I don’t know what the world Donald Trump was thinking when he decided to hold the Miss Universe pageant one week before Christmas. The whole holiday theme and set just felt a bit odd. For me, the pageant belongs in the spring or summer. Trump’s people seriously need to knock some sense into him. I swear he’s getting a bit more senile in his old age. In his defense, he probably thought airing it at this time might benefit the show’s ratings. Last year’s Victoria’s Secret fashion show scored boffo ratings. They’re practically the same show but with more clothing ;)

The Christmas trees and snowflakes were the least of his worries, the beauty pageant was probably the worst produced Miss Universe I can recall. From the audio glitches in the beginning and the awful pre-recorded segments, it was one big snooze fest. Thankfully, I taped it and watched the entire 2 hour pageant in just 30 minutes.

Once again Andy Cohen (my silver fox crush) and Giuliana Rancic hosted the event, with Jeannie Mai serving as fashion correspondent. A few of the notable celebrity judges included Nigel Barker (glad to see he’s been busy since ANTM), Lisa Vanderpump (my fave RHOBH), Scott Disick, Brad Goreski, Diego Boneta and Kerri Walsh Jennings to name a few. On deck to perform were Train and Nigerian-born Aussie singer Timomatic.

Overall, this year’s Top 5 were a decent bunch. That said, I was a little bummed, my early favorite, Miss South Africa, only made the Top 10. Speaking of Africa, this was the first time since 2002 that no black candidates made the semifinals. They didn’t even win one of the special awards. Best National Costume went to Miss China and Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic went to Miss Guatemala and Miss Kosovo respectively. Check out this year’s Top 5 below.

check out the Top 5 after the jump

Normally, a 6’1″ statuesque blond making the finals for a beauty contest isn’t exactly newsworthy material. Difference here is that Jenna Talackova was born a male. Now a woman, Jenna is hoping to make a big splash on the institution of traditional beauty pageants. The 23-year-old Talackova is hoping to beat the competition and represent Canada at the upcoming 2012 Miss Universe competition. She began taking hormone therapy at age 14 and underwent sexual reassignment surgery in 2010.

As you would expect, beauty pageant purists are not happy with this. Some have argued that her acceptance by Miss Universe Canada raises ethical and moral issues. They feel that the Big 4 beauty competitions (Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth) were meant for naturally born women. Good thing for Jenna that she’s Canadian. Under the Equality Law in Canada’s 1982 constitution, her application cannot be denied since she’s legally a woman.

see more pics of Jenna Talackova after the jump

It’s one of my favorite times of the year, when I get to plop my fat ass on the couch and watch some of the most beautiful women in the world compete for the title of Miss Universe. Yes, it’s totally gay, but I LOVE it. It brings back fond memories of my mom and I watching the show together and hearing my aunts complain how ugly Miss Philippines was. You think gay men are judgy? Try sitting in a room with my aunts and mom watching this show.

Miss Universe crowned its 59th winner last night at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. 22-year-old Jimena Navarrete of Mexico won the Miss Universe 2010 title. She becomes only the second delegate from Mexico to win the title- Lupita Jones won in 1991. Coincidentally enough, Jones was also crowned in Las Vegas.

Celebrity Apprentice winner Bret Michaels, and NBC reporter Natalie Morales hosted the ceremony with musical performances by Cirque du Soleil and John Legend and The Roots. On deck to judge the ladies for the live event were Chazz Palminteri, Chynna Phillips, Criss Angel, Evan Lysacek, Jane Seymour, Niki Taylor, Sheila E., Tamron Hall and Billy Baldwin.

check out the runner-ups after the jump

Even though last night had the Survivor and Desperate Housewives finales along with The Apprentice penultimate episode, it wasn’t any of those I was looking forward to most. That’s right. I’m a beauty pageant junkie. Miss Universe & Miss USA are my drug of choice. This year’s competition took place in Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Casino. 24-year-old Arab-American cutie, Rima Fakih beat out 50 other delegates to take home the title and all the prestige that comes along with it.

Lebanese born Fakih, was only the pageant’s second Arab-American winner. For the night’s two eliminations, she narrowly advanced and placed 2nd bottom both times. During the swimsuit portion, Fakih placed 9th out of 15 with only the top ten advancing. Then for the evening gown competition, she placed 4th out of 10 with only the top five advancing. Then out of nowhere in the final question and answer portion, she overtook the four blonds with her bubbly delivery of her response to the birth control question posed to her.

In an interview afterwards, she stated she knew she won when she glanced over to Donald Trump and he gave her a knowing look. This is the exact quote:

“That’s the same look that he gives them when he says, ‘You’re hired,’” on Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice,” she said.

view the four runner-ups and miss congeniality after the jump