Thinking of signing her up early? Holly Madison shows off her growing baby bump at Miss Universe pageant

She's said it's been a challenge to feel sexy while pregnant but Holly Madison certainly rose to the occasion on Wednesday night.
The former Playboy model showed off her growing baby bump on the red carpet at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas and looked stunning in a blue gown.
The 32-year-old blonde, who is expecting her first child next year, joined a host of stars at the event as beauty queens from 89 countries prepared to compete for the crown.

 

Stunning: Model and television personality Holly Madison arrives at the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on December 19

Holly's patterned number was the perfect compliment to her growing shape, with a draping neckline and back cut-out adding just a touch of sexiness to her ensemble without going over the top.
She wore her hair in curls swept behind her shoulders and drop earrings that added a bit of light near her face.
Holding her stomach with neatly manicured red nails, she smiled for photographers and proudly showed off her frame.

 

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The former Girls Next Door star, who is expecting a baby girl with partner Pasquale Rotella, recently revealed she is still getting used to her new shape.
She toldIn Touch magazine: ''Feeling sexy is a real challenge for me because I have this basketball on my stomach. It’s weird!' she says. 'I’m just getting used to this whole new body. It can be very awkward.'
Holly was joined on the red carpet by the evening's co-hosts Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic, who started the evening in a classic black gown with a sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice.

 

Blonde ambition: The former Playboy model went on to star in her own burlesque revue in Sin City after splitting up with Hugh Hefner

 

Mom-to-be: Holly is expecting a baby girl with partner Pasquale Rotella next year

 

Professional beach volleyball player and pageant judge Kerri Walsh Jennings also showed off her baby bump, wearing a slinky off-the-should black number with a thigh-high slit.
Television personality, fashion expert and pageant co-host Jeannie Mai dazzled in an embellished bustier and floor-sweeping fuchsia skirt that showed off her tanned and toned legs.
Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2011, wore a gold sequinned gown with a draped halter neckline, while television and radio personality and pageant judge Claudia Jordan went for a more electric - and garish - yellow gown with a bejewelled bodice. 
Real Housewives star also lent her support at the event, and brought along her dog, Giggy, who stole the show in a miniature tuxedo matching his mom's black gown, which she paired with hot pink accessories.

 

Black out: Professional beach volleyball player and pageant judge Kerri Walsh Jennings, left, and television personality and pageant co-host Giuliana Rancic, right, both wore classic black

 

 

Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2All that glitters: Television personality, fashion expert and pageant co-host Jeannie Mai, left, and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes, right, turned heads in sequinned ensembles011,

 

 

Making a statement: Television and radio personality and pageant judge Claudia Jordan, left, wore canary yellow, while Real Housewives favourite Lisa Vanderpump posed with her dog Giggy - dressed in a tuxedo, of course

Stylist, television personality and pageant judge Brad Goreski, left, went for Vegas style in a silver suit jacket and matching dress shoes, while Nigel Barker, was dashing in a more traditional bow tie and tuxedo.
Donald Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, was of course on hand - in his staple suit and pink tie.
Major League Baseball player Pablo Sandoval and actor Diego Bonetam both pageant judges, also walked the red carpet, as did Australian singer/songwriter and dancer Timomatic, and rockers Train - both performing at the event.
The stars showed off their ensembles just as women from around the world prepared to square off on Wednesday night for the right to be called Miss Universe, and as the celebrity judges brought some extra sparkle to the Las Vegas Strip.

