Miss Delaware ‘beating the odds’
Miss Delaware Kayla Martell has defied some long odds by qualifying for the 90th Miss America Pageant.
Martell, 22, has been bald since age 10, from a rare condition called alopecia areata, and only started wearing a blond wig in recent years.
For three years she competed bald in the Miss America state competition. Two years ago a male judge suggested she wear a wig.
"At first I was offended but I realized to be Miss America you had to be someone people can relate to and you need to be approachable," she told me Saturday during the Miss America contingent's night out at Buca di Beppo restaurant on East Flamingo Road.
Years of teasing and being tested "strengthened me and made me confident I could get here," she said.
Two years ago she came to support Delaware's representative.
"It's a story of perseverance, determination and beating the odds," said Sam Haskell III, chairman of the Miss America organization, "and taking what God gave you making the most of it.
"She's so brave," he added.
HOLLY'S DIET
"Peepshow" producers have ordered their burlesque headliner, Holly Madison, to lose weight, according to Radaronline.com.
She has been making frequent references to her diet on Twitter and appears to be going through chocolate and fast-food withdrawal. On Saturday she tweeted: "all cranky, tired Holly wants is fast food."
It is not uncommon for local entertainers, from headliners to Playboy bunnies, to undergo weekly weigh-ins.
Madison told me she was "surprised and sad" when told she had to lose weight.
"I am super busy, and don't often get enough sleep, so I feel terrible if I don't eat a lot. I knew I could stand to lose a pound or two, but I didn't think it was to a point where anyone else would notice!"
Madison's "Holly's World" reality show co-star Angel Porrino is filling in for her the week of Jan. 17-23.
SIGHTINGS
Rescued Chilean miner and Elvis fan Edison Pena, a guest of MGM Resorts, was introduced at "Viva Elvis" (Aria) on Tuesday. He had tapas at lunch with star chef Julian Serrano at Serrano's tapas restaurant on Tuesday. Elvis impersonator Jesse Garon had requested that he be allowed to present Pena with a replica of the belt that Elvis wore during his glory years at the Las Vegas Hilton, but he was turned down. ... Playboy heir Marston Hefner, 20, and girlfriend Playboy Playmate Claire Sinclair, dining Monday at STK restaurant at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas . Earlier Monday, Hefner's father, Hugh Hefner, agreed to take Playboy Enterprises private with investors. Young Hefner told Vegas Confidential that he "hopes to follow in his father's footsteps at Playboy, but not the same steps. Before, a father would build up a business and hand it over to a son. I want to learn the business."
THE PUNCH LINE
"The main attraction at the Consumer Electronics Show was the 3-D television. It's the first time the cast of 'Jersey Shore' showed any depth." -- Conan O'Brien
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
