Wouldn’t it be awesome if there was a television show where Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, and Miss Universe lived together in a Manhattan apartment? They could sit around all day wearing their crowns and brushing each other’s hair while gossiping about boys. Wouldn’t that be great? Well, lucky for all of us, Donald Trump has made this a reality with Pageant Place. “I hope these girls can get along,†he says, “but in my experience they never do.†Let’s hope!…
Katie Blair is Miss Teen USA. She is described as a young girl with a big heart. Rachel Smith is Miss USA. Remember, the one who had an unfortunate tumble at the Miss Universe competition? And lastly, there’s Riyo Mori, Japan’s Miss Universe. She believes in astrology and dreams of being the first Japanese Radio City Rockette. I think I’m going to like Riyo.
Katie and Rachel are sitting in their apartment waiting for Riyo. Katie begins to ask Rachel how it feels to live with someone who Rachel “competed against,†which is the nice way of saying “creamed and topped you with sprinkles on international TV.†To be fair, Riyo didn’t beat Rachel so much as gravity did. Rachel is still really touchy about the fall: “Everyone falls! It wasn’t like a life or death situation.†I don’t know Rachel, are you trying to convince me or are you trying to convince yourself?
Riyo is on her way to the apartment, and the girls make her a very sorority-esque Welcome Home sign. The Miss USA’s walk Riyo through the apartment. Katie explains that there’s a hieracrchy: she has the small room, Rachel has the medium-sized room, and Miyo gets the biggest. The biggest room doesn’t look substantially bigger – that’s a NY apartment for you – but it is painted pink. Riyo (and me!) love the pink.
The girls have a meeting with Paula Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization. Paula explains to the girls that the company took a huge hit last year with the “Tara scandal.†The scandal of which she speaks involves Tara Conner, the young, impressionable pageant queen who moved to New York City and mistook the entire city for Studio 54. Katie had a huge role in the scandal. She and Tara were close friends, so good that Katie sacrificed their friendship to tell the organization that Tara was a drug user. “She had a bloody nose for two days.†To that I say, maybe she was just picking boogers. Ok, you’re right; Tara was a Stevie Nicks cokehead.
The company has an image problem which is going to fall squarely on these three girls. Katie starts yawning, which I’m sure caused every pageant queen and etiquette instructor of the past 100 years to turn over in their graves. We learn that there were accusations that Katie also did coke and made-out with Tara, but she assures us that it is not true. “I never want to be in a situation of pulling security tapes,†warns Pauala. “As a company we’re going to be watching every move you make,†although it seems to me that the company voted to hire a reality television crew to watch the girls instead. Corporations are all about outsourcing.
After the meeting with Paula the girls have a scheduled appearance at the Best Buddies International event in Indiana, an organization devoted to enriching the lives of the intellectually disabled. Does anyone else see the irony of the girls attending this event? Paula dismisses the girls, but wants Rachel to stay behind. She wants to let Rachel know that Mr. Trump has grown fond of Tara and wants to incorporate her into the company to chaperone the girls. Now, I’m no business manager, but if my company had an image problem because of one snow-crazy drama queen, I don’t think I would publicly invite her back to be a chaperone. Rachel agrees with me, and thinks the organization should move on from the past. Paula asks Rachel to keep this a secret - to “keep it under your crown†- and to especially not tell Katie. Rachel is now in the middle of choosing between her boss and her colleague.
The girls go to the airport to catch their plan to Indiana. Riyo looks at the other girls, “Can I ask you a stupid question? Do I need a passport?†Then comes what may be the scariest moment ever captured on film. Riyo doesn’t have a photo id either, so she shows the airport security guard her headshot, her sash, and asks him to google her. Inexplicably he LETS HER BOARD THE PLANE. How does he know that she’s not a terrorist? What if the terrorists set up an elaborate plot involving beauty queens and reality TV shows to bring down America? It could happen.
