Miss S.C. USA in Hollywood
By Ashley Derham Zais, Miss South Carolina USA 2007

Ashley Zais, Miss South Carolina USA visits patients at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital while doing a radi- o- thon to benefit St. Jude's.

Editor's note: Ashley Derham Zais is the granddaughter of Tom and Clare Derham Fincher and the niece of Bill Fincher and Melita Fincher, all graduates of Dreher High School. Her parents are Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell M. Zais of Newberry.

I have been very busy since being crowned Miss South Carolina USA last November. I visited schools and churches, judged pageants, did some radio and TV spots, modeled wedding and prom gowns, and attended a leadership course in Texas. But my most rewarding experiences were my visits to Palmetto Health Children's Hospital and doing the radi- o- thon at 97.5 WCOS to benefit St. Jude's.

I want to let everyone know I am having a wonderful time here in Hollywood, Calif., with all the Miss USA contestants. These are the most amazing girls, and everyone is so nice and beautiful!

Registration was Thursday, March 8, and it was a full day. After filling out more paperwork, I received my opening number outfit designed especially for me by Tadashi. All of the contestants have a custom design they will wear and model for the opening number.

Ashley Zais will compete for Miss USA March Photos courtesy of Susan Zais23

We are grouped according to color of outfit; some will wear red, black, and purple. I will wear a carrot orange evening gown. Everyone sent in their measurements a few months ago but had no input nor idea what we would be wearing.

After my Tadashi fitting, I had my official photograph taken in an evening gown by famous photographer, Fadil Berisha. He chose which photograph goes into the program book and on the Miss USA website. I think he got some great shots but was surprised at what he chose for the website. I think he likes to choose different looks for all the girls!

From the Fadil photo shoot, I was fitted for the competition swimsuit (a white bikini) and fitted for another fun swimsuit to be used in photos- mine is blue. I went to another photographer to have a full length taken in an evening gown, which will go on the Miss USA website. This brown gown will not be my Miss USA competition gown, but it will be interesting to see how many of the girls will show up the night of the telecast in their Fadil photo shoot evening gown.

Since that first day, we've had several fun cocktail parties to attend- including one at the home of designer, Tadashi. We've been to Universal Studios where we had a great time riding the rides, signing autographs, and walking around some TV and movie sets. We have rehearsals most days, have done several press interviews, and have been on some great tours.

We have Preview this Sunday. The preliminary judges sit at one table in a room, and we walk in one at a time in our swimsuits and then in our evening gowns and walk out- the judges see us up close and personal. Later that day we have interviews with the judges and on Monday, we have the Preliminary Competition. All contestants will compete in swimsuit and evening gown. The judges will then come up with a top 15, but nobody will know who made top 15 until it is announced at the live telecast. We will have a new set of "celebrity judges" who will judge the pageant that night.

The Miss USA pageant will be televised live on NBC from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood Friday, the March 23. You can preview photos of all the girls at www.missusa.com. I have 35 friends and family who will be in the audience. I am so proud to represent my state of South Carolina and I really appreciate everyone's love and support.