Aww this was the second year I came to GC before the pageant was finished and saw the winner posted :(

I should remember this for the next time--No GC before the pageant is finished!

"That would be harsher penalties for parole violators, Stan. And...world peace."

We haven't gotten to the interviews yet out here, but I do like the political questions. I like to hear how familiar (or not) they are with the material.

Wasn't the Miss America pageant held this year at Planet Hollywood, too? I would think they'd want to pick different hotels at least. Miss USA is really much trashier of a pageant than Miss America. I just feel the Miss America pageant has a more respectful tone.

OH, and what's with this pageant beginning at 7pm?! I tuned in at 8pm only to find that it was an hour in already. If they're going to delay it anyway, they might as well put it in prime time.

My thoughts on the interview questions...

North Carolina: Points for not dodging the question, but her examples of where the money should go seemed pretty weak. Two of the three examples were things typically funded in bulk by the states, and the third (health care) is not something we really fund on the national level at all. If that was her point, then she should've been stronger about it, but I don't think she was making a point...it seemed like what she thought would be a very safe answer.

Arizona: Made no sense. Who said anything about integrity? The question was about universal health care.

Utah: Pretty good answer.

Calif.: Started out kinda weak, but at least she took a definitive position. I admire the guts to not dodge the question.

KY: OK, but kinda weak...not much substance. But I think that's because it was a really easy question.

Miss OK USA is a Kappa.

Im so glad other people thought that dress was awful too. Not that she didn't have the body to pull it off, but just not appropriate IMO.

I only caught the dead end, much more into the amazing race, as these have all seemed to wash together to me to be rather similar each year... but I have to say, California, what the hell was that dress... Top half worked if you are looking for a sugar daddy, but the bottom half looked like a Las Vegas head piece... and N. Carolina, pretty dress, esp on a close up of the top half... she was TRULY a barbie doll, which is what Miss USA is going for, esp over Miss America... BUT the whole picture of her gown was just ridiculous... the silhouette was just way too high and just obscenely blah... anywho, my two cents...

which contestestant said that marriage should be between a Man & a Woman? I thought that took a lot of guts to say. I know Perez Hilton asked the question, so I wonder if he gave her less points for it (if it is even allowed).

Miss California.

I suspect he did give her fewer points. They cut to him right after her answer and he was shaking his head.

As for the political questions... I think asking questions to demonstrate their knowledge of current events is great. However asking questions on where they fall on the political divide of very hot topics (such as gay marriage) is not really appropriate. It creates no-win situations.

Miss Virginia dates one of my friends from college, and they both currently live in Charlotte. She was an AOPi at George Mason, but transferred to UNC Charlotte when she moved here.

Actually, the question they asked her did not ask whether or not she personally believed in gay marriage. If she had focused on answering the question she was asked she would have not had to reveal her personal opinion in any way. What a shame.

I know an AOII alum from GMU. She graduated in 2006.

But as to the questions: do you all really think that politically loaded questions should be asked? The Miss USA pagaent hasn't been known for anything but beauty for quite a long time.

Aww, so sad to hear that miss SC did not make it in the top 5. Congrats to our sister state NC though!

I thought she had a real shot at it, I was surprised when she didn't make the top 5.

Proud of Miss NC though! I wonder if she's in a sorority at ECU. She just struck me as the stereotypical sorority type.