Miss America Stays in Sin City

Last Year, the 85-year-old beauty contest moved to Las Vegas in an attempt to attract bigger venues and to reach a much younger audience than in the previous years, when it was held in Atlantic City. In 2006, the pageant was dropped by ABC because of its low ratings and picked up by CMT, who moved it to Sin City and reached a maximum level of audience (for the network) of 3.1 million viewers.

Yesterday, the chief executive of Miss America Organization announced that the 2007 edition (to take place in January) will remain in Las Vegas, thus continuing the show's make-over and low cost production scheme.

New elements have been added to it to make it more audience-oriented, such as, call-in lines for the viewers but the basis for establishing the most beautiful woman in the US remains the same as it had been since 1921: bathing suit, talent and evening gown competition.

A seven-episode reality show, in which contestants could be seen prior to becoming finalists was meant to be a part of the show and voters were supposed to choose the 15 finalists by phone. But, in the final hour, the 'Finding Miss America' footage was cast aside; as it was believed that it would alter the pageant's tradition by bringing in too many elements.

The 2007 edition will take place at Planet Hollywood hotel-casino, but the agreement is just for next year, meaning that the establishment can refuse to host 'Miss America' for 2008.