NY, or on the red carpet for that matter. It's very "Pageant Betty".






Miss Missouri USA 2013 Ellie Holtman--Ellie is STUNNING, and one of the tallest contestants in this year's pageant at 5'11" in height. This very "Pageant Betty" black with sequined top section dress does NOTHING for her. In my opinion, it actually ages her. She looks like a Mother-of-the-Bride. This is a gown someone's mom would pick up at their local department store's After 5/Gown section. I think Ellie can do better, I hope.




Miss New Mexico 2013 Kathleen Danzer--One shoulder: Check! Slit: Check! Red sequins: Check! This should have been super-good but the style doesn't seem very original and once again, went into "Pageant Betty" world very quickly. At least, Kathleen was wise enough not to give Pageant Betty big pouffy hair. I give her points for that.




Miss Kentucky USA 2013 Allie Leggett--I would have not expected anything less than this frothy pink mermaid-shaped concoction from a "Miss Kentucky USA". Remember this is the Land of the Kentucky Derby, colorful suits and big ol' hats! Although she does look like a Pageant Barbie (she's beyond "Pageant Betty"!), I'm kinda liking this, for just it's "I'm going to go all the way" chutzpah. Is it an "Oh Dear!" moment? Possibly, but an "Oh Dear!" that could work.



***STAY TUNED HERE for my Recap/Review of the Miss USA 2013 Preliminary Evening Gowns later this week!

Slit Queens and Cha-Cha Love:








I've discussed my Favorites of the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits HERE, as well as the "Pageant Bettys" and "Too-Short Gown" girls HERE...so now, it's time to get SERIOUS. SLIT-and-Cha Cha serious. This year--as has been the case recently, there are A LOT of SLIT HAPPY Gowns in the Miss Universe Pageant Evening Gown Official Website Portraits, as well as what I call the "Cha-Cha/Dancing With The Stars" Queens. Now, again, these are just the website's "Official Evening Gown Portraits" and therefore they may not be the actual gowns the ladies will wear in the very important Preliminaries--or the Final telecast for that matter. Lots of the girls like to save the BEST for then. Irregardless...

Let's begin with the SLIT QUEENS:




Miss Albania Adrola Dushi: Do I see TWO slits? I think I do. The other one is just being hidden by an overlay of chiffon. It's a good gown and she certainly is giving a "Do you want a piece of this?" look. How do you say that in Albanian?




Miss Guam Alyssa Cruz Aguero: Alyssa wears a purple-blue one shoulder gown with silver sequin detail and a slit--a very high slit, in which she wants to show you as much leg as possible. I would have rather liked it if she wasn't pulling her gown and dropped it so there might have been a hint of a slit. I have a feeling she's pulling and lifting it because the gown maybe too long on her.




Miss Czech Republic Tereza Chlebovska: I just want to say the name "Tereza Chlebovska" a HUNDRED TIMES!! Love that name. She sounds like a Prima Ballerina! But I digress, let's discuss the gown and that slit: it's a pretty gown and I just didn't think she needed so high a slit. She already looks like she's "Sex on Wheels" so why push it?




Miss Sri Lanka Sabrina Herft: Sabrina could be under my "Pageant Betty" AND "Slit Queen" categories with this dress and entire look. It's very "Pageant 101"...from 1996; it's got the one shoulder, it's got the applique, it's got the chiffon overlay, the slit. It's all there. Like "Check, Check, and Triple Check!" I happen to think...or hope...that Pageant Gowns can evolve.




Miss Georgia Tamar Shedania: The Lady in Red gives you Drama and a Slit! It's not a bad gown, I actually have issues with the dangling "ribbons" more than the slit. This gown looked very familiar for some reason and then it hit me:






Miss Estonia Natalie Korneitsik: The pretty Natalie ends up in a "Slit Queen" gown here for the "Miss Universe Evening Gown Official Portraits". I'm bothered by two things. First, the hip draping is distracting and draws my eye to that section. Second, I think she may need a lining under those double layers of chiffon. In the photo, I can see her legs and I'm scared to guess what the judges on stage might also see.




Miss India Shilpa Singh: Shilpa's fuchsia pink gown is very "My Super Sweet Sixteen"...the "I Want To Be Sexy" version. I think there's too much happening here: the embroidered applique in the upper torso bustier, which then is somewhat continued (inexplicably) onto the rest of the gown; then, there's a keyhole near her tummy, a full tulle skirt, and then, the slit. This gown can be helped with editing (take out this and take out that..). Also, why can I see nude-colored bust pads on the bustier? It's distracting to say the least. And a big NO-NO in fashion.




Miss Jamaica Chantal Zaky: This gown isn't so bad. I do love the royal blue color and the back drape/fall, although I think it is attached to her bracelet/cuff!?! The slit isn't so HOOCHIE in that it doesn't seem so high--just right (unless her hand is covering how high that slit really goes!). Chantal is here because yes, kids there was still a SLIT in her gown.




