‘Sky’s the limit’ for Bruce Jenner in Las Vegas
Bruce Jenner’s female persona would find a land of opportunity in Las Vegas.
“The sky’s the limit for all he could do here. It could be so much more than hosting nightclubs,” said Marklen Kennedy, a prominent Las Vegas marketing executive.
“There’s so much momentum with the Kardashians and Jenners they could do a restaurant here, a casino,” said Kennedy, a former vice president of marketing for the nightclub empire operated by Light Group.
Jenner revealed in April that he is transitioning from male to female with a sex change surgery this summer.
His first cover shoot and interview as a woman will appear in Vanity Fair, reportedly this fall.
With Jenner on the brink of his new persona, I asked Jason Strauss, a managing partner of Las Vegas megaclubs Tao and Marquee, if they have plans to work with the former Olympic star, given the Kardashians’ long history of hosting at Tao.
“We have a relationship, but we haven’t reached out,” Strauss said. “No plans to do so.”
Jenner, who turns 66 on Oct. 28, has previewed his new persona to stepdaughter Kim Kardashian.
“She was dressed up, beautiful makeup, very, very beautiful and very comfortable,” Kardashian told Us Weekly.
Many factors point to Las Vegas being a welcoming place, said Kennedy, now a film and reality show producer.
“Las Vegas is finally catching up,” he said. “They’ve legalized gay marriage here and medical marijuana.”
With Jenner’s post-op chapter probably playing out on reality TV, Kennedy said he see Jenner’s brand exploding.
“The ratings will go through the roof. He’ll be what Vera Wang is to wedding dresses. Knowing Kris, he’ll have his own worldwide line. He could be the next cover girl, and I’m not joking. It could be a billion-dollar business.”
Kennedy is convinced “it would be looked upon so positively. I think Las Vegas is ready for a Kardashian casino. They have one of the most famous family names in the world.
“They could find the (financial) backing. They’ve got a built-in market because of their TV show. They’ve hit all the markets: entertainment, music, with Kanye; fashion, television and apparel.”
ROUSEY RUMBLINGS
There are rumblings that UFC superstar Ronda Rousey has indicated she’s going to be involved with the family of Omaha, Neb., policewoman Kerrie Orozco, who was killed in the line of duty May 20.
Orozco, a 29-year-old gang unit police officer, was slain attempting to serve a warrant, one day before she was to go on maternity leave.
She gave birth to a daughter in February. She and her husband have two other children.
Orozco was Omaha’s first female officer killed in the line of duty. A police cruiser procession accompanied her hearse on the way to the cemetery.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The live auction at this year’s Power of Love Gala on June 13 at the MGM Grand will include a one-week stay on Richard Branson’s ultra-private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. The lineup features Andrea Bocelli and friends. Tickets: www.keepmemoryalive.org …
Las Vegas entertainers will again participate in the 29th annual Ribbon of Life benefit, to be held at the Tropicana Theater-Havana Room on June 28 at 1 p.m. Golden Rainbow is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987. Funds provide housing and financial aid to people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.
SIGHTINGS
Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, with friends at Tao Asian Bistro (Venetian) on Saturday before going upstairs to the nightclub. Also at the restaurant: Nick Jonas, with band members in the private dining room after performing at the iHeart Radio Summer Pool Party, and “Extra” host Mario Lopez, spinning a set in the club after dinner. … At Encore Beach Club on Saturday: retired NBA All-Star Steve Nash, with a bachelor party group. Also there: rapper Eve, backstage behind the DJ booth where Zedd was spinning and Christopher “Big Black” Boykin from MTV’s “Big and Rob Show,” dancing on stage. … Lance Bass, hosting the Us Weekly Party at Foxtail Pool Club at SLS.
THE PUNCH LINE
“President Obama, by the way, has set a Guinness World Record as the fastest person to get a million Twitter followers. Obama now has as many followers as the Republicans have presidential candidates.” — Conan O’Brien
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at www.normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter. He also appears on KTNV-Channel 13’s “Morning Blend” on Thursdays.
