The 54th Annual Miss USA® Pageant is to be Broadcast Live from Baltimore, Maryland
New York, October 7, 2004: Paula M. Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization announced today that the state of Maryland will host the 54th Annual Miss USA® Competition live from the historic, Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore on NBC during early April.
Maryland’s diversity is going to provide an unprecedented backdrop for our telecast,” says Shugart. “The spectacular mountains, beach communities, quaint historical cities and sites, combined with all Baltimore has to offer, will create a spectacular opportunity to showcase the entire state.”
Baltimore has retained its sense of history, art and tradition, while carefully blending in cosmopolitan progress. With over one hundred community festivals, concerts, and events organized annually, more than 1.5 million visitors per year delight in the discovery of Baltimore’s charms. During the three-week pageant period, thousands of friends, family members and fans are expected to visit Maryland and millions will tune-in to watch the live telecast, providing substantial exposure for the city and state. On average, the Miss USA pageant is seen in over fifty countries; the 2004 Miss USA pageant was distributed to a record-breaking one hundred countries and territories.
Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004, travels the nation as an advocate for breast and ovarian cancer education, research, and legislation. Finnessey will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before as estimated worldwide viewing audience of 250 million in more than 73 countries. Each contestant from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will be judged in three categories, including swimsuit, evening gown and interview.
Along with Executive Producer, Donald J. Trump, the Gurin Company will again produce Miss USA 2005 with veteran television Writer and Executive Producer Phil Gurin at the helm. The Gurin Company, established in 1997, has become one of television’s preeminent, full-service production companies with more than a dozen projects in development for network, cable and syndication in the areas of reality shows, game shows, variety shows, holiday specials, magazine and documentary programming and live entertainment. Gurin is best known as Executive Producer of the NBC primetime game show, Weakest Link.
The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE*, MISS USA* and MISS TEEN USA* Pageants, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal partnership. Utilizing its nationwide grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education, such as the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Gilda’s Club and the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, Miss USA is armed to impact women today.
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PRESS CONTACTS:
Brenda Mendoza
The Miss Universe Organization
1370 Avenue of the Americas, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Telephone: 212.373.4999
Fax: 212.315.5378
E-Mail: pr@missuniverse.com
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