One Final Question Comes Down To 140 Characters At The 2012 MISS USA® Competition In Las Vegas On June 3

NEW YORK, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time ever, the Miss Universe Organization and dick clark productions will invite fans to ask a Final Question via twitter leading up to the 2012 MISS USA® telecast. Fans will tweet using #AskMissUSA beginning tomorrow and throughout the two-hour program. One lucky fan's question will be read to a Top Five finalist during the interview portion. The 2012 MISS USA® Competition takes place LIVE from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

"Live tweets will be incorporated during the swimsuit and evening gown portions giving viewers an opportunity to follow what fans are saying in real time," said Barry Adelman, executive producer, dick clark productions. "Plus, we wanted to add an element of suspense by integrating social media into the Final Question portion. It will all come down to one contestant, one fan and 140 characters."

Traditionally, the celebrity judging panel asks the Final Question of the remaining five finalists. In recent years, the Final Question has become the source of controversy, debate, and the occasional meltdown of a contestant. This year, one of the five questions will come from a real fan via twitter.

Social media has played an integral role with the Miss USA fan base. Last year, the organization launched its first-ever online voting campaign allowing fans to vote for their favorite contestant for an automatic spot in the semifinals. The 2012 MISS USA® Competition Fan Vote returns and is taking place now through June 2 by logging on to www.missusa.com or www.NBC.com.

Last year, NBC's Sunday telecast of the 2011 Miss USA® Competition was #1 for the night and matched the event's highest adult 18-49 rating in six years and generated its biggest overall audience in four years, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Throughout the Miss USA competition, each contestant representing the 50 United States and the District of Columbia competes in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. The telecast concludes with Miss USA 2011, Alyssa Campanella, crowning her successor.

ABOUT THE MISS USA®PAGEANT

The Miss Universe Organization, a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture, is a global community empowering role models of beauty, health and leadership for young women of today. As part of the Miss Universe Organization, Miss USA is dedicated to partnering with charities around the world, and to increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers. For more information, visit: www.missusa.com.

SOURCE The Miss Universe Organization