Miss USA 2011 Preview and My Personal Picks

Last year I blogged live during the Miss Universe Pageant, my preview to that contest was (and still remains) my most popular post ever on my blog. So, I thought I would at least do a preview for this year's Miss USA Pageant. I will not be blogging during the telecast, due to some other projects I am up to my ears in. That being said, it was a pleasure to take a look at all of the contestants and it will be an evening full of glamour for sure. Of course, I have my favorites. My top 15 is listed here in order from my most favorite on down.

Also, for the first time this year you can help select a semi-finalist by voting. Visit the Miss Universe/USA website to Vote for your favorites and for the full Miss USA experience, where you can see interviews with contestants, bios, photos and so much more. I think Donald Trump and his organization does a fabulous job with this website. It is top notch for pageant fans. Enjoy & May the best woman win - goodness knows there are plenty to choose from.

Here is my Top 15, ranked in order of my most favorite (the one who impressed me the most) and on down. Any of them would be a great representative at Miss Universe. I fell in love with my first five almost immediately - they popped right out from the computer screen. For the remaining ten, I had to do a bit of viewing...lol. This was fun - I can't wait to see how many of my top 15 actually move forward, and if one becomes the night's eventual winner. Do this exercise too, it will make your pageant experience all the more intriguing.

Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih passes on the crown at the Miss USA 2011 Pageant - Live from Las Vegas on NBC @ 9pm/ET with your hosts Giuliana Rancic and Andy Cohen.

NOTE: ALL PHOTOS by the wonderful, world renowned photographer Fadil Berisha, who has transformed the image of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageantry systems image since he took over as their official photographer in 2002. The photos I post here are from his glamshots of the contestants; all credit to the photographer's brilliance once again kicking it up a notch for us pageant fans and aficionados. See more of his amazing and iconic work at his website.

My Top 15 (Ranked)

1. Miss Florida - Lissette Garcia

2. Miss Idaho - Erza Haliti

3. Miss Colorado - Blair Adair Griffith

4. Miss California - Alyssa Campanella

5. Miss Tennessee - Ashley Elizabeth Durham

6. Miss Illinois - Angela Sparrow

7. Miss Texas - Ana Christina Rodriguez

8. Miss District of Columbia - Heather Danielle Swann

9. Miss Maine - Ashley-Lyn Marble

10. Miss Arizona - Brittany Dawn Brannon

11. Miss Louisiana - Page Pennock

12. Miss Delaware - Katie Hanson

13. Miss Kentucky - Kia Ben-et Hampton

14. Miss Hawaii - Angela Byrd

15. Miss North Carolina - Brittany Leigh York

Sunrise on the Atlantic: Set Four - Photography by Cassone's May 2010 Feature

Final set (#4) from my May 2011 photography feature...

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO SLIDESHOW OF THE FULL SET

Sunrise on the Atlantic

Jamie Page, location producer

Sabrina Lopez, assistant & "gull wrangler"

Antonio Cassone, photographer

Catch Her Act

I always say, you can take a hundred photos and if ONE sticks out, then there you go.

I really want to thank Sabrina for her gull wrangling...lol. We joke about it, but if it weren't

for her I don't think I would have created some of the magic on this shoot.

This one I just fell in love with. Such beautiful creatures.

Hues of Blue

Waves

Breakfast Meeting

Little Creatures

Sunrise on the Atlantic: Set Three - Photography by Cassone's May 2010 Feature

Set #3 of my May 2011 photography feature ...enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO SLIDESHOW OF THE FULL FEATURE

Sunrise on the Atlantic

Jamie Page, location producer

Sabrina Lopez, assistant & "gull wrangler"

Antonio Cassone, photographer

The Eye

Hues of Blue & Gold

Fully Realized

Waves II

Shine

taking flight...

A Day at the Beach

Sunrise on the Atlantic: Set Two - Photography by Cassone's May 2010 Feature

Set #2 from my May 2011 photography feature... Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO SLIDESHOW OF THE FULL FEATURE

Sunrise on the Atlantic

Jamie Page, location producer

Sabrina Lopez, assistant & "gull wrangler"

Antonio Cassone, photographer

Morning Has Broken

Off in the Distance

Seascape

Rise Up

Daybreakingly Beautiful

Waves III

Oceanview III

Two on a Beach

The Gathering

Sunrise on the Atlantic: Set One - Photography by Cassone's May 2010 Feature

I know it has been almost a month since my last post, but life happens. I have been up and down with some health issues as of late. That being said, I still have been able to do some of what I love - even though it isn't as much as I would like to do. This is the first set of my May 2011 photography feature. I hope you like them.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO SLIDESHOW OF "SUNRISE ON THE ATLANTIC"

Location Producer: Jamie Page

Assistant & "Gull Wrangler": Sabrina Lopez

Photography: Antonio Cassone

Dawn

The Eye

A Brisk Walk

Oceanview III

Late Arrival

Coming in for a Landing

Jamie Page: Edge of the World - Photography by Cassone

The final set from my April 2011 photography feature

of comedian & recording artist, Jamie Page.

Click here to see the video slideshow of this set.

Edge of the World

Jamie Page, model

Sabrina Lopez, production assistant

Antonio Cassone, photographer

THE SEEKER

CONTEMPLATION

PRAYERFUL

BY DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT

"to the beat of his own drummer..."

SANDMAN

SANDS OF TIME

AT DAYBREAK

DEEP IN THOUGHT

OUT ON THE HORIZON

ON THE HORIZON

HORIZONS

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

Click here to see more of Jamie Page's work.

Click here to see all of our collaborations.

Thank you!