Dethroned and disgraced former Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees is planning an emergency press conference for sometime today.She plans to tackle head-on the subject of the sexy photos taken in her original hometown of Tampa more than four years ago that caused her firing two days ago. She and her family have retained a lawyer to represent her and are threatening legal action against " all those trying to destroy her". The attorney, Mario Torres says " She clearly acknowledges that her actions were not appropriate and she deeply regrets them- but it was an isolated incident and long before she even thought of entering the Nevada USA pageant."
I've also learned that when she holds her "meet the press" session in her Florida hometown where she was spending the Christmas holidays with her parents, Katie will refute all allegations that she worked for a Vegas escort agency that hosted VIPs and casino high rollers.
"She is angry and upset" I was told. "Since moving to Nevada she has done nothing but good. She feels totally trampled on. Some teenage frat-party behavior on one isolated night 5-years ago has been exploited by a cash-hungry photographer because of the troubles surrounding Miss USA Tara Connor - and Katie is taking the fall for everybody. She wants to set the record straight and point out all the good work and charity activities she's been involved in the past few years ."
Katie will confirm that she worked successfully as a model and convention spokeswoman for numerous national corporate events held in Las Vegas. " It is inequitable that Miss USA was given a second chance and able to hold onto her crown and that Katie was let go instantly and given absolutely no opportunity whatsoever to defend herself " said her lawyer adding " She has the right to clear her name and set the record straight."
I'm also reliably told that in the last 48-hours she has been besieged with $100,000+ offers from Playboy, Penthouse and other glamor magazines as a result of her being dumped by Miss USA and replaced by runner-up Helen Salas as Ms. Nevada. (Click here to see Helen's Fox 5 TV News interview on our Dry Heat pages) . Katie will weigh her options to see " how the 15-minutes of fame she expected at the pageant in March" can be extended for her modeling career " out of the 15-minutes of notoriety she's unwillingly found herself in now."
The 2007 Miss USA pageant is to be broadcast from Los Angeles on March 23.
More Miss Nevada USA News:
- Luxe Life With Robin Leach: The Scandal Begins
- Luxe Life With Robin Leach: Miss Nevada USA Loses Her Crown
- Vegas Pop: Hunting for Photos
- Vegas Pop: Nude Photos a Good Career Move?
Technorati Tags: vegas celebrity miss nevada sexy
1. Well. Now. A high-profile young lady, behaving just as I did 30 years ago. What a concept! I was no beauty queen, but I remember that everyone at the time found my behavior entertaining, at least while everyone was still drunk -- and once again when the photos were developed and we all groaned and went, OH MY GOD did I really do that? And we laughed all over again. And LET IT GO. Because we ALL have done crazy stuff at parties -- and speaking for myself, now pushing 50, a lot more outrageous behavior than that over the years -- plenty to chuckle about -- and blush about -- as my hair goes quietly gray. For heaven's sake, what was that lesson in Sunday school about casting stones? Do you imagine all the other young ladies in these pageants are squeaky-clean nuns? Some may well be -- but I'll wager they are in large part either just plain lucky or perhaps just (luckily) a little more discreet. Rock on, Katie -- there is life after Miss Nevada. Be thankful you aren't Monica Lewinski. Peace.
Kathy at 5:13PM on Dec 24th 2006