Miss USA Pageant with Giuliana Rancic and Andy Cohen

By Lynn Tackitt

Miss USA 2012When a lot of us were little girls, it was often a good night of television when you could sit down and watch The Miss USA Pageant. All the beautiful young ladies with graceful elegance in their evening gowns and their confidence as they walked the stage in their bathing suits, showing off different talents to show off a well rounded sophistication. It filled the evening with dreams of one day becoming one of the Miss USA winners. You got to meet them a little when the finalists answered questions on events of the world.

Looking back on that, I now realize how hard it must be to be a judge and pick a suitable winner in the short time that they get to evaluate the contestants - the importance of picking a young woman to take the title of Miss USA and do justice to the long line of pageant winners.

What was once thought of as just a beauty pageant has turned more and more to young women bringing attention to more important causes and making people aware of issues that should be brought to light.

This year, the Miss USA pageant is being hosted by Giuliana Rancic and Andy Cohen. They both have a touch on fashion, elegance, and grace, and they bring to the show a sense of fun. They both don't make light of all of the young ladies hard work and desire to be there for the competition. They meet and greet with a flair to give the ladies their moment to shine and let a little of their personality ?shine through for us to get to know them.

In an interview with Giuliana and Andy, we get to see a little into what they like most when they do the pageants and other projects, and their views on future endeavors.

NBC Conference Call
Miss USA
Giuliana Rancic and Andy Cohen

May 23, 2012
12:00 pm CT

Miss USA 2012QUESTION: How do you differentiate hosting a pageant like this versus say Andy what you do on Watch What Happens Live or what you do Giuliana on E! News or one of the red carpet specials?

Is there a major difference in your mind of how you approach handling the contestants here?

ANDY COHEN: You go first Giuliana.

GIULIANA RANCIC: You know, not really. I mean I treat them like they're Julia Roberts and Merrill Street coming at me.

I mean seriously I treat them just like I would any celebrity on a red carpet. You know this is their moment. This is going to be one of the biggest moments of their lives to be live on NBC with millions of people watching them.

You know basically the event that they've worked their whole life to get to. So it's such an exciting time for them and I want them to feel like we are so excited for them.

And we are, you know we realize how incredible of a moment this is so yes I tend to treat them just like any A-list actress that I'm interviewing on the red carpet.

ANDY COHEN: And like any real housewife or anyone that I'm welcoming into the clubhouse - and also I think you know one thing that both Giuliana and I have I think that is part of our approach is that when we did this together last year we had so much fun with a capital F.

We both love pageants. I think it was surreal for both of us that we were actually in the middle of a pageant and hosting it. And I think that kind of you know you could tell watching the show that we were having a blast.

And it was you know it's just fun - its good fun.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes.

QUESTION: How involved is Donald Trump when it comes to running the pageant? Does he give you guys any tips or he just says you guys are experts - go do your thing?

ANDY COHEN: I didn't get any feedback from him but I trust he's very involved in you know I mean it's his organization - the Miss Universe organization.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes I'll tell you I actually was a judge years ago for Miss USA and I think you know I got a chance to spend some time with Donald there and also last year a little bit of time.

But he's very involved. I mean he loves this pageant and he's a true pro. You know Donald wanted everything to go off without a hitch.

But at the same time he makes sure he hires the right people to do the job because it's not an easy job to get.

I mean you really have to get Donald's approval and blessing and that is not easy.

So we're very flattered that he trusts us and he's always right there front row center.

And afterwards actually Andy, I don't know if you remember but they did call us after and they said that Donald was so happy with what we did last year and just loved our energy?

ANDY COHEN: Yes.

GIULIANA RANCIC: And that was very flattering because he really a true pro and a perfectionist.

QUESTION: How was it working together again? Was it any different this time than last year?

ANDY COHEN: Well we haven't done it yet but you know I think we're both a little - Giuliana and I are like dating and we're really into each other. We're like a couple that's really into each other basically.

But ultimately we're not going to go all the way at the end of the night. Is that an accurate description Giuliana?

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes that is true. I mean you know it depends on what I'm drinking. It depends on what I'm drinking that night.

ANDY COHEN: Oh I like that.

