Much has been discussed about Miss California USA's answer last night at the Miss USA Pageant and being a fan of pageants and having met Miss California USA 2009, Carrie Prejean, I felt that I needed to state my opinion on the issue. I met Carrie twice, while she competed for the Miss California USA contest two years ago, as Miss San Diego County. The actual winner was incorrectly crowned and we all thought Carrie should have won--she eventually did (this year). And I also worked with Carrie when I appeared, along with Debbie Matenopoulos, in last year's E! Entertainment Academy Awards Pre-Show. Pageant Girl: Nick Verreos poses with Miss California USA 2007, Meagan Tandy in a NIKOLAKI gown (she placed Third at Miss USA 2007) First let me start by saying that I am so proud to live in a country where we have the right to free speech. And I applaud the Miss Universe Organization for bringing such hard hitting, politically relevant questions to this years pageant. We live in a world where being beautiful is not mutually exclusive from being intelligent. I understand someone who has strong beliefs and has the ability to express those beliefs as a Miss USA should be prepared to do. But I do not feel she answered the question with any eloquence (Hello!! Opposite Marriage?) and obviously disagree with what she stated. I hope that people's anger and outrage is not directed at Carrie speaking her beliefs but at the fact the she feels that Gay men and women do not deserve equal rights. Although I do not agree with Perez Hilton's extreme reaction to Carrie's answer I am thankful that outspoken advocates for same-sex marriage and more importantly equal rights, like Hilton, continue to bring this issue to the forefront of political discussions. We still have an INCREDIBLY far road to travel and hopefully people will see that even in the pageant world, run mainly by gay men, we have to continue to educate and teach the importance of EQUALITY. To donate and learn more about the ongoing battle for equality in California please click HERE. And click HERE for a witty commentary by somebody who has "been there and done that", my friend and former Miss USA and Universe Brook Lee. She pulls no punches!! Love her.

California Pageant GirlsMy sister with the Miss California USA '09 Winners Last weekend, the new Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA for 2009 were crowned in the fabulous Palm Springs Riviera Resort and Spa. The winners were the tall blond Miss La Jolla, Carrie Prejean and 17 year old Chelsea Gilligan. I, unfortunately, could not attend but my sister, the beautiful Rita Verreos was there. She was invited to the lovely desert city, because Rita actually trains the Miss California's in their runway walks, posing, speech and everything else that makes them then go on to perform so well at Miss USA--as well as in life. As much as people like to "hate" on pageants and the crazy world that surrounds them, all the training that occurs does lead these young women to fulfill their best potential. My sister--a product of the enviable Miss Venezuela Organization training--can attest to this.Nick Verreos and E! Academy Awards Models: On the far right is Carrie Prejean, the future Miss California USA '09 I'm not sure if the new Miss California USA, Carrie, remembers this, but she actually modeled for me, earlier this year, when I filmed the E! Entertainment Pre-Academy Awards Fashion Show Special. I told her how GORGEOUS I thought she was and how she should be Miss California USA! Well, I was about nine months ahead of myself! Because she did! Rita Verreos (in "vintage" Nick Verreos design) and Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008 from Texas At this years gala, my sister Rita wore a vintage Nikolaki/Nick Verreos silk charmeuse bias cut gown which I made over 12 years ago for her! And ( as she reminded me), it was all HANDMADE!!!!! I don't know if my sewing machine was not working or I wanted to be "couture" but I believe her! Her memory is better than mine. Meeting of The Pageant Minds: Shana Moakler and Rita Verreos at Miss California USA '09 Pageant, Palm Springs She said she had a great time and had fun hanging out with Crystle Stewart, the gorgeous Miss USA 2008 from Texas (whom my sister also helped train), actress and model Shana Moakler (who became Miss USA 1995 when the actual Miss USA, Chelsi Smith won the Miss Universe title) and choreographer and former dancer/actor Cris Judd.