It’s a twofer: Miss Teen USA pageant coming to Reno as well

Miss Kansas, Hailey Colborn, was announced the winner at the 2018 Miss Teen USA finals competition Friday evening at George's Pond. (Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette Journal Published 4:00 a.m. PT March 29, 2019

Miss Teen USA 2017 Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff speaks before the show about the school shooting in Texas earlier that same day. Shreveport Times

The Miss USA pageant is bringing company to Reno.

Organizers of the event confirmed to the Reno Gazette Journal on Thursday that it will hold the Miss Teen USA pageant in the Biggest Little City as well.

The Miss Universe Organization, which oversees the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, initially presented the idea of bringing the teen event to Reno alongside the Miss USA contest during the March 28 public meeting of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. At the time, event organizers were lobbying the RSCVA to approve a $350,000 special fund as a cash stipend to help offset the cost of bringing the Miss USA pageant to Reno.

By also bringing in Miss Teen USA, which will be held a couple of days before the May 2 Miss USA pageant, area hotels would be able to generate additional room nights, said Jonathan Seiden, legal counsel for Miss Universe Organization parent company Endeavor. It also increases the exposure that Reno would get from the deal, he added.

“If we bring in Miss Teen USA, there will be four events — the Miss Teen USA preliminary and finale, then the Miss USA preliminary and finale,” Seiden said.

Since 2008, only the Miss USA finale has been broadcast on network TV while the other three events have been streamed via webcast. The last Miss Teen USA saw 1.5 million views, said Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization.

The RSCVA voted 7-2 on Thursday to approve the special funding. The vote, however, was preceded by strong debate among members of the board. At the top of the list was whether the RSCVA would see a good return on investment for the $350,000, which will be funded primarily via room tax revenue.

“I understand that the exposure that comes with your show is tremendous,” said Bob Lucey, RSCVA board chairman.

“But $350,000 in regards to your ask is tremendous. It’s the most we’ve ever done.”

'Who watches pageants anymore?'
Other members expressed concern about the negative image some associate with pageants. RSCVA board member Nat Carasali, who prefaced that he was not incredibly familiar with pageants, sought feedback from several people about hosting a pageant in Reno. The result was overwhelmingly negative.

“The consensus opinion was it was not a good idea and it was a waste of money because who watches pageants anymore?” Carasali said. “It doesn’t sound very good.”

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Seiden countered by saying that the shows were available on other platforms besides U.S. network television. The Miss USA pageant alone, for example, is distributed to more than 70 countries and also generates more than 100 million social impressions worldwide. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray also will be on hand as a guest, which should help generate additional interest.

“This year will be unique by virtue of having Miss Universe in attendance,” Shugart said. “She’s a superstar in the Philippines right now so a Filipino audience coming from California will also play into this.”

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve was one of the strong supporters for bringing the pageants to Northern Nevada, citing the Miss USA brand's cachet, reach and scope.

Ed Lawson, RSCVA board member and Sparks city councilman, described himself as neutral about the pageant but ultimately decided to vote for it.

“I think highlighting the region makes sense,” Lawson said.

“I could’ve gone either way but I thought, ‘Let’s give it a shot.’ If it ends up being a mistake, then I’ll take the blame for it.”

The Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants will be held at the Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre.

https://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2019/03/29/miss-teen-usa-pageant-reno-nevada/3305184002/