The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 19

SA Special 4-page pullout keepsake section BRANSON GLITTERATI 6B PAGEANT HAPPENINGS 7B CELEBRITIES 8B PAGE SATURDAY, February 2000 News-Leader Questions? Story Ideas? Call our Help Desk at 836-1199. in ran 0 On of A top i. --v4- -v. -t'Jr vl 1 'S 1 1 -s f. J'.

Christina Dcken News-Leader Miss USA 1999 Kimberly Pressler (right) shares the joy of the moment with Miss USA 2000 Lynnette Cole as she prepares to hand her the crown and sash Friday night at the Grand Palace. The crowning was the culmination of weeks of preparation, fittings and rehearsals by the 51 Miss USA delegates in Branson. The 10 semifinalists were announced at the beginning of the two-hour show. Poise, presence win pageant Branson's second pageant shows far greater polish than the first. Another theory suggests it was Tennessee's turn to win something.

By Mark Marymont For the News-Leader From Our Staff She was asked about her choice for president during the upcoming election. Although Vice President Al Gore is from Tennessee, Cole said she hasn't decided whom to support. "When I do, I will choose a person who has good morals and ethics." The second runner-up, Miss Alabama USA Jina Mitchell, said she was thrilled to hear her name called, but is now looking forward to going back to college. Judge and hip-hop artist Usher had his own theory about why Miss Tennessee won. "(Tennessee) didn't win the Super BowL" Usher said.

"They had to win hit "What A Girl Wants" accompanied by a video of the 51 Miss USA Delegates working out at various locations around Branson. "Lou Bega's Swimsuit Mambo" featured Lou Bega and the delegates in two-piece Speedos sashaying through his "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of Mambo)." Brian McKnlght was joined Mark Wills on "Back At One," a current hit for both singers, for the evening gown segment. The delegates also answered a series of rapid-fire questions during a mock news conference. And the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" craze carried over to the See MISS, Page 8B should calm the critics of last year's show.

The off-color humor of 1999 host Shemar Moore offended Branson residents enough that some started an unsuccessful effort to draft entertainer Jim Stafford for host Opening with a nice nod to Branson, as "the live entertainment capital of the world," Daly also did a good job working with the delegates after announcing the 10 sernifinalists at the top of the two-hour show. From top to bottom, the show was an improvement over the first pageant in Branson last year, when the previous Miss Tennessee USA, Morgan Tandy High, was first runner-up. A quartet of hot young performers included Christina Aguilera, who sang her No. 1 Judges and delegates gathered in the theater after the broadcast to exchange pleasantries and to talk about the future. A lot of attention was paid to Grant Wistrom, defensive end for the Super Bowl champion St Louis Rams.

Cole said she has been waiting for this moment since she was 16. The most nerve-racking part, she said, was when it came down to two delegates. Cole said winning came as a surprise. "I never considered myself pretty, but I know I'm very different-looking," she said. Lynnette Cole, Miss USA 2000, will put her dreams of becoming a lawyer on hold today for a year that starts with the May Miss Universe Pageant in Cyprus.

The 21-year-old from Columbia, shared the Grand Palace stage with first runner-up, Bridget Jane Vezina, Miss New Hampshire USA, a 19-year-old communications and marketing major from Nashua, N.H. Second runner-up was Jina Mitchell, Miss Alabama USA, a 22-year-old communications major from Trussville, Ala. Cool, calm and collected host Carson Daly kept the Friday night broadcast moving with a wry, often subtle humor that BRANSON- It took two hours of deliberation, but the Miss USA Pageant judges were unanimous on one decision: It was an extraordinary rgroup of delegates. Small nuances were what Tset apart the winner, Lynnette jQole, Miss Tennessee USA, rsaid judge Christopher McDonald of TV's "Family "Law." "She had great poise, style, class and real presence," McDonald said. "All of those attributes will serve her well iri what shell have to do this year." "i iff- 1 A Cnristina DicKen News-teaoer The new Miss USA, Lynnette Cole Tennessee, walks down the stage after receiving her crown Friday night..