The Best Bodies event looks like a lot of fun, and I’m sure the girls made the intellectually disabled children happy. Afterwards Rachel is so racked with guilt that she tells Katie about Tara. She doesn’t want anyone to be in a compromising situation. Both girls display quintessential beauty queen politeness by calmly conversing with one another about Tara and then completely freaking out on the inside. Hilariously, they both accuse the other one of pretending to be indifferent. I wonder if Paula knew Rachel would tell Katie. I mean, beauty queens don’t lie, that’s why they’re role models.
The trio heads back to New York to meet the Donald himself. The girls are all wearing short skirts: Katie looks like Sienna Miller, Rachel looks like a Sports Illustrated Model circa 1984, and Riyo continues the Japanese tradition of looking cute in everything. The Donald greets the girls and proceeds to push their buttons. He talks to Rachel about falling at the Miss Universe competition, points out to Riyo, the winner, that Rachel got more press, and then grills Katie on making out with Tara. He says he loves meeting the girls more than real estate, and given the market I’m sure this is true. The cherry on top is that he tells the girls that Tara is coming back. Thankfully, they already knew. “She’s been in your shoes before,†he says while the camera cuts to two trashy black strapped shoes, which belong to either Tara or one of the contestants on Rock of Love. Turns out they’re Tara’s shoes. She’s back!
Tara is looking forward to being back. She’s been sober for 7 months, and admits that it took an entire nation and the organization to turn their back on her for her to see that she needs help. She still hasn’t reconciled with Katie, but she does give her side to the story. Tara says that Katie called the organization about her drug use because she was scared Tara was trying to steal Josh, Katie’s boyfriend. Speaking of Josh, he’s in town from Texas and it’s his birthday. Katie informs him that Tara will be living with her, and he does not look happy. “What kind of chaperone are they hiring?†he asks. “It’s like Hiring OJ Simpson to watch a survivor.†Heh.
Tara is making her way to the apartment. She says that she can’t change the past, and that she doesn’t see it as a shameful thing. Rachel is in the apartment and is not happy. “It feels like an extension of her year. And it isn’t her year; it’s mine.†Tara arrives at the door and knocks, but no one will answer it. The episode ends, and presumably Tara will 7 straight days until the next episode.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I was wondering why the 2007 Miss Teen, Hilary Cruz, isn’t on the show with the 2007 Miss USA and Miss Universe. Why is Katie on there (its not that I don’t like Katie…I love her, Im just confused) and also I read that Hilary’s reign will be cut short…why?
October 11th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Well, I guess somehow Katie is a former beauty queen. Love the show, All the girls are human they’re no better than we are. They make mistakes just like us. This show is better than the bold and the beautiful!
October 12th, 2007 at 12:16 am
Wow… I’m not sure a reality show was the best thing to “improve the reputation” of the Miss USA system… lol… Did anyone else notice Katie cursing… (she said Rachel looked like she had flubber on her a**)… I’m a pageant girl… and I thought cursing was a no-no… hmmm… lol
There should be a reality show on the Miss America system (which is quite different than the USA system)…
But none the less… I’m a fan of the show…
xoxoxo
October 12th, 2007 at 12:28 am
The four women are absoloutly beautiful and don’t kid yourselves about that. I think Rachel is very pretty but she doens’t take anything away from tara…my only concern is tara is last year and last year was not a very good year for MISS USA…so why would Trump bring her back into the mix and take away the spot light from Rachel who is this years title holder? I don’t understand that move at all…but it all goes back to Trump looking for ratings…and this proves that Rosie was correct…Trump has no moral conscience and why would america care what he has to say. I personnaly think these type of pagents are a thing of the past and Trump has made a mokery of what they once were.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:07 am
i think these girls are awesome! katie was in the show (not hilary cruz) because they started filming a few months ago. i’m totally hooked on this show!
