Staff Writer
An estimated 7.7 million people nationwide saw Miss USA contestants strolling Ocean City’s Boardwalk, flying kites on the resort’s beach, visiting Candy Kitchen, learning how to surf, shopping at Park Place Jewelers and dancing at the Carousel Hotel as they watched the Miss USA pageant last Friday on NBC.
The 51 contestants traveled to Ocean City on April 6, filming introductions for the pageant as well as shooting at different landmarks in Ocean City.
The contestants were divided into three groups, two of which filmed their introductions on the Boardwalk (states from Alabama to Georgia introduced themselves on the Boardwalk in the show’s opening segment) while the others toured the city and stopped at different locations.
The pageant aired live on NBC from the 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore’s largest indoor sports and entertainment facility. This is the second year the pageant has been held in Maryland. Last year’s pageant was at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore and was seen in more than 100 countries.
Funded through a $25,000 state grant, Ocean City was not only able to bring the contestants to the resort, but also gain the resort worldwide exposure.
About half of the contestants, including the 2005 winner, Miss North Carolina, Chelsea Cooley, filmed in Ocean City before last year’s pageant.
Cooley crowned Miss Kentucky, Tara Elizabeth Connor, as Miss USA at the conclusion of the two-hour telecast, before as estimated worldwide viewing audience of 250 million.
Although the ratings were down from last year, according to Nielsen Media Research, and Miss Maryland Melissa DiGiulian, 20, of Ocean City didn’t make it into the top 15, having the pageant in Baltimore was still a boost for Maryland and Ocean City.
Ocean City Public Relations Director Donna Abbott didn’t get to see the opening of the show, but what she did see looked good to her.
“From what I’ve heard from people, it looked fantastic and I have no reason to doubt that,” Abbott said. “To have more than seven million viewers see the telecast nationwide, for what we put in was well worth it. Anything you can do to increase your exposure helps tourism.”
“Having exposure both nationally and internationally is great and we are very excited to have had the ladies back this year.”
It has not been announced where the pageant will be held next year, but if it is in Maryland again, Abbott said Ocean City will welcome the 51 contestants back to the resort.
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.
Source: http://www.oceancity.md/octoday/headline.cfm?PubID=3455
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