 

 

All for show: Pageant judge and chef Masaharu Morimoto, left, and beauty queen Logan West, right

 

 

 

 

 

Razzle dazzle 'em: Stylist, television personality and pageant judge Brad Goreski, left, jazzed up his tuxedo while photographer and judge Nigel Barker, right, went for a more traditional look

 

 

Suited up: Co-host Andy Cohen, left, poses on the red carpet, while Scott Disick, right, made a solo appearance (sans partney Kourtney Kardashian)

The beauty queens from 89 countries prepared to don evening gowns, show their interview skills and strut in swimsuits as the two-hour competition at the Planet Hollywood casino got under way.
The women wore tight, pleated mini-dresses with glittering sequin bodices and sky high platform shoes as they strutted the stage to the hit Live While We're Young, by English-Irish boy band One Direction.
A 20-year-old beauty queen from Rhode Island was crowned the new Miss Universe on Wednesday, beating out 88 other women during a televised competition at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Olivia Culpo took the crown from Leila Lopes of Angola after strutting in a purple and blue bikini and a red velvet gown.

You evening's hosts: Television personalities and pageant co-hosts Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic

 

In the final stages of the competition, she answered a question about her regrets by saying she wished she hadn't picked on her siblings.
The 61st annual Miss Universe featured performances by the band Train and Australian singer Timomatic.
Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic returned to host the pageant, which was back in Las Vegas after being held in Sao Paulo last year.
The panel of 10 judges also includes singer Cee Lo Green and Iron Chef star Masaharu Morimoto.
Asked whether he found playing in the World Series or judging the beauty pageant to be more difficult, Sandoval said both were hard.

 

There he is! Miss Universe Organization co-owner Donald Trump, left, wore his usual black suit and pink tie, while Major League Baseball player and pageant judge Pablo Sandoval, right, added flair with a silver accessory

Let them entertain you: (L-R) Guitarist Jimmy Stafford, singer Pat Monahan and drummer Scott Underwood of the band Train, performers at the event

 

Dashing: Actor and pageant judge Diego Boneta, left, and Australian singer/songwriter and dancer Timomatic, right

 

Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes of Angola, said she expected this night to be the worst part of her year. She offered some advice to the women vying for her crown.
'Be calm and smile,' she said. 'Smiling helps a lot. Even though they are not relaxed, the judges will think that they are.'
The group of contestants from six continents was cut to 16 soon after the start of the show based on preliminary competitions.
Miss USA Olivia Culpo was one of those who advanced to the finals. The 20-year-old from Cranston, Rhode Island, is a sophomore at Boston University and a self-described 'cellist-nerd.' She was the first Miss USA winner from Rhode Island when she took the national crown in Las Vegas in June.
Organisers had considered holding the contest in the popular Dominican Republic tourist city of Punta Cana, but Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart said that country's financial crisis proved to be too much of an obstacle.

 

Crowned: Miss USA, Olivia Culpo, is crowned Miss Universe 2012 during the Miss Universe Pageant at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas

Her shining moment: (L-R) Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo, is crowned the 2012 Miss Universe by Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2011, as Logan West, Miss Teen USA 2012, looks on

 

Strutting her stuff: Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo, walked down the stage in a festive red gown

The diverse group of contestants spent the past two weeks in Las Vegas, where they posed in hardhats at a hotel groundbreaking, took a painting lesson, and pranked hotel guests by hiding in their rooms.
'I've seen them and they are absolutely gorgeous,' said Trump. 'They're very nervous and they should be. It's a billion people (watching).'
On the eve of the pageant, the organisation announced it had won a defamation suit against a woman who claimed this year's Miss USA contest, also owned by Trump, was fixed.
The winner of the Miss USA crown goes on to represent her country in the Miss Universe contest.
Contestants cannot have been married or have children. They must be younger than 27 and older than 18 by Feb. 1 of the competition year.
The pageant started as a local revue in Long Beach, California, organised by Catalina Swimwear. It is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant.
Lucky guy: Train singer Pat Monahan (C) is flanked by Miss Philippines 2012, Janine Tugonon (L), and Miss Venezuela 2012, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, as he performs

 

Beauty queen: Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo (L), competes in the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant as singer/songwriter and dancer Timomatic performs

 

No hard feelings! Miss USA, Olivia Culpo (R), reacts beside Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon (L), after being named Miss Universe

The contestants: Women from 89 countries stand on the stage behind hosts Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic at the start of the Miss Universe pageant