October 12th, 2007 at 10:02 am
I never liked Katie before, and I sure don’t like her now. Maybe it’s right for Katie to tell Donald about Tara, but yawning in front of Paula? And making fun of Rachel? How did she ever become Teen USA? And she thinks Tara wanted to steal her boyfriend?! Ewww … Josh is ugly!
October 12th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Robert Trebes is so right, no one ever puts the fall in context-that the people had been booing Rachel for weeks before the Miss Universe Pageant, and she was competing under pressures that no one else was. She made it so far, despite the inhospitable crowd, and she did it with dignity and poise.
I can’t believe how much these girls are judged with the 20-minute pieces a week. The producers take thousands of hours of footage…listen to the way sentences/phrases are edited-they’re not all true to their original context.
Through editing these girls are molded into characters that people will either love, hate, or just love to watch-it’s TV, people, but it’s not “reality.”
If you want, go ahead and base judgments on a few things said or did here and there… but I bet if someone followed a lot of you around with a camera 24/7, there would be even more to work with.
October 12th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Some of you people amaze me, and it’s obvious you have no idea how serious addiction can really be. You’d rather push Tara away rather than use her as an example of a remarkable SUCCESS story! There are thousands of girls out there just like her (probably more beauty queens than you realize) who are going through what she had to go through - So why wouldnt you want her story to be told …ever think it could spare some poeple from making the same mistakes?
If your worried that she’s going to come in and steal the spotlight from Rachel, then you’re just as narrow-minded as Rachel is herself.
Because what it all comes down to is that Tara didn’t HAVE to come out and share her story - especially after her reign was over - I mean, anyone else in her position probably would have ran back home and HID!…but she did anyways because she knew that it some way somehow could become USEFUL to people who were dealing with what she was. She opened alot of eyes - and you ridicule her for it. If anyone should be ashamed, it’s the people that bash her.
I’m a Tara supporter 100% and am really looking forward to her upcoming book.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Josh is so hot! Katie is a lucky girl. I love how real Katie is - she’s just a real teenage girl.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
i agree with rachel…i think it is absolutely ridiculous that they’re having tara conner come back. its rachel’s year and all of the drama with tara conner will attract attention to her vs. having the spolight be on rachel. i admit id be pissed about it too. donald trump is only brining her back because he knows it will start drama and thats exactly what he wants! hes making money he doesnt need off of this show..i hate him!
October 12th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Rachel is the S#!t! them other girls coo too….except tara. trump is soo rude for trying to play rachel like that. but i know its only for ratings
October 12th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Wow, I definitely would not compare it to running the country, that is putting a bit too much significance on the pageant organization.
****
Magz is right that it’s a wonderful thing she was able to overcome the addiction, BUT that doesn’t mean she has to move in with the current girls-there are plenty of other platforms for her to “tell her story.”
****
Bringing Tara back is a dirty trick being used to add more drama in the mix for ratings (& she has more celebrity)…which attracts advertisers…for $$$. She wouldn’t be there “lending her advice” (Which Rachel and probably Riyo certainly don’t need) if their reigns weren’t being broadcast on t.v.
****
Trump puts it as if she’s there to “help” them, when he knows full well it’s just going to make things more difficult (since he said “I hope the girls can get along, but in my experience they never do”)
October 12th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
You people are a joke,Tara has every right to make a living just like anyone else,what do you people expect her to do not be on T.V and just run away and not face up to her problem.Get over it people I commend you Tara on trying to have a successfull career,just like anyone else wants.Only difference is you dont party.I THINK THATS PRETTY COOL.In this day in time we need more leaders,not followers.We love you Tara………….WE GOT YOUR BACK
October 13th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Tara was brought back for ratings. I’ll be shocked if this show gets picked for a second season. If so, Donald will probably have winners who make “good” TV.
