Heather Mills to judge Miss USA Pageant
The former Mrs. Paul McCartney among next crop of celebrity panelists
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LOS ANGELES - Heather Mills soon will be back in front of the cameras. The former Mrs. Paul McCartney, who recently wrapped up a very public divorce from the ex-Beatle, is among the celebrity judges just announced for the upcoming Miss USA Pageant.
Other judges for the April 11 competition include actor/comedian Rob Schneider, actor/musician Joey Fatone, actress Kristian Alfonso, Olympic-champion swimmer Amanda Beard, actress Kelly Carlson and San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman.
Donny and Marie Osmond will host the telecast of the 57th annual pageant, aired live from Las Vegas on NBC.
Contestants from 50 states and the District of Columbia will be judged in the swimsuit, evening gown and interview categories.
Mills has been in the headlines of late because of her messy divorce to McCartney, who was ordered to pay her $48 million by a court in the United Kingdom.
Mills, who lost part of her leg when she was hit by a motorcycle, cast McCartney as an abusive, alcoholic husband who cruelly made fun of her disability. But the ruling published by Judge Hugh Bennett made clear her angry assertions rang hollow.
In a devastating indictment of Mills, the judge called her financial claims “exorbitant” and said she had been “less than candid” in her testimony — perhaps only British restraint kept him from calling her an outright liar, for he certainly implied she twisted the truth when convenient.
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By contrast, the judge praised McCartney for “consistent, accurate and honest” testimony in the ruling, made public after he rejected Mills’ attempt to block its release.
Calling Mills’ demand of $250 million from McCartney “exorbitant” in light of their four-year marriage, the judge said her claims may have been inflated because of her estranged husband’s stature.
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