Plenty of young hopefuls come to Las Vegas to make their starry-eyed showbiz dreams come true.

Taquita and Kaui are no different, except for the cameras following them as they chase their neon dreams.

After not making the band in MTV's "Making the Band 3," 20-year-old Taquita and 23-year-old Kaui decided to try their luck in Glitter City.

Their MTV reality series, "Taquita & Kaui," continues production for the next few weeks; the first of eight half-hour episodes debuts April 2.

"We've experienced some crazy stuff" in pursuit of performing careers, Taquita notes during an interview from their current base, a Strip motel room.

"We're trying to work our way up to an apartment," Kaui acknowledges.

To that end, the dynamic duo takes "any opportunity our agent gets for us," she says, including jobs as clowns, magician's assistants and background dancers.

But, to Kaui, "the main object of the show is young girls, full of life, trying to pursue their dreams."

"Design" time: Showbiz dreams of a different design spark HGTV's "Design Stars," which brings its second season to Las Vegas as 11 aspiring designers compete for the chance to host an HGTV series all their own.

The 26-day visit, which begins Wednesday, will take the aspiring designers to private residences, a soundstage -- and, inevitably, the Strip.

"Las Vegas was chosen" as the show's base "because it is one of the fastest-growing upscale markets in the country," according to HGTV spokeswoman Dynell Searight. "It's a vibrant, exciting, compelling city that provides a great backdrop" for the competition.

HGTV's "House Hunters" also is expected to conclude work on five episodes devoted to Southern Nevada, from Henderson to Lake Las Vegas.

The episodes will air as part of a November "stunt week" devoted to several cities including Las Vegas, according to Searight.

"Snapped" decision: The reality-TV parade continues as cable's Oxygen returns for another segment of "Snapped," about women "who find themselves involved in the criminal justice system," explains segment producer Michael Rogers of Jupiter Productions.

"Snapped" previously visited Vegas for segments on Sandy Murphy and Margaret Rudin; this week's focuses on Brookey West, who was convicted of murdering her mother in 2001 -- and disposing of the body in a 55-gallon trash can hidden in a rented storage locker.

The segment includes interviews with police officers, attorneys -- and Review-Journal reporter Glenn Puit, who covered the case and later authored "Witch: The True Story of Las Vegas' Most Notorious Female Killer."

Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column appears Mondays. Contact her at 383-0272 or e-mail her at ccling@reviewjournal.com.