Welcome to MTV's 'Pageant Place' - Where Being Beautiful isn't Always Pretty

Welcome to MTV's 'Pageant Place' - Where Being Beautiful isn't Always Pretty

Advised by Billionaire Donald J. Trump And Former Miss USA(R) Tara Conner, Follow Three Of The World's Most Recognized Beauty Queens As They Live & Reign Together, Beginning Wednesday, October 10th at 10:30pm ET/PT

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- What happens when three of prettiest girls in the world become roommates? MTV's newest reality series "Pageant Place," premiering Wednesday, October 10th at 10:30pm ET/PT, goes behind the sashes and crowns to answer that very question and shows the world what happens to beauty queens after they win. The 8-episode series follows Miss Universe(R) Riyo Mori, Miss USA(R) Rachel Smith and Miss Teen USA(R) Katie Blair as they reign and live together for one year in a New York City high- rise apartment. It's a long-held tradition of the Miss Universe Organization for title holders to room together annually and the series marks the first time viewers will get to see the girls' home away from the spotlight.

Adding to the glamour and drama is Blair's successor, Miss Teen USA(R) 2007, Hilary Cruz who moves in mid-season, and former Miss USA 2006(R), Tara Conner, who serves as unofficial peer advisor to the beauty queens throughout the season. Dropping by to check-in and make sure they all stay on track is Donald J. Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization which produces the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants annually. Titleholders and roomies for one year, Riyo, Rachel, Katie and Hilary are out to prove to the world that they're more than just pretty faces. As they maintain a grueling schedule, become sudden stars and learn to temper the natural jealousies and friendships that arise, the girls have a now sober Tara to guide them away from the temptations and unrelenting attention that led to her notoriety when she was Miss USA.

The cameras show all the triumphs, fun and drama, as they deal with being plucked from obscurity and learn what it takes to be Queen. Crossing the globe to become Miss Universe, 20-year-old Riyo attempts to handle the culture shock of being so far from her home in Japan and her sick grandmother who raised her; 22-year-old Rachel struggles to step out of the shadow of her predecessor's notorious reign and leave her own mark; in addition to weathering the challenges of a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Josh, 19-year-old Katie prepares to relinquish her crown to 18-year-old Hilary and step out of the limelight she has grown accustomed to; and Tara, now 21- years-old, tries to rebuild a reputation that was almost destroyed during her reign and impart some crucial wisdom to her four counterparts.

Starting Wednesday, September 26th, viewers can log onto MTV.com for cast profiles, interviews and photo flipbooks; weekly episode trailers and quizzes; and the inside scoop on what it was like to film the show from the beauty queens' personal blogs. In addition, Riyo, Rachel, Katie, Hilary and Tara will share their top beauty tips and music playlists so site visitors can learn everything from how they apply their makeup for a fashion shoot to what music they listen to when they work out. Full "Pageant Place" episodes will also be made available for download on iTunes.

"Pageant Place" is Executive Produced by Evolution Film & Tape, Inc., The Miss Universe Organization and Trump Productions. Douglas Ross, Greg Stewart and Kathleen French serve as Executive Producers for Evolution Film & Tape, Inc. Paula M. Shugart is President and Executive Producer for the Miss Universe Organization and Donald J. Trump and Andy Litinsky are Executive Producers for Trump Productions. The series is a co-production from Evolution Film & Tape, Inc. and the Miss Universe Organization. Co-Executive Producing for Evolution are Joe DeVito and Russ Heldt. Drew Tappon, Jackie French and Lauren Dolgen are the executives overseeing the project for MTV.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc., is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 80 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

About The Miss Universe Organization

The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE(R), MISS USA(R) and MISS TEEN USA(R) competitions, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal, Inc. partnership. Utilizing its global grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS awareness and increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education such as the Latino Commission on AIDS, Global Health Council, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Gilda's Club, the women who champion these causes during their reign are armed to impact women today. The titleholders of the Miss Universe Organization personify the combination of beauty and intelligence that defines the 21st Century.

About Evolution Film & Tape, Inc.

Since 1987, Evolution Film & Tape, Inc. has forged a reputation as a bold, innovative provider of non-fiction programming. Evolution's productions have spanned the broadcast and cable spectrums, with commercial success and critical acclaim in virtually all formats and genres. Current productions include Disney's long running Movie Surfers, Bravo's outrageous The Real Housewives of Orange County, TLC's 10 Years Younger, HGTV's upcoming Desperate Spaces, as well as Court TV's docu-drama, Beach Patrol. Previous programming includes MTV's Yo Momma, VH1's Bands Reunited, ABC Family's teen reality hit, Switched!, TLC's Clean Sweep, and the reality comedies, The Adam Carolla Project (TLC) and He's a Lady (TBS), as well as Evolution's first tele- feature, Now You See It, for Disney Channel, and the award-winning feature documentary, Camp Out (LOGO).Evolution's highly regarded docu-soaps include Bug Juice, Totally Hoops and Totally in Tune for Disney Channel, as well as Bravo's groundbreaking series Gay Weddings and Boy Meets Boy.

About Trump Productions, LLC

Donald J. Trump is the Chairman/CEO of Trump Productions LLC. Based in Los Angeles, Trump Productions LLC is the television production and entertainment business arm of the privately held Trump Organization. Trump Productions LLC is an Executive Producer of many network and cable television shows including six seasons of the NBC worldwide hit show, "The Apprentice," in association with Mark Burnett Productions. Another edition of the "Apprentice" featuring celebrity contestants is currently in production in NYC for an early 2008 airing on NBC. Additionally, Donald J. Trump is co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization with NBC Universal and Executive Producer of the "Miss Universe(R)," "Miss USA(R)" and "Miss Teen USA(R)" Pageants.

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Source: MTV

CONTACT: Noelle Llewellyn, MTV Communications, +1-212-846-7166,
Noelle.Llewellyn@mtvstaff.com; or Lark-Marie Anton, of Miss Universe
Organization, +1-212-373-4982, lanton@missuniverse.com

Web site: http://www.mtv.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment