CHAD HEDRICK, DONALD TRUMP JR., AND STEVE MADDEN HEADLINE PANEL OF CELEBRITY JUDGES FOR NBC'S LIVE TELECAST OF MISS USA PAGEANT FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 9-11 PM ET/PT

A Special Episode of NBC's "Deal or No Deal" Featuring 26 Miss USA Delegates will Broadcast On Its New Date April 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK - April 5, 2006 ñ NBC, Donald Trump and Paula M. Shugart, President, Miss Universe Organization, announced today that Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medallist Chad Hedrick; "Apprentice" regular and budding real estate developer, Donald Trump Jr.; and shoe guru Steve Madden will headline the celebrity judging panel for the Miss USA 2006 pageant. Among others "Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell and "Dancing With The Star's" cycle two winner Drew Lachey will host the Miss USA 2006 Pageant telecast live from Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, April 21, 9-11 p.m. ET/PT.

Other telecast judges include: NBC's "Passion's" star, James Hyde; "America's Next Top Model" winner and the new face of CoverGirl cosmetics, Nicole Linkletter; advertising mogul and host of CNBC's "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch," Donny Deutsch; Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward; television personality Jillian Barberie; and Vice President & General Manager ñ North America and Global Cosmetics, Procter and Gamble, Gina Drosos. Commentary will be provided by Carson Kressley of Bravo's "Queer Eye" along with the reigning Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley throughout the live telecast.

"This year's show is full of exciting new elements, and in addition to the great hosts we have lined up, we also have an exceptional, well-rounded judging panel," said Shugart. "Some of the biggest names in fashion and beauty are on board and I know they will select a fantastic Miss USA 2006." The pageant will also include a new element: live performances throughout the telecast by The East Village Opera Company, who will perform selections from their self-titled Decca debut throughout the telecast. The band takes classical opera arias and turns them into bona fide rock anthems.

A special episode of NBC's "Deal or No Deal" featuring 26 Miss USA delegates as the briefcase models and a special guest appearance by Miss USA Chelsea Cooley will broadcast on its new date Wednesday, April 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSEÆ, MISS USAÆ and MISS TEEN USAÆ Pageants, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal partnership. Utilizing its nationwide grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers by forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education, such as the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and Gilda's Club.

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PRESS CONTACTS:

The Miss Universe Organization
Lark-Marie Anton
lanton@missuniverse.com
(212) 373-4982


Esther Swan
eswan@missuniverse.com
212 373-4870


Erin Cooney
ecooney@missuniverse.com
212 373-4868

NBC
Amanda Ruisi
Amanda.Ruisi@nbcuni.com
(212) 664-5478

Rubenstein Public Relations
Dara Busch
dbusch@rubensteinpr.com
(212) 843-8079