A WORK OF ART

A beautiful work of art, Miss USA 2011 California's Alyssa Campanella poses for iconic photographer Fadil Berisha. (Photos: Getty Images)

¿Y AHORA QUE?

Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico speaks during today's launch of the internet site www.yahoraque.info in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The site provides information and support to HIV positive individuals throughout Central America. (Photos: Reuters)

THE HIGH SEASON

Miss Tennessee Erin Hatley and Miss Ohio Ellen Bryan


Miss South Dakota Anna Simpson and Miss Missouri Sydney Fair


Miss California Noelle Freeman and Miss Virginia Elizabeth Croat


Miss Maryland Carlie Collella and Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson


Miss New York Kaitlin Monte and Miss Alabama Courtney Porter

The Miss USA 2011 contest may have been held last week, but it is the "high season" for Miss America state preliminaries. Over the past several weeks - and over the next several weeks - new titleholders will be crowned and will go on to compete for the Miss America 2012 title.

MISS WORLD SLOVENIA 2011

The new Miss World Slovenia 2011 was crowned just moments ago on live television across this small nation of just over 3 million people. She is Lana Mahnič Jekoš. Lana, 21, will now prepare for the Miss World 2011 contest, to be held in London in November. Runners-up were Tjaša Vezjak, 23, and Ana Žigante, 19.

GLADYS 2.0

Last night, during a glittering gala in Callao, Peru elected a beautiful bevy of new titleholders, including Miss Universe Peru 2011 and Miss World Peru 2011.

Natalie Vértiz, Miss USA Perú, 19 and 1m82, is the new Miss Universe Peru 2011. After winning the title, she was quoted as saying, " I'm very happy. This has been my dream since childhood. I want to be like Gladys Zender, the first Miss Peru to win Miss Universe."

The new Miss World Peru 2011 is Odilia García, Miss Junín, 24.

The pageant was televised live across the Andean nation, and the host was Miss World 2004, Peru's Maria Julia Mantilla.

ZEN ON SUNDAY

Miss Universe Japan 2011 contestant Tomomi Takada

MISS TAHITI 2011

The new Miss Tahiti 2011 is Rauata Temauri, 23 and 1m71. She was elected last nigth during a gala ceremony in Papeete, Tahiti. Runners-up were Emere Bopp du Pont and Hitiata Monnier. Rauata is the 51st Miss Tahiti and will compete for the Miss France title later this year. See Rauata's crowning moment at the La Dépêche website. (Photos: PHC and Nicolas Perez)

SAVE THE DATE!

Save the date! Muz Roku 2011 is set for 26 August! The contest sees the election of the most handsome man of the year in both the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Competing this year are:

Czech Republic:
Theodor Jareš, 24
Karel Hung, 25
Jan Sokol, 22
Martin Gardavský, 24
Martin Klušák, 27
Vítězslav Fiala, 23

Slovak Republic:
Márián Jászberényi, 21
Michal Gajdošech, 21
Maroš Zaujec, 25
Igor Zelina, 21
Patrik Bartošek, 21
Jakub Lorencovič, 21

DIAMOND MUSINGS

All week, Beauty School faculty have been able to talk about nothing else but the Miss USA 2011 pageant. Madge, the cafeteria lady, has even gone so far as to serve California rolls and salt-water taffy from the Jersey shore to both faculty and students today! Here are comments and musings about the 60th annual, diamond-anniversary pageant from some of our faculty and staff:

Dean Harris: "MUO finally got their history right! Historically, they usually f**k up their very own history, incorrectly identifying titleholders' names or the years they won. Also, it was wonderful to see so many former titleholders together and to see the tribute to the USO. And it really was a Northeast Corridor night - Alyssa is a Jersey girl at heart!"

Lorraine, Beauty School Librarian: "Where does Alyssa get her hair dyed? Goodness knows I have been looking and looking for that shade of red!"

Prof. Chandni - comment 1: "Please report to summer school, Miss Tennessee USA and Miss Alabama USA. You are as dumb as rocks. Please be advised that summer school is aboard the HMS Beagle, where you will devote your entire course of study to the scientific subject, repeat - scientific subject - of evolution. The course will include field work in the Galapagos."

Prof. Chandni - comment 2: As for you, Andy Cohen, you may be awfully damn cute, but you are to report to remedial Spanish class immediately. ¡Apuráte vos! Personally, I find it terribly embarrassing when Angela Visser can speak like at least 10 languages fluently and you can't even pronounce Ximena's name correctly! ¡Ay, que verguezna! I can only imagine what destruction you would do to such words as Tlatelolco or tortilla or Xochimilco! But don't worry, our remedial Spanish language teacher, who happens to be Angela Visser, will change all of that!"

Boris, Beauty School Security Officer/Bodyguard: "I would definitely do...um, I mean date Alyssa!"

BELLS ARE RINGING

Miss USA 2011 California's Alyssa Campanella rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange today.

SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE

Surprise! Miss California Alyssa Campanella, 21, is the new Miss USA 2011. Runners-up in the 60th annual competition were Miss Tennessee Ashley Elizabeth Durham, Miss Alabama Madeline Mitchell, and Miss Texas Ana Rodriguez. (Photos: Reuters)

PURE BS - OUR PICKS FOR MISS USA 2011

Miss New Jersey Julianna White, Miss Florida Lissette Garcia, Miss Hawaii Angela Byrd, and Miss Texas Ana Rodriguez


Miss Illinois Angela Sparrow, Miss Colorado Blair Griffith, Miss District of Columbia Heather Swann (natch!), and Miss Georgia Kaylin Reque


Miss New York Amber Marie Collins, Miss Kentucky Kia Hampton, and Miss California Alyssa Campanella


Miss Michigan Channing Pierce, Miss Pennsylvania Amber-Joi Watkins, Miss Massachusetts Alida D'Angona, and Miss Tennessee Ashley Elizabeth Durham

The entire Beauty School faculty assembled in the faculty lounge on Wednesday night to watch the prelims online. Well, that is, except. Prof. Scribner. She had her book club that night - The Feminine Mystique was the book - and the special guest was Miss USA 1973 Amanda Jones. En tout cas, after the faculty's votes, these 15 emerged as pure BS faves! Prof. Harris goes so far as to say it that it could be a Northeast Corridor night on Sunday, what with New Jersey, District of Columbia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts! (Photos: MUO)