By Robin Leach
The fun is over! The hard work begins! Intense rehearsal schedules have started for the 51 Miss USA contestants at Planet Hollywood in preparation for Wednesday’s preliminary pageant and Sunday’s live NBC telecast to 90 countries and millions of viewers.
The glamour girls from each of the states and the District of Columbia who will report to pageant owner and real-estate mogul Donald Trump this weekend had their final taste of fun on the Strip last weekend.
“American Idol” Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, who now headlines at the Paris, invited several of the pageant princesses to his show. Naturally, he picked Mary Margaret McCord, who represents his home state of Alabama, to join him onstage. Taylor serenaded her with his original song “Hell of a Day.” Afterward, reigning Miss USA Nana Meriwether, who will relinquish her crown and title Sunday, led 25 of the pageant princesses backstage for a meet and greet with Taylor.