Luxe Life Blog

Miss USA photos: Fadil Berisha’s high fashion shots of the 51 hopefuls

Posted June 13, 2011 • 3:54 p.m.

2011 Miss Utah USA Jamie Crandall.

Photo: Fadil Berisha

The 2011 Miss USA Pageant high fashion photo shoots by photographer Fadil Berisha are still likely to stoke pro and con comments this year, but the sexy photos are far less risque than last year’s that caused a firestorm of controversy with their racy lingerie and fishnet stocking images.

There’s no question that Fadil is an extraordinary lord of the lens, and he captures the edgy, erotic looks in all of his models. However, detractors will ask if the all-out leering lips, smoky eyes, huge hairdos, bare shoulders, plunging necklines and thigh-high slits are right for Miss USA’s image.

Billionaire Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA Pageant and parent Miss Universe Organization, says they show perfect beauty and health. He also obviously believes that they’ll help Sunday’s ratings of the NBC telecast from Planet Hollywood! Giuliana Rancic from E! Entertainment and Andy Cohen from Bravo will host the pageant, with Kelly Osbourne as backstage color commentator.

Vegas DeLuxe presents the 2011 gallery of all 51 contestants, and you can make the comparison with the 2010 gallery. Tomorrow, we’ll post another gallery with the 51 official evening gown photographs to give you an advance look at what the glamour girls will wear onstage Sunday.

Also today, we have the first rehearsal photos of the pageant hopefuls hard at work on the choreography for the opening number. Photographer Tom Donoghue was at Fashion Show yesterday for the final meet-and-greet autograph session and runway fashion show for the 51 contestants. Some of 2011 Miss Nevada USA Sarah Chapman’s students turned up to cheer her on -- Sarah is the director of a preschool in Henderson.

Final fun for the 51 over the weekend included front row seats at British singer Matt Goss’ show at his Gossy Lounge in Caesars Palace. He also posed with them on the grand staircase at the casino resort. Today, they start the weeklong, intensive judges’ interviews and continue with rehearsals. Wednesday is the preliminary competition onstage at the Theater for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood. We’ll preview that here and post a photo recap Thursday.

We’ll use Twitter for live reports from the pageant Sunday and bring you the first photos of the winner and her first interview shortly afterward. Check back often to Vegas DeLuxe for the best coverage anywhere with all the new photographs and updates as the week progresses.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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