The Miss America Pageant will return to Planet Hollywood Resort for a week of preliminary competitions, marking the fourth year the scholarship pageant has taken place in Sin City. The 2010 competition airs live on Jan. 30 on TLC.

This year also marks the return of Miss Puerto Rico to the pageant after a 50-year

hiatus. With the addition of Miss Puerto Rico, 53 contestants will vie for the title, beginning with preliminary competitions in interview, lifestyle and fitness, talent and evening wear. This year’s contestants include a Rhodes scholar, professional dancer, concert pianist and actress.

“The last four years have been wonderful experiences for not only Planet Hollywood, but for the city of Las Vegas, and the Miss America Pageant returning to our property gives us the opportunity to showcase our magnificent resort once again,” says Bill Feather, president of Planet Hollywood Worldwide Resorts.

The Miss America Pageant has called Planet Hollywood Resort home since its move to Las Vegas from Atlantic City in 2006 to give the competition new life. Katie Stam of Seymour, Ind., was crowned at the Planet Hollywood Resort last January. Stam has been traveling the nation as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network. She will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast.

The three nights of preliminaries will take place on Jan. 26-28 at Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for the Performing Arts. Actor Mario Lopez will return as host this year.

Famous Faces

Lee Ann Meriwether
“Miss California”
Miss America 1955
Meriwether starred in “The Undefeated” with Rock Hudson and John Wayne, and also portrayed Catwoman in the “Batman.” She also had roles on “Barnaby Jones” and “Mission Impossible.”

Phyllis George
“Miss Texas”
Miss America 1971
George went on to become one of the first female sports anchors on “NFL Today” and starred on “Candid Camera,” “People” and CBS’s “The Morning News.”

Gretchen Carlson
“Miss Minnesota”
Miss America 1989
Carlson co-hosts Fox News Channel’s new syndicated morning show, “Fox & Friends

Mary Ann Mobley
“Miss Mississippi”
Miss America 1959
Mobley starred in two films with Elvis Presley, and co-hosted the Miss America Pageant with husband Gary Collins.

Katherine Shindle
“Miss Illinois”
Miss America 1998
Shindle has held roles in movies such as “The Stepford Wives” and “Capote,” and also appeared in Broadway’s “Jekyll & Hyde.”

Vanessa Williams
“Miss New York”
Miss America 1984
When Williams won the crown in 1984, she made history by becoming the first African-American to win. Aside from recording eight albums, she is currently a star on “Ugly Betty.”