The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 22

it yn a 1SS U5n in Branson Page edited by Andy Hanacek; call 836-1199 after 5 p.m. CefeMtie 8B News-Leader Saturday, February 5, 2000 Scenes from the pageant There's the pageant on TV. Then there's the pageantry off-screen. Throw in a little pomp, I some prizes, major and minor celebrities and an aspiring presidential candidate. And there you have Miss USA 2000 in Branson.

Top pop singer Christina Aauilera proved appealing jpr the male wowfae members of the audience- Christina Dicken News-Leader 4 mr i 1 i Trump's tower Donald Trump spent Friday night in the Presidential Suite of the Chateau on the Lake Resort. It has a published price of $499 a night. "It's nicely appointed with a four-poster king-size bed," says manager Stephen Marshall. The bathroom has a whirlpool and Jacuzzi." The shower also has a $1 ,200 digital shower-head that can vibrate and pulsate. The co-owner of the Miss USA pageant also had a great view of Table Rock Lake from the penthouse suite.

TAny special requests for The Donald? Just Diet Coke and pretzels, says Matthew Price, director of catering. Lots of loot In addition to the coveted crown, the new Miss USA walks away with quite a booty of prizes. For starters, how about a brand-new 2000 silver Camaro convertible? But wait, there's more: the double-strand pearl and diamond necklace with matching earrings from Mikimoto valued at a diamond-and-steel Miros Integral watch worth $4,500 that should get Miss USA to her appointments on time; $7,500 in pre-paid phone cards from Sprint; a wardrobe and $5,000 scholarship from Speedo; and $5,000 in cash from Clairol. Oh, yeah, and that deluxe apartment in New York City. Bound tor LA.

Speaking of the New York digs, reigning Miss USA Kimberly Ann Pressler plans to vacate hers soon after the pageant. She told the audience at Monday night's Presentation Show that she's moving to Los Angeles soon in hopes of parlaying her yearlong reign into modeling and acting jobs. As for her prize convertible, she says it's a great car, but she's hardly driven it; she's spent most of her time off the road in New York City, where she didn't want to drive or park the car. That drop top will come in much handier when she's cruising California's freeways. Friendly competition Valerie Ogilvie, 24, felt "misty-eyed" as she walked through the Palace doors Friday night.

She and her sister, Miss Texas USA Heather Ogilvie, have long dreamed of being at the Miss USA pageant. Edmee Rodriguez News-Leader Celebrity pageant judges Grant Wistrom, a Webb City native and player for the Super Bowl-winning St. Louis Rams, talks to Kelly Hu during a break in competition. Hu is a former Miss Teen USA and appears on the television show "Martial Law." Girls come to see host Daly while the young men cheer Aguilera. After-pageant party has feel of Egypt By Sony Hocklander News-Leader By Sony Hocklander News-Leader especially among young teens and twenty-somethings.

His attempts to mingle with his adoring public were thwarted, however, when the show director gestured him back on stage. Seventh-grader Danielle Cary from Nixa came with other Girl Scouts to see delegates and celebrities at the morning rehearsal. "I really want to see Carson Daly, though," she emphasized in the lobby before the show. Miss Teen Missouri second runner-up Jennifer Smith traveled from Mountain Grove to see the rehearsal and the pageant. She wanted to "pick up tips" from the pros, especially outgoing Miss USA Kimberly Ann Pressler.

But she also came to see Carson Daly, she said with a grin, "And Lou Bega," she added. When Bega came out on stage dressed in his trademark white suit, the Grand Palace erupted in screams from the scores of teenagers and women from area high schools and colleges. Fans cut classes and skipped work in order to catch a glimpse of their favorites. Of course, Christina Aguilera was a big draw among all, but perhaps even more so among the young men in the crowd, though there weren't as many screamers among her male fans. Four twentyish young men, who stayed fairly quiet through Daly's rehearsal appearance, became decidedly more animated when the petite, sequin-garbed Aguilera took the stage.

As they stood up to snap photos and clap loudly with their arms in air, it was apparent whom they came to see. A group of 65-plus Lutie High School students from Theodosia took a pageant rehearsal field trip as part of their studies in mass media. Senior Heath Garrison made his agenda clear from the back as he shouted: "Christina Aguilera-lover!" WA A- BRANSON "We love you, Carson!" Star-struck fans, primarily female, let loose with frequent declarations of their devotion from the Grand Palace balcony during Friday's Miss USA pageant dress rehearsals. In fact, just the mention of pageant host Carson Daly's name brought grins of anticipation in the lobby before the show and screams of excitement just before he actually appeared on stage. The popular MTV personality and 26-year-old host of "Total Request Live" seemed to be as much a draw for some pageantgoers as the Miss USA delegates, KliiSS Excitement reigns all night BRANSON At a Cleopatra-themed coronation, partygoers nibbled on elegant hors d'oeuvres while keeping a watchful eye out for the belle of the ball.

A "zone" for pageant co-owner Donald Trump, host Carson Daly, judges, performers and newly crowned Miss USA Lynnette Cole, was cordoned off from the rest of the $100-plus tick-etholders by a double barrier patrolled by security in a large corner of the Chateau on the Lake's Great Hall. Providing a look-but-don't-touch "private party within the party," the security measure was due primarily to Trump's possible run for the presidency. The opposite corner provided a reserved, though less secure, area for the Miss USA delegates, many of whom mingled with the crowd instead. But whatever zone they were in, pageant partiers enjoyed an atmosphere of Egyptian elegance, provided primarily by Branson's own. The decor was an effort of "community involvement," said Matthew Price, director of catering for the Chateau.

