Jerry Springer, Mel B Take on Miss Universe

Duo to host this year's Miss Universe Pageant July 13 in Vietnam

By Natalie Finn Jun 25, 2008 10:05 PMTags
Melanie Brown, Jerry SpringerJean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage.com, Gary Lee/UPPA/ZUMAPress.com

The Miss Universe Organization is getting a dose of Spice. And chair-throwing sleaze.

The Donald Trump-owned brand has tapped Melanie Brown (aka Mel B) and Jerry Springer to host the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant, which airs live on NBC July 13, direct from the Crown Convention Center in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam.

"This is obviously a great honor and getting to work alongside Mel B makes it even better," Springer, who's currently enmeshed in his second season as emcee of America's Got Talent, said of his fellow Dancing With the Stars also-ran.

"I'm thrilled to be a cohost of the Miss Universe Pageant," Brown added. "I believe the diversity and dedication that the pageant brings inspires and empowers young women across the globe."

And considering what a veritable gateway to the hosting world that DWTS has become, these two are only the latest ballroom types to mingle with the sash-and-tiara crowd.

Mario Lopez was behind the mic three times last year, for Miss America, Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA (which he'd also hosted twice before DWTS even existed), on the third of which Joey Lawrence also served as a judge.

Drew Lachey cohosted the 2006 Miss USA Pageant, shortly after his season-two DWTS win and season-three champ Emmitt Smith served as a judge at Miss Universe that year, as well.

Further down the food chain, Shanna Moakleractually was Miss USA in 1995, as was Shandi Finnessey in 2004, and Willa Ford cohosted Miss Teen USA in 2002.