This time, no one's playing the Trump card.
Pageant officials said Friday that former Miss Nevada Katie Rees, who was dethroned last week after racy photos surfaced on the Internet, will not have a second shot at the crown.
"The Miss Universe Organization has thoroughly considered the request of Ms. Katie Rees to be reinstated as Miss Nevada USA 2007," organization president Paula Shugart said in a statement, a day after co-owner and Rosie O'Donnell nemesis Donald Trump told Extra that he was taking another look at his colleagues' decision.
Trump, of course, was instrumental in the choice to give Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner, another chance after the then-20-year-old was spotted drinking—and reportedly smooching Miss Teen USA Katie Blair—at a New York nightspot. The duo was also accused of sneaking men into their Trump Place apartment.
Both Conner and Blair, who was dropped by the advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving as a spokesperson after it was reported she was out drinking with Miss USA, are safe for the time being, so long as they behave like perfect angels for the rest of their reigns.
Two days after Conner's teary mea culpa and her pledge to enter rehab, Rees, who was set to compete in the 2007 Miss USA pageant in March, was booted after officials caught a glimpse of pictures taken when the 22-year-old was partying in Tampa, Florida. The offending shots showed Rees kissing another girl, flashing one of her breasts and giving the camera a glimpse of her thong underwear.
At a news conference last Saturday, Rees apologized, pointing out how one night of poor judgment "can affect the rest of our lives." She then asked for another chance to prove herself.
"Our number one goal is to have her reinstated," Rees' attorney Mario Torres III said. "Ms. Rees did not even recollect these photos were taken. The person who posted these pictures should, in some way, be held accountable."
But apparently the Miss Universe Organization felt it had doled out enough second chances for one year.
"In light of the serious nature of the circumstances, there is no recourse but to stand by our decision," Shugart said.
Miss Nevada first runner-up Helen Salas has assumed the title and will be the one who competes for the Miss USA 2007 crown on Mar. 23 in Los Angeles.