Nick Jonas & Giuliana Rancic on what one-armed Miss Iowa & bikini ban mean for pageants
Giuliana Rancic will once again be hosting the Miss USA Pageant this Sunday, June 16 on NBC, alongside new co-host Nick Jonas.
With the recent crowning of Miss Iowa Nicole Kelly, a woman born with only one arm, Zap2it asked the hosts if they think that signals a continued growth in diversity for pageants like Miss USA.
"Absolutely. I think that's fantastic. It's nice to see that pageants reflect what we're seeing every day in our own communities," Rancic tells Zap2it. "She's no different than anyone else. She's got a dream, I'm sure she's a bright, wonderful girl and she should have every opportunity that all these other girls have. I love seeing that."
"I think it's important for pageants to be able to represent what young women really look like outside the stage, and what women are really going through," Rancic continues. "I think that's great."
"I think that's a beautiful thing," adds Jonas. "I think there's a lot of beauty in diversity and overcoming different obstacles we have in our lives and representing that on a big stage. So many young girls' dream is to be Miss USA, so showing that that's possible is a beautiful thing."
Another pageant story making headlines recently is the bikini ban at the 2013 Miss World Pageant, which Rancic says she supports.
"If another pageant, like the Miss World, if it doesn't feel right for their organization, especially this year, then by all means they know what's right for their pageant, so I support that," she says. "Every pageant is so different and I think for Miss USA it's just what they've done since the beginning and it works for the Miss USA pageant."
"I think the girls take great pride in the fact that they work out, that they're fit and that they take care of themselves. They're proud to be in a bikini."
"Could I do it? No. I don't have the confidence to walk on stage in a bikini," laughs Rancic.
The 2013 Miss USA Pageant airs live from Las Vegas Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
THE JONAS BROTHERS ARE PERFORMING
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