Hayley, Hilary’s reign will be cut short cause the pageant will be held in conjunction with Miss USA in 2008.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:40 am
They’re putting Tara on the show to emit versatility. Everyone is looking at it like it’s showing young girls it’s okay to do drugs. I think Rachel and Riyo are your typical successful young woman, which give girls something to aspire to. On the other hand, Tara, and possibly Katie, show girls who have been/are into drugs that it’s not too late to turn around. It’s genius, actually.
October 14th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
After Mtv had a new show on today, Gossip Girl which, will be on my tv on Wed instead of this show. I don’t believe pageant place should even be on tv.
October 14th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
It looks like Rachel Smith hasnt changed since her Tn Teen Pageant days. She still appears to be arrogant and unfriendly. In my opinion she is being dished out a huge dose of Karma..It is being served up by none other than her boss Donald Trump!
October 15th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
ok, honestly, I liked the show. Rachel got on my nerves, though. She’s arrogant and selfish. It’s obvious she shouldn’t be miss USA if all she cares about is herself. Riyo is innocent and ditzy, but it’s a good mix because the other girls are so different. I like Katie and I feel bad for her with Tara coming back into the scene. And I agree when they ask why they are bringing Tara back, I think that’s just asking for drama.
October 15th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I can remember watching the Apprentice when the Black gentleman( can’t remember his name)won, and Mr Trump suggested that the White woman he had competed with share in in his(winner’s) victory.Mr Trump had never made this request with any of the previous “White” Apprentice winners.I now feel the same thing is being done to Miss(black) USA. I Don’t think that Mr. Trump truly appreciates African-Americans in prominent positions.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
I think Donald Trump does not like Rachel. I think he brought Tara in because of that very reason. He was trying to put Rachel in her place. He even mentioned Rachel as a control freak. No one has control over Donald Trump and thats what he is saying.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:25 am
I’m so upset! These GIRLS are supposed to be a role model to other girls!!!! I would NOT let my daughter watch this, not all girls are perfect,but for heavens sake they take an oath ,if they win to be a role model to these girls,did you see how they acted? the things and words that came out of thier mouths!!! I use to be in pagents and been down that road ,now i’m 32 and so dissapointed that they can’t behave for thier reign,1 YEAR!!! Is that to much to ask, we did not ask you to run, so girls remember please you have girls like my daughter that truly look up to you, please be on your best behavior!!!!!
October 16th, 2007 at 4:37 am
I actually like this show. The girls aren’t what you’d expect them to be, but who ever is? We get to watch an hour or two of their competition when they’re on their best behavior. But this is a reality show. I think it would be a bit frightening if they did walk around all perfect and Stepford all the time. Sure they need to be role models, but they are also real people.
I think the show will be entertaining.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Where did Tara get her shoes??? I love them!
October 17th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I THINK THAT IT SO UNFAIR HOW TARA GETS TO COME BACK, ITS RACHEL´S YEAR. RACHEL IS NICE BUT NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE MORE HUMBLE AND RIYO SEEMS LIKE THE SWEETEST GIRL IN THERE.
October 17th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I love reality shows and I think I will espiecially love this one. I hang around pagent girls all the time and how easily we forget that these are real people, with real thoughts, and real feelings. I don’t think Tara should have been allowed back and to take it even further I think Tara should have been dethrowned. If Vanessa Williams had to be dethrowned for some pictures or for lack of better words a lie to the Universe Organization then Tara should have been dethrowned for drug usage during her reign. But anyway I love the show and Asian women always seem so humble and polite so Im definitely loving Riyo, but Katie and Rachel are pretty.
October 17th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
i really love the all the outfits rachel smith wears in the first episode! any ideas where i could get those style clothes?
October 17th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
I love Tara I am so happy that Trump has brought her back. Everyone deserves a second chance. I also love Riyo she is so sweet. Katie and Rachel are cool too. This show is going to be very entertaining and I can’t wait to see what happens this season.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I love the blue dress that Rachel wore in the first episode. Anyone know who designed that dress?
