PITTSBURGH,None — The official Miss USA pageant photos released by the organization this week are creating quite a stir among everyone from media experts to mothers.
The 51 contestants can be seen wearing lacy lingerie, fishnets and knee-high boots all while posing on a large bed.
Greensburg native Gina Cerilli, the reigning Miss Pennsylvania, weighed in on the controversy Thursday during a satellite interview from Las Vegas with See and Be Seen's Jessica Fera. Cerilli posted her "glam shot" as her profile picture on Facebook.
"I'm proud of my photo. Whenever we did the photo shoot, all the girls, if you weren't comfortable with it you were allowed to say so. It was definitely sexy but it was classy at the same time. And to be honest, we're not going to show any more than we did in the swimsuit competition or what you're going to see every day on the beach, so I'm very comfortable. I'm very confident, and I love my picture. So, yea, it is my Facebook profile picture," Cerilli said.
VIDEO: Miss Pennsylvania Speaks Out
Today Show correspondent Natalie Morales will be hosting the Miss USA pageant this year.
When asked if she could see a problem with the photos from a mother's perspective, Morales said, "This is what these girls do. They're there, a lot of them in the pageant world, hoping for big modeling contracts. This is a beauty pageant after all, it's not a spelling bee. They're there to represent in a beautiful, sexy kind of way."
The black and white photos posted on MissUSA.com were taken by photographer Fadil Berish.
Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe organization, responded to the controversy during an interview with "The Insider."
"The Miss USA Pageant and the Miss Universe Pageant just got renewed for three years by NBC. The ratings have been terrific," said Trump. "We are in a different age. They are a little bit sexy but I'll tell you what -- everybody's watching so I have no problems with it. If you look at Miss America it's now off network television, and we're doing better than ever, so I really have no problem with it."
Celebrity chef and current Celebrity Apprentice contestant Curtis Stone said he jumped at the chance to work with Trump on another project.
"He's a hard man to say no to, so of course when the Donald rings and says you're hosting Miss USA you've got to say yes," Curtis told See and Be Seen.
Some are calling Trump out for a seeming double standard. Last year's Miss USA contestant Carrie Prejean was attacked first for her views on gay marriage and then again weeks later for a series of sexy photos that were deemed so racy they almost cost the reigning Miss California her crown.
Prejean was dethroned by Miss California for failing to fulfill her duties as a state titleholder.
One pageant insider told Fox News, "These photos are making a statement that Carrie Prejean's topless photos are not what got her fired."
The Miss USA pageant will be broadcast live from Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Channel 11 at 7 p.m. on May 16.
Do you think the photos are inappropriate? Weigh in on the topic by posting your comments on the message board below.
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