Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart
I watched most of the Miss USA Pageant and it looked like it went off without a hitch. Donnie and Marie Osmond hosted, and the show was modern and entertaining enough to add some moderate interest to the outdated beauty pageant fare. Controversial divorcee Heather Mills, fierce Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, and celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves were among the judges. They tried to keep it fresh with backstage footage and off the cuff chats with the judges and contestants, and the music and competition segments were good, but there’s only so much you can do to make a beauty pageant entertaining. There weren’t any technical issues or big slip ups by the contestants.

Judge Christian Siriano added some of his trademark flair to the show. During the unprepared question and answer period, a judge was drawn from a hat to ask each of the top 5 contestants a question. Siriano asked Miss Oklahoma which famous person she’d most like to help to better themselves and she predictably answered “Britney Spears.” Siriano smiled wide, and you know that’s the answer he had in mind as he’s said publicly that he wants to help Britney too. This was one of the less articulate answers by a contestant, which makes it more fun to watch:

“As of right now, I’d like to pick Britney Spears. Because I’d really like to help her with her self confidence and help her believe in herself, and get over whatever she’s going through right now so she can strive on going to the next deal.”

The winner was Miss Texas Crystle Stewart, a 26 year-old African American college graduate and entrepreneur who runs a party planning and motivational speaking company. Her answer during the judges questions was the most well spoken:

Question from Judge #9, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman: “In some countries when you turn 18 you’re required to spend a year in the military. Do you think that should be enforced in our country?”

Miss Texas, Crystle Stewart: “I don’t think it should be enforced. I think you’re talking about the draft in our country. I think it should be a choice. We have people there in Iraq right now fighting for our country and it was their choice and I really appreciate that. It should be a choice.”

Here are clips from the show. There wasn’t a talent competition unfortunately. Only Miss America includes the talent competition.

Swimsuit Competition, Finger 11 plays in the background:

Top 10 contestants are picked from a lineup of women in their swimsuits:

Evening gown competition:

Pre-arranged Q&A with the top five contestants:

Judges questions for the top 5 contestants:

Miss Texas is crowned:

And in the brief instance where Heather Mills had a chat with host Donnie Osmond, she managed to remain calm and surprisingly soft spoken:

And the TV stunt casting continues! This time, it’s “fierce” designer Christian Siriano, winner of this season’s “Project Runway.” Siriano will make an appearance on ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” during sweeps weeks, of course.

How fierce!

Project Runway winner Christian Siriano will guest star on ABC’s Ugly Betty.

The episode will air during May sweeps week.

According to an ABC statement, Siriano, 22, will cross paths with “Mode’s own hot tranny mess” Alexis Meade (Rebecca Romijn).

Runway judge Nina Garcia will also have a cameo.

Siriano won the Bravo reality show earlier this month.

“This won’t be the last of Christian Siriano,” he vowed at the time. “I mean, people need to see more of the fierceness.”

[From Us Weekly]

Siriano was popular while on “Runway,” winning the coveted “Fan Favorite” award, which was a check for $10,000. Since the show ended, Siriano has been doing the talk show circuit and making several appearances. On March 29, Christian will serve as a red carpet correspondent for Access Hollywood at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, hosted by Jack Black.

And on the orange carpet, stars like awards’ host Jack Black will have their fashion looks rated by the young designer. “I think it’s fabulous that I’ll be on the red carpet checking to see if anyone is a hot tranny mess,” Siriano said, borrowing one of his trademark phrases fans heard him saying on “Runway.” “Watch out - you know I’ll be fierce with my comments.”

The 22-year-old “Runway” winner will bring his energy and flair for fashion as he also hands out Access’ “Fierce Fashion Awards” to all those deserving celebrities on the orange carpet.

[From omg! News]

I love Christian, and was happy he won the show. He was clearly a talented designer and a fun personality. However, he needs to be careful not to overexpose himself or his “fierceness” is going to diminish. I’m kind of over the whole “hot tranny mess” catchphrase at this point. But then again, reality stars have a short shelf life, so I guess he’s smart enough to realize that and cash in while he can- the new season of Project Runway has already started filming.

Christian Siriano is shown on 3/15/08 at The Human Rights Campaign’s annual gala, thanks to PRPhotos.

Project Runway winner Christian Siriano thinks the recent Saturday Night Live parody of him was hilarious. The diminutive diva, 21, responded to the SNL skit featuring Amy Poehler in a dead-on impression, in an e-mail to People Magazine. Luckily, he has a great sense of humor in addition to a great sense of style.

Christian Siriano caught Amy Poehler’s impression of him on Saturday Night Live over the weekend and the Project Runway winner has just one word — an ‘F’ word — for the skit. And, no, it wasn’t “fierce.”

“I thought it was SO FUNNY,” the 22-year-old designer wrote in an e-mail to PEOPLE. “Amy [Poehler] looked exactly like me which is kinda scary, but fabulous.”

Known for his catty commentary and catchphrase, “That’s fierce,” the pint-sized designer wasn’t the only Project Runway personality to be parodied in the three-minute sketch about a hypothetical Runway spinoff, which features Siriano giving someone an apartment makeover. While Poehler played Siriano, the skit also featured guest host Amy Adams playing Runway host Heidi Klum and SNL castmember Bill Hader imitating Tim Gunn.

“The fact that they are even talking about me is so fierce, fabulous and flawless and is such an honor,” Siriano told PEOPLE. “[Poehler] was hilarious and little. It was so crazy that she looked just like me!”

And Poehler didn’t just nail Siriano’s sassy tone — she perfectly approximated his flat-ironed hair. “The hair was absolutely perfect,” Siriano wrote. “I don’t think I could have done it better myself. It was fierce!”

[From People]

I saw the video clip of the skit, and I agree- it was pretty funny. I have to give serious props to Bill Hader for his perfect rendition of Tim Gunn. His impression is even better than my boyfriend’s! Yes, it’s true- my entire family sits around and does impressions of the people on “Project Runway.” My Heidi Klum is FIERCE.

Note By Celebitchy: Thanks to Best Week Ever for the heads up and for the video clip above.