October 17th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
soo why isnt hilary on the show ??? she is the current title holder and on the miss teen usa website it says she is on the show .. but it looks like katie is still livin in the apartment ?? and hilary hasnt been on it yet?
October 18th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Katie you rock out loud like whats up with “JOSHIE” ERRR. Um anyone wondering why she is with Mr. Eyebrows? And can we say coat tails? pleeese ditch him he’s not even a nice supportive guy? and he is probably being nicer cause hes on tv wich is the sad part
October 18th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Ok Ok I digress! Katie is very pretty but that boyfriend of hers Im like are you serious right now Katie. You are far too hot to be with freckle face Josh who thinks all blond girls are hot basically and not to mention how he put you down during your own pagent. I mean think about it, he wasn’t even at the pagent to support you first and foremost and secondly he only saw the last few minutes of the pagent and still saying that you were not going to win. I said earlier that Tara should have been dethrowned and after finding out what really happened and not what was in the tabloids, Katie told on Tara because she thought Tara was trying to steal her man. Get a life Katie. Tara is hot and know she’s hot and would not dare date someone as unattractive as Josh. On the outside looking in, it seems like Josh was more flirting with Josh since he thinks most blond girls are hot. And the nerve that he has to ask if Riyo has real breasts or not. Now on the note that Tara shouldn’t have come back. Everyone is absolutely right about Tara making the show have ratings which is so true but also what we are forgetting is that the show is really for Tara. There has never been a show about the Queens before of all the years that the pagent has been around. Think about, Trump who’s very money driven and focused, Scandal of Tara, Universe organization tipped off by Tara’s once best bud, Drama, Capitalization. Not necessarily in that order but the beginning and end are definitly true. I say good head Mr. Trump, you are very intelligent. And without Tara would you actually want to watch this show. Hell to the NO! They just threw Miyo in the middle of this drama and I can imagine what she is really thinking. “Damn Americans are too full of drama for me, I want to go back home to Japan. Im Miss Universe and the show is centered around their damn drama.” Oh and for the record for those of you calling Rachel black, African-American or whatever please get your facts together before you make accussations. Rachel is Panamian born and raised, that would be closer to Latin than black. I hate when someone calls someone else a different race than they actually are. Although I ask myself why am I watching the show, I just can’t seem to miss an episode especially the next one when Tara tells off Katie. Don’t hug the little girl, tell her how you feel and get it over with. And Katie how do you want to be a model and your boyfriend can’t even stand the site of you be photographed with another man during your reign. If he’s going to be in your life baby girl then your modeling career is over before it even starts and I think you can maybe have a pretty good modeling career but without Josh. Oh yeah, this show was filmed months ago so of course it was still Katie’s reign but she will give up the title this season and the new Queen will also come and be apart of the show. Look out for my next comments next week. Antione
October 19th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
To set the record straight, Rachel is a half black, half white military brat, and hence a wonderful representative of her country. She was born on a military base in Panama. Coming from a military background, she was able to attend Belmont University because she was granted a full tuition scholarship on the basis of her extensive community service activities and academic achievements throughout high school; so her dream of founding a philanthropic organization, which Josh has such difficulty pronouncing, has deep roots in her character. At Belmont, one of the top ten masters-degree universities in the South,
she graduated magna #%$ laude in journalism. I thought I’d supply these facts, since I’ve given up hope that “Pageant Place” would tell the viewer anything of importance about her, other than she fell on her butt in Mexico City.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:39 am
Rachel is not half black, she Panamanian and raised in Tenessesse. She is deffently the preetiest. Gotta luv her. Josh omg, he needs to stop being insecure, its her job. I mean hes rude, arrogant, and just plain dumb. This was proven at the table on his b-day. And for the people saying Rachel is dating Nick Cannon, please say it isnt true. He is not on her level at all…n i dont mean physically. Riyo is sweet like most Asians.Katie seems shady. Tara is kool, give her a break.She’s laid back like Rachel. Josh just erks me, he isnt cute.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:34 am
I don’t believe Rachel would appreciate having her heritage as an American woman of color denied her. She was born on an American military base in Panama and her father is a black American soldier. She is a patriotic American who said she is honored to wear the sash with the letters USA.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:56 am
For all of you that don’t understand the military…there are several country that American children are born in, to American parents. I know children that were born in both Germany and Italy. One is black and the others are Korean/White. They are not German and Italian. Rachel was born to American Military parents.
