Miss California USA Pageant Underway This Weekend

RANCHO MIRAGE – A revamped Miss California USA pageant will conclude today at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.

Crowning two winners is the biggest change made to the pageant in an attempt “to reflect the progressive attitudes of the contestants as well as our forward-looking state,” said Keith Lewis, executive director of Miss California USA.

Organizers declined to explain why there will be two winners. An Oct. 15 news release stated “pageant officials did not confirm if it was a proactive response to the controversy of the last year, but instead asked viewers to tune in live to see for themselves.”

The pageant will begin with the 15 finalists announced from the field of about 150, based on results from Saturday’s preliminary round.

The finalists will wear what was described as individualized styles created by designer Tony Bowls, which “will change the essence of Miss California USA from a bathing suit beauty contest to the style of a runway show during fashion week,” Lewis said.

The Miss California USA pageant was won last year by Carrie Prejean, who was stripped of her title in June for allegedly missing scheduled appearances and for showing up at ones that were not approved by pageant officials.

Prejean sued the pageant and its officials, claiming her crown was taken away because of her religious beliefs, which include opposition to same-sex marriage, which she articulated in a response to a question from celebrity blogger and pageant judge Perez Hilton.

The pageant countersued Prejean in October, asking to be reimbursed for her breast implants.

The two sides quickly settled after pageant officials showed Prejean and her mother they had a racy video of the beauty contestant, TMZ.com reported.

The pageant winners advance to compete in the Miss USA pageant, whose winner competes in the Miss Universe pageant.