Spearheaded by Beth Reid, owner of Branson's Accents Floral shop, Ozarkers painted eight large Egyptian-style wall-hangings, and a number of Branson theaters provided appropriate "artifacts," such as the gold camel by the entrance and the oversize two- with police officers, dogs, private security and about 10 FBI agents from Kansas City and Springfield. One agent, who would not give his name, said they were already in the area for training exercis es including work on a firing range and in Christina Dicken News-Leader Carson Daly and Julie Moran entertain the crowd during the Miss USA pageant. "We used to get out our pencil and paper when we were little girls so we could cast our votes," Valerie said. In fact, they competed against each other for the Miss Texas crown, but Valerie said there are ho hard feelings. "We are best friends," said Valerie, who hopes to come back and win her state crown this year.

Good sports for Judges Grant Wistrom, a member of the St. Louis Rams Super Bowl championship team, isn't the first jock to be asked to judge the Miss USA pageant. Last year, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Andre Rison was tabbed as a judge. In fact, there have been plenty of jocks on the jurjk including ex-Chief Marcus Allen, skier Jean Claude Kiley, Dallas Cowboys star Tony Dorsett, heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield and track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee. From Branson to Cyprus Miss USA 2000 has a date with the Miss Universe Pageant in May in Cyprus, which beat out 12 other countries for the right to be host to the event.

The country, which is the birthplace of Aphrodite, will welcome winners from more than 80 countries who will spend four weeks on the Mediterranean island. Miss USA Miss-cellaneous About 200 media credentials were issued for the pageant, including reporters from Canada and Greece. The number is up from the 180 last year. The number of hits on the Miss USA Web site (www.missusa.com) around the world went up Friday. Mona Shah, publicity director for the pageant, thought the additional hits were coming from other countries checking out the competition for Miss Universe.

There are celebrities behind the cameras as well as in front of them. Three of the seven main cameramen who worked Miss USA also worked as cameramen at last Sunday's Super And speaking of the Rams, you could buy Ted-white-and-blue rhinestone variations of Rams brooches at the pageant jewelry stand. Funny, they weren't selling here as well as they did in St Louis, though. the woods. Branson police asked them to dimensional Egyptian cut-out figures assist, "so we decided to stay." Part of the reason for on the stage.

Off-white busts of Cleopatra sur Continued from 5B pageant with a parody called "Who Wants To Be Miss USA?" The capacity crowd was encouraged to cheer and yell for their favorites, and it took little encouragement to get them going, as they waved banners and placards for their home-state delegate. Dorita Roderick, mother of Denette Roderick, Miss Missouri USA, had 400 placards printed up and had given them all away an hour before the 8 p.m. show hit the air. "I'm real excited, but I'm not nervous," Roderick said as she handed out the last of her placards featuring Denette's photographs. "I am pretty calm.

I talked to Denette about 3 this afternoon, and she was just great. She said the girls were all a little tired but they were all ready to go." Steve Roderick, Denette's father, had hoped that Denette's being chosen as a Top 10 finalist in an afternoon practice session would be a good-luck charm for the real thing, but sadly for her large cheering section, that didn't happen. Backstage, the din reached a high pitch as the pageant drew near. Miss Ohio USA Cheya R. Watkins said her blood "was just rushing.

I don't get nervous, but I just want to run across the stage." Michele Kaplan, Miss Hawaii USA, was "in the zone," wearing headphones and relaxing to the music of Ricky Martin. Many of the delegates were in casual dress, wearing "little old lady scuffs," jeans, and sweat shirts in stark contrast to the elegant gowns they would don shortly. In the lobby out front, security tightened extra security this year was the arrival of real estate mogul Donald Pageant owner 4 a Donald Trump visits with Trump, who is considering a presidential bid. Before the Branson entertainer Yakov Smirnoff show, he visited with the before the pageant begins. Edmee Rodriguez News-Leader rounded by leaves and fruit graced the center of each table, while elaborate Egyptian-themed, back-lit ice-sculptures highlighted the buffet.

Chef Doug Kanopp and his culinary staff whipped up spinach and feta cheese turnovers; beef and chicken brochettes with mango chutney and spicy mustard sauce; grilled eggplant roulade with goat cheese and sun-dried tomato; and assorted cheeses, fruit and pastries. Following the Miss USA prize awards and opening remarks by Trump, the "50's at the Hop" show provided live music for revelers to hit the dance floor and celebrate the end of Branson's 2'A-week buildup to Miss USA 2000's coronation. eight celebrity judges, including St. Louis Rams defensive end Grant Wistrom. Despite Trump's stated reluctance to shake hands too many germs get passed around that way Trump was the first to offer to shake Wistrom's hand.

He then briefly went back stage before returning to his front-row seat. One of the noisiest contingents of cheering fans came from Louisiana to cheer for Jennifer Dupont, Miss Louisiana USA. All are members of the Chi Omega sorority at Louisiana State University and they left Baton Rouge at 4 a.m. Friday, got in Branson about 4 p.m., went to the pageant and planned to leave about 10 a.m. today.

"We went to see her when she won Miss Louisiana USA, and we all got so excited that we decided to come to Branson and see her in Miss USA," said Kelly Patout, Chi Omega president. "It's a long trip, but it was worth it." 4..