Miss USA snapshots: Fadil Berisha’s high style shots of the 51 hopefuls

Miss USA snapshots: Fadil Berisha’s high style shots of the 51 hopefuls

The 2011 Miss USA Pageant high style photograph shoots by photographer Fadil Berisha are still likely to stoke pro and con comments this year, but the sexy photos are far less risqué than previous year’s that caused a firestorm of controversy with their racy lingerie and fishnet stocking pictures.

There’s no question that Fadil is an extraordinary lord of the lens, and he captures the edgy, erotic looks in all of his models. However, detractors will ask if the all-out leering lips, smoky eyes, huge hairdos, bare shoulders, plunging necklines and thigh-high slits are right for Miss USA’s image.

Billionaire Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA Pageant and parent Miss Universe Group, says they show faultless good looks and health. He also obviously believes that they’ll help Sunday’s ratings of the NBC broadcast from Planet Hollywood! Giuliana Rancic from E! Entertainment and Andy Cohen from Bravo will host the pageant, with Kelly Osbourne as backstage color analyst.

Vegas Deluxe presents the 2011 gallery of all 51 contestants, and you can make the comparison with the 2010 gallery. Tomorrow, we’ll post another gallery with the 51 official twilight gown photos to give you an advance look at what the charm girls will wear onstage Sunday.

Also now, we have the first rehearsal photographs of the pageant hopefuls hard at work on the choreography for the opening number. Professional photographer Tom Donoghue was at Style Show yesterday for the final meet-and-greet autograph session and runway style show for the 51 contestants. Some of 2011 Miss Nevada USA Sarah Chapman’s students turned up to cheer her on — Sarah is the director of a preschool in Henderson.

Final fun for the 51 over the weekend included front row seats at British singer Matt Goss’ show at his Goosy Lounge in Caesars Palace. He also posed with them on the grand staircase at the casino resort. 2day, they start the weeklong, intensive judges’ interviews and continue with rehearsals. Wednesday is the preliminary competition onstage at the Theater for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood. We’ll preview that here and post a photo recaps Thursday.

We’ll use Twitter for live reports from the pageant Sunday and bring you the first photographs of the winner and her first meeting shortly afterward. Check back often to Vegas Deluxe for the best reporting anywhere with all the new photos and updates as the week progresses.