Miss Ukraine Anastasia Chernova: How sweet does this lovely young lady look! I want to take her home to meet the parents! She does continue the sweet demeanor with this strapless modified ball gown. It's a sweet color, it's got sweet details. But wouldn't you know, these pageant girls cannot live without their slits! They are SLIT ADDICTED! (Note to self: Trademark that!)




Miss Colombia Daniella Alvarez Vasquez: First off, I do love a bright color! Highlighter Yellow is FAB! This gown is interesting for it's no-hold's-barred color but also for the neckline detail and the way the shirring/gathering cascades into the bottom skirted section. But, at the same time, it might be considered in some circles a Hot Mess. Not sure about the nude illusion center front bustline panel (you can barely see it in this photo but it looks like it's there). And yes, there is that slit. Say "Hola" to that slit.




Miss Vietnam Luu Thi Diem Huong: Another "Highlighter Yellow" gown. It is strapless and yes, has a big ol' slit. What's most interesante is what is happening around the bustline. What. Is. That? Is there a black edge trim to this gown? If so, it doesn't make sense. Or--worse still--is that the poor girl's black strapless bra sticking out from the dress? If so, the photographer should've Photoshopped that, or the beautiful Miss Vietnam shouldn't have worn it. Either way, it doesn't make sense.



Now, the Cha-Cha Love and Dancing With The Stars Ladies of "Miss Universe 2012":




Miss Spain Andrea Huisgen: Andrea is another one of my favorite contestants and hopefully she will go far; she's got the height, the "spunky" Miss Universe personality, the "I Will Be Famous" and be in "Hola Magazine"-dating-a-Spanish-Footballer look. With this gown, she gets right into my "Cha-Cha" category easily. It's a strapless mermaid-style gown in a gold lame-like fabrication with shredded organza. I actually LOVE this gown but I know some fellow pageant-watchers I've spoken to, well, were not as complimentary. But we agreed, it's FULL-ON Cha Cha!




Miss Malaysia Kimberley Leggett: The lovely Kimberley--another favorite to be in the Semi-Finals (and I can see why), wore this salmon pink colored sequin/feather and illusion gown. It's VERY "Dancing With The Stars"-meets-Figure Skating Costume. And you know I love me some Figure Skating! It's also very "Cha-Cha". Therefore, she lands here.




Miss Greece Vasiliki Tsirogianni: For her gown choice in the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits, Vasiliki wore this nude illusion tulle fitted gown with ivory flower applique. It also has Figure Skating Costume elements as well as a "Dancing With The Stars" costume vibe.The lace over illusion is a big trend in Pageants right now and it can often work well (as seen on Olivia Culpo), but on Vasiliki...not so much. This is why my koukla ("doll" in Greek) ended up in this category.




Miss Peru Nicole Faveron: Nicole wore a column nude tulle/illusion gown with gold jeweled and flecked details. It's a good  gown--in my eyes but yes, some others may think she's a little too "Dancing With The Stars"/Cha-Cha. I can see why. The way this can be taken to a more Red Carpet Couture level is make it more fit-and-flare, add a slight dramatic train and make it not be so see-through. Then, it might look slightly "McQueen"-like.




Miss Costa Rica Nazareth Cascante: Oh Chica, the temperature just got a bit more Caliente. This aqua/turquoise blue and silver beaded gown  has "Carnival Cruise to San Juan Puerto Rico" written all over it! She is a major Cha-Cha Queen in this. Nothing else to say.




Miss Dominican Republic Dulcita Lynn Lieggi: I'm a little "on the fence" with this gown. I like the seafoam green color and the detail of it looks expensive. I also appreciate the lack of a HOOCHIE slit (or at least from how she's posing). I just think it's a little too "Cha-Cha" and with that too-stiff hairstyle, earrings, overall look, she seems "dated"--like very 1998 Pageant. She is GORGEOUS though. I just think she would have looked more up-to-date in a different dress, different hairstyle, etc.


Miss Mauritius Ameeksha Devi Dilshand: Silver gown with silver illusion sides. How could she NOT end up in this "Cha-Cha/Dancing With The Stars" Category. And add "Figure Skating Queen" to that as well.



Finally, The "Monica Belucci Sex Goddess Cha-Cha Miss Universe 2012 Award" Goes To...




Miss Kosovo Diana Avdiu: One word: WOW. This gown has all the elements of A) Cha-Cha Queen and B) "Dancing With The Stars"-like Couture, plus she she GIVING YOU Cleavage darlings. Serving it. And that look. She's almost saying "It's OK if if you don't place me in the Semi-Finals but...if you do, I could make you very, very happy..." Amen Sister!



***Next: The "Oh Dear's!" of the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits...Just You Wait!