And this year's new Miss USA is...

Come April 19th on NBC you might be hearing this phrase followed by "Miss DC!" Returning to the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, this year's THE MISS USA 2009 PAGEANT under the guise of Donald Trump will feature a 51 of the most sensational women the U.S. has to offer.

Who would have thought that a local "bathing beauty" competition spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, CA would metamorphose into a landmark annual tradition with countless young women around the country vying to become Miss USA? As hundreds of millions of fans have watched in 125 different countries, the homegrown contest has evolved into a powerful, year-round, international organization that advances and supports opportunities for these role models.

Becoming what is now considered American royalty is still an obtainable dream for young women more than 50 years later. Today, Miss USA has become a fixture of pop culture, ingrained in the landscape of our minds. As the first cover subject of MS magazine's premier issue in 1969, Miss USA continues to stand proud, breaking boundaries and defining what it means to be a woman in the 21st century.

These women are savvy, goal-oriented and aware. The delegates who become part of the Miss Universe Organization display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as women who see to improve the lives of others. Currently, Miss USA is experiencing a rebirth, playing a critical role in making the next 100 years "The Century of Women."

At least that's what the Miss USA website and Nicole tells me. Meet Nicole White, Miss DC 2009...or rather 2008, I'm not sure. But either way, she's competing in the Miss USA 2009 Pageant and representing the good ol' "Taxation Without Representation" District of Columbia. A student at George Washington University, Nicole and I met at McCormick & Schmick's on K Street awhile back and recently she was in desperate need of some photos for the pagaent. How urgent? Well, the deadline was Friday and she called me on Tuesday -- and the only day that we were both free was Thursday morning at 7:30am. Yikes! But I think all went well. Good luck in Vegas Nicole!

I call this her VOGUE Magazine cover.
The powerful woman pose.





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