October 22nd, 2007 at 4:02 am
Josh is such a looser! He is jealous and puts his girlfriend down because he knows she is just way too much for him to have around. He knows that there are tons of HOT guys like the one tonight..DAMN HE WAS FINE!!! that dwarf him…but he is so insecure and stupid to realize that his girlfriend loves him.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Where to begin - I understand the decision to bring back Tara from a ratings point of view. Guaranteed to create drama and controversy, which are the gold standard for reality TV. I know Trump is a brilliant businessman, but I think it’s bad call for the organization. I wouldn’t let my daughter compete in a system where the top prize includes having her reign “managed” by a recovering addict with less than 1 year sobriety. Tara has her life to manage and she needs to focus on that. This drama can only complicate her recvery.
Thousands of little girls are competing in smaller pageant systems all over the country in the hopes of someday becoming Miss USA or Miss America. The values demonstrated in this show will only support the position of people who say pageantry is a bad thing and that the girls are mindless bimbos. The Tara thing is very damaging. She should be completely out of the picture.
I am so dissapointed in Katie. Girl - you are letting that K. Fed wannabe looser hold you back and put you down. 86 the dirtbag!
Don’t know much about Riyo, she seems nice, but who is so ditzy that they don’t take ID to board a plane!
Rachel - now there is a smart articulate high acheiving young woman. She is a worthy role model for younger girls and makes a positive statement about women. A titleholder like her will build pageantry - not tear it down. She was one that started young in the Cinderella Scholarship pageant - that class and training still shows today. Cindy girls rock!
At this point in the series it appears you are off base Mr. Trump - sacrificing the long term benefit to your organization of strengthening pageantry, versus the short term “pop” of ratings. Hopefully as the year unfolds, the focus will shift and show the positive accomplishments of these young women, and Tara will blow out of town like yesterday’s news.
Good luck to Hillary when she replaces Katie. Hoping for a classy young lady who together with Rachel will redeem the face of the Miss Universe organization.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I need Rachel to stop wearing so much damn makeup. She looks 35 without it so I guess if I was her, I’d put on a face everyday too.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT BRAND OF THE PURSE KATIE CARRIES IS? THE BROWN ONE. I LOVE IT!
October 26th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I wanna know, too!! What designer bag was Katie wearing in the first episode?! I love big bags and instantly fell in love with Katie’s purse! Anyone know?
October 30th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
katie if im not mistaken that purse kaite has is a gucci bag.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:39 pm
To the questions about Y the new Teen USA Hilary has not been seen yet.. Stated on the MISS TEEN USA website Hilary says “I cannot wait to see how I am going to be portrayed! Stay tuned, I debut around the sixth episode! .. and personally i like Katie and Tara the best.. but Riyo is becoming a undeniable favorite to… and i believe once Hilary gets there it will just add to the already great show…
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:34 am
OK people get your facts straight for everyone who’s saying Rachel is panamanian…well she’s not…she’s half black and white and has a little bit of hispanic in her….but she’s not panamanian…..just because she was born there doesn’t mean she’s Panamanian and she wasn’t really raised in Panama because she lived in Tennesse longer than she had in Panama…for people who disagree…it’s called “internet” ok!! google Rachel up or go to wikipedia and watch her interviews she even said that she’s mostly black and white and a quarter of hispanic…and I rest my case
GO RACHEL!!!