FRESH from surviving a media storm over topless photos, Australia's Miss Universe contestant Erin McNaught has been struck by a new fashion dilemma in the US.
The Brisbane beauty has been living the high-life in Los Angeles during the past week, mixing with Hollywood celebrities, rap stars and millionaire basketballers at events to promote the July 23 Miss Universe pageant at LA's historic Shrine Auditorium.
But there have been so many official parties and functions for the 80 contestants that McNaught has run out of new clothes to wear.
ReplyDeleteWith two weeks and many more events to go before this year's Miss Universe is crowned, the 24-year-old faces committing a fashion faux pas – wearing a dress in public twice.
"I had no idea I would need so many outfits," McNaught said.
"I haven't worn anything twice yet, but I think today is my last day of new clothing."
With the international media attending every event, the fashion police might begin to talk.
Australian designers Jason Brunsdon, Wayne Cooper and Eliza Joy donated clothes for her three weeks in LA, but McNaught did not pack enough in her suitcase.
The down-to-earth model shrugged off the dilemma, just as she did with calls for her to be dumped from the pageant when topless photos were published in lad's magazine, Zoo Weekly.
"It's fine," she said.
McNaught, who was dubbed McNaughty after the images surfaced, is also not worried the photos will hurt her chances in the pageant.
"If it does, so be it," McNaught said.
"There is nothing I can do about it. You can't turn back time.
"Hopefully they will see me for who I am rather than the hype and media surrounding it."
McNaught's schedule since landing in LA last week has included a chat with Donald Trump, the New York billionaire real estate developer, reality TV star and Miss Universe pageant owner.
The meeting came at a party at the Hollywood mansion of Japanese-born fashion designer Tadashi Shoji and Trump obviously had fond memories of Australia's 2004 Miss Universe winner, Jennifer Hawkins.
When asked what Trump said, McNaught joked: "'You're fired!' No, he said 'Jennifer Hawkins is a lovely girl'."
On Sunday the Miss Universe hopefuls attended a charity celebrity basketball game involving music stars Snoop Dogg and Usher and professional basketballers Baron Davis, Paul Pierce and retired Laker legend, Magic Johnson.
Asked if the notorious Snoop made any moves off the court, McNaught said that some of the Miss Universe hopefuls showed some interest in the rapper.
"There were a lot of girls trying to get on to him," McNaught said.
"I think it came from both sides."
McNaught is sharing a hotel room with Miss New Zealand, Elizabeth Gray, and the pair get along well, although some other contestants have showed their claws.
The drama came when the entrants had dinner at an LA restaurant and a photo opportunity arose.
"That's when some of the true colours came out," McNaught said.
"There was a lot of elbowing and shoving so they could be in the front row on the balcony so they would be in the best spot for the photos.
"I just moved to the back.
"I thought 'Have your little moment. At the end of the day it's not going to help you'."