Jerry Springer, Mel B Take on Miss Universe
The Miss Universe Organization is getting a dose of Spice. And chair-throwing sleaze.
The Donald Trump-owned brand has tapped Melanie Brown (aka Mel B) and Jerry Springer to host the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant, which airs live on NBC July 13, direct from the Crown Convention Center in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam.
“This is obviously a great honor and getting to work alongside Mel B makes it even better,” Springer, who’s currently enmeshed in his second season as emcee of America’s Got Talent, said of his fellow Dancing with the Stars also-ran.
“I’m thrilled to be a cohost of the Miss Universe Pageant,” Brown added. “I believe the diversity and dedication that the pageant brings inspires and empowers young women across the globe.”
And considering what a veritable gateway to the hosting world that DWTS has become, these two are only the latest ballroom types to mingle with the sash-and-tiara crowd.
Mario Lopez was behind the mic three times last year, for Miss America, Miss and Universe and Miss Teen USA (which he’d also hosted twice before DWTS even existed), on the third of which Joey Lawrence also served as a judge.
Drew Lachey cohosted the 2006 Miss USA Pageant, shortly after his season-two DWTS win and season-three champ Emmitt Smith served as a judge at Miss Universe that year, as well.
Further down the food chain, Shanna Moakleractually was Miss USA in 1995, as was Shandi Finnessy in 2004, and Willa Ford cohosted Miss Teen USA in 2002.
Sin City Celebrations
A Gossip Girl hottie. A fierce beachgoer. And Eddie Murphy celebrates the big 5-0. Read on to learn all about what some of our fave celebs were up to this weekend in Las Vegas…
Tao was jamming on Saturday night. Project Runway winner Christian Siriano held court in one corner, while Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian helped brother Rob celebrate his 22nd birthday with his Cheetah Girls girlfriend, Adrienne Bailon.
Also there? Wilmer Valderrama, Dave Annable, Joey Fatone, Chris Evans, Lindsay Price and Rick Fox.
During the day, some of the above mentioned celebs stripped down to their bathing suits. But not Siriano. He stayed protected from the sun in jeans and a T-shirt. Meanwhile, Chace Crawford (in Vegas to cheer on his sister, Candice, who is Miss Missouri, in the Miss USA Pageant) hung out with Price, and Fatone wore a T-shirt that read "I beat anorexia."
Eddie Murphy also celebrated a birthday in Vegas. On Friday night, he toasted turning 50 with about 10 friends, including Arsenio Hall, at the Bank at the Bellagio.
They sipped Grey Goose cocktails and Perrier Jouët champagne, and his cake was decorated with stills from some of his most famous flicks. Murphy & Co. didn’t exit the place until about 2:30 a.m.
Also on Friday, Ray Romano and Brad Garrett hit Jet after their headlining show at the Mirage. And yes, that was Garrett spending most of the night on the dance floor.
Drew Lachey, Wife Lea Have Baby Daughter
Drew Lachey and wife Lea, both 29, welcomed their first child, a daughter, Thursday in Los Angeles, PEOPLE has learned exclusively.
Isabella Claire Lachey weighed in at 7 lbs., 2 oz. “Mom, Dad and baby are all happy and healthy,” says a rep for the couple.
Last month, Lachey and dance partner Cheryl Burke won the second season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. The former 98 Degrees singer and younger brother of Nick Lachey credited Lea, a dancer and choreographer, with “helping me with my posture, my feet” during the competition, he told PEOPLE.
After his victory, Drew said he couldn’t wait to kick up his heels with his new girl. “In a couple of years my daughter will be cutting a rug around me,” he said at the time. “I’ll hold her hands, and she’ll be dancing on my feet. I’m looking forward to that.”
Cheryl Burke tells PEOPLE her former partner will be a model dad. “He’s going to be a great father,” she says. “He will not spoil his child, that’s for sure. But he’s so loving and he’s going to love his baby like no other.”
On April 21, Lachey will cohost the Miss USA pageant in Baltimore with Nancy O’Dell of Access Hollywood.
• Reporting by MONICA RIZZO and CYNTHIA WANG
Ali Landry Biography
Ali Landry (born July 21, 1973) is an actress best known as a spokesperson for Doritos, for whom she appeared in celebrated commercials aired during the 1998 and 1999 Super Bowls. A trained gymnast, she still required hours of takes to get the seconds of footage doing acrobatic stunts for the commercials. She got national fame after winning the 1996 Miss USA pageant, as the contestant from Louisiana. In later years she has hosted the pageant.
Ali Landry grew up in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA. Ali is of French descent.
She has participated in the show Fear Factor, and was runner up. An avid athlete, she also participated in the Boston Marathon.
Starting in 2003 she played in the UPN sitcom Eve.
She married longtime boyfriend Mario Lopez in 2004, and two weeks after marriage, filed for divorce because she claims that he cheated on her during his bachelor party.
Engaged to director Alejandro Monteverde on Memorial Day, 2005.
Ali Landry: Facts & Stats
Full Name: Ali Landry
Height: 5′ 8″
Measurements: 36C-24-34
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Miss Louisiana Teen USA (1990)
Miss Teen USA Semi-finalist (1990)
Miss Louisiana USA (1996)
Miss USA (1996)
Miss Universe Top 6 Finalist (1996)
Named by “People” magazine as one of 50 most beautiful people in the world (1998)
She is from the southwestern region of Louisiana, also referred to as “Acadiana,” the heart of Cajun country
Ali Landry: Quotes
“Sex outdoors is great. I’m not an exhibitionist, but I love the possibility that people might be able to see.”
“I didn’t know what my goal was, but I knew I had to get out and do something exciting.”
“I don’t date guys that I just meet randomly. I don’t feel comfortable meeting strangers.”