The Miss USA pageant will be held for the second consecutive year in Baltimore. Fifty-one participants will vie with each other to get the crown from Chelsea Cooley on April 21. Chelsea is the reigning Miss USA.

Last year, according to conservative estimates, 8 million people watched the Miss USA 2005 contest live on TV, a dip from the previous year’s 13 million. But organizers vow that the 2006 show will do much better.

So the television commercial rates have also shot up. During prime time , it is estimated to cost $225,000 for just 30 seconds.

The beauties will pose at Fort McHenry in Ocean City and Annaolis, with of course a bit of shopping at Arundel Mills.

The final competition for Miss USA 2006 will last around two hours, although this year it would be held in Ist Mariner Arena. In 2005, the finals was held in Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore.

The change in venue is because organizers think the venue is too small for such an international event. Lodging has been arranged for the Miss USA 2006 delegates at the Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The contestants have already descended in Baltimore and hey are scheduled to visit Fleming's Steakhouse, Ocean City and CoverGirl factory, among other places.

The show will be hosted by Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell and Drew Lachey of Dancing with the Stars fame in the company of Carson Kressley, who will don a key role as the color commentator for the show.

Miss USA 2006 contestants - some favorites

Miss Maryland 2006 Melissa DiGiulian

Miss Massachusetts 2006 Tiffany Laura Kelly

Miss New Mexico 2006 Onawa Lacy

Miss Texas 2006 Lauren Lanning

Miss South Carolina 2006 Lacie Lybrand

Miss Florida 2006 Cristin Duren

Miss Virginia 2006 Amber Brooke Copley

Miss Tennessee 2006 Lauren Grissom

Miss New 2006 York Adriana Diaz

Miss Kentucky 2006 Tara Elizabeth Conner

Miss District of Columbia 2006 Candace Allen

Miss California 2006 Tamiko Nash

& Miss Utah 2006 Soben R. Huon