51 MISS USA CONTESTANTS ARRIVE IN THE BIG APPLE FOR A MEDIA BLITZ INCLUDING EVENT TO LAUNCH NEW BOOK "THE MISS UNIVERSE GUIDE TO BEAUTY"

NEW YORK - April 5, 2006 ñ All 51 Miss USA contestants will arrive in the Big Apple for one day, on April 18, 2006, from Baltimore, Maryland where they are competing to win the Miss USA 2006 crown.

From The Today Show's plaza to Total Request Live's Times Square Studio the contestants will be shuttled around Manhattan on New York Sightseeing Double-Decker Buses. While in NYC the Miss USA contestants will have fittings in the designer Tadashi's Garment Industry showroom and pose for local media at MARS 2112 for a photo opportunity.

The day will culminate at an event where the 51 contestants will launch the first ever official Miss Universe Organization book, "Universal Beauty: The Miss Universe Guide to Beauty." The event will be hosted by Donald J. Trump at his famed Trump Tower. In addition to Miss USA host Drew Lachey, backstage host Carson Kressley and the contestants, - 20 former Miss Universes will be flying in from around the world for this international celebration of beauty. Renowned chef David Burke will be making his signature desserts including fried strawberries, mini milkshakes and fruit kebobs garnished with his wildly popular Flavor Sprays.

Additional event sponsors include title sponsor CHI haircare, X Rated Fusion Liquor and Singha Beer - who will be providing spirits. While in New York City all 51 contestants and former Miss Universes will be staying at the Grand Hyatt.

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.

Watch as one lucky woman is crowned Miss USA on Friday, April 21st at 9:00PM ET on NBC!

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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