Lake Tahoe, Reno to host Chinese Cosmos pageant

Nevada will host 18 contestants from all over the world who are competing in the Miss Chinese Cosmos Semi-Finals, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, announced today in a press release.

The event will take place in Reno and Lake Tahoe from Sept. 23-30, 2011. The contest moves around the world each year, last year taking place in Sydney, Australia. This is the first time the pageant has been held in the United States.

"Nevada has gained a reputation as a prime vacation destination for Chinese travelers, so we were excited at the opportunity to bring this prestigious event to our state and showcase all that Nevada has to offer," Krolicki said. "This is an opportunity to garner worldwide attention through the television broadcast of the pageant, and we are excited that it is being held in northern Nevada."

Phoenix TV produces the annual pageant, attracting women of Chinese descent to compete. The television station reaches more than 225 million viewers in China and is broadcast to more than 150 countries via satellite.

Along with the Nevada Commission on Tourism, the semi-finals are sponsored by Harrah's Tahoe and the Grand Sierra Resort, both of which will host the contestants and crew during the filming, and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. The production will be filmed Sept. 19-30 throughout Reno and Lake Tahoe, and will include other sponsor locations such as Zephyr Cove; Corley Ranch in Gardnerville; Stewart Indian School; and Virginia City.

The seven-day tour and competition will include a visit to the Street Vibrations event in Reno, a tour of the National Automobile Museum, tours of the State Capitol and the Nevada State Museum, a cruise aboard the M.S. Dixie II, a Wild-West shoot-out in Virginia City, and photo shoot under the iconic Reno Arch.

"Like everything we do to show off our beautiful state, this project has taken immense collaboration with our tourism partners, and we know the pay-off will be unprecedented television exposure," NCOT Interim Director Larry Friedman said. "The 18 contestants -- and all the Phoenix TV crew -- will go home as ambassadors for our state to share what they experienced here, experiences they could have nowhere else in the world."

On Phoenix TV alone, 10.6 million viewers are expected to see the Miss Chinese Cosmos pageant, which will be aired in a variety of segments and specials in September and October. For more information on the Miss Chinese Cosmos Semi-Finals, visit http://miss.ifeng.com/ , and for more information on the Nevada Commission on Tourism, visit www.TravelNevada.com .