GIULIANA RANCIC: But you know Andy I'm obsessed with Andy I always was a huge Andy Cohen [fan] before the pageant last year. When I heard that he was the male host I was running through the E! News room so excited I couldn't even contain myself.

And then he was everything I had expected and so much more. Like we were backstage having the best time. That's where the camera should have been during the show.

There should be like a backstage host cam because we were having so much fun with each other, with the girls, we're trying to like keep everyone loose and having fun.

So we just adore working together and I was recently on Andy's show as a guest in New York for the first time about a month or so ago and oh my God Andy's the best.

I mean if you - everyone loves Andy Cohen. So I'm definitely part of his fan club so I can't wait to...

((Crosstalk))

ANDY COHEN: Oh my God, maybe we will go all the way.

QUESTION: Andy, you said you wanted a boyfriend recently. What are looking for in a guy?

ANDY COHEN: God you know, I'm looking for a guy kind of - I think that me and the judges in the Miss USA pageant are looking for similar things. You know gender being the exception.

I mean I want someone strong and independent and someone with their own thing going on and funny and driven and smart, how's that?

QUESTION: That's perfect.

ANDY COHEN: Yes.

QUESTION: And Giuliana...

GIULIANA RANCIC: Basically another version of Andy, let's be honest.

ANDY COHEN: Well...

QUESTION: Yes.

And then Giuliana I know the baby, you're busy with that right now, but you're already planning on baby number two. Do you know how long maybe you're going to wait for it and if you will also get a surrogate?

GIULIANA RANCIC: No I think that Bill kind of just was saying that kind of just in the future. I think a lot of people who are pregnant with their first are excited about expanding their family.

And I've always said that I want to have four kids - four or five kids. I'd love a big brood.

But you know so I think that Bill was just kind of saying that, but no there are no plans in the near future.

QUESTION: Do we know who the judges are yet for this year's pageant? And would you ever want to be a judge? Can you have that sort of pressure of having someone's dream in the palm of your hands?

...Andy I mean what do you feel about the sort of semi-controversy a few years ago with Carrie Prejean? If you were a judge on that panel how would you have approached that whole situation? Or what do you feel about the question and the answer and the fallout?

ANDY COHEN: I thought the question was great. The answer was not something that I agreed with personally and I probably would have scored her low at the time.

But you know again I've never been a judge and so I don't have the specific criteria in my head of everything that the judges are looking for.

But you know I think that it's a well-rounded person who speaks well and intelligently and inclusively of everyone and would be a great represent you know a great representative of the organization.

So yes I thought the question was within bound. I thought that there were some great questions last year and it's my favorite part of the pageant.

GIULIANA RANCIC: I agree. I was going to agree that's my favorite part too.

QUESTION: What was your experience like?

GIULIANA RANCIC: I was a judge about five years ago and it was great. I mean I think I went into it - you know I actually was in the Miss Maryland USA pageant a couple of times. I did not ever make it to the national level - so sad.

So for me I really know how it feels to be on that stage and how nerve wrecking it is so I took it very seriously.

QUESTION: And just out of curiosity - would either of you ever want to be a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice - Donald Trump's other show?

ANDY COHEN: I got too many balls in the air to even speculate at this moment. Bring me an offer and we'll talk about it.

QUESTION: What about you Giuliana?

GIULIANA RANCIC: You know I actually met with them last season but it was just not going to happen - it was a scheduling thing. But I mean I love the show. I've always been a fan of The Apprentice.

My husband was the first Apprentice so it's funny though because when I went to meet [him], my husband told me he's like you realize if you do this show second place isn't good enough? You have to come in first place because I already won.

So it was a lot of pressure. I don't know if I would do it but it's such a great show and you know it's a lot of fun to watch.

QUESTION: What are you most looking forward to as hosts this year?

ANDY COHEN: I'm most looking forward to - just the thing is exciting. I love it that it's live. I love it that it moves so quickly. It starts at 9 o'clock on Sunday night, June 3 and it's just right off the bat they start eliminating people and narrowing down the field.

You start to get to know the people. The format is so great and it just works so well that I'm just excited about going along for the ride and about spending the weekend in Vegas with Giuliana. We love to kind of handicap the contestants.

I will say both of us had our eyes on Alyssa who's the current Miss USA Poison IVY and she's fantastic and we love her and it was fun watching her go through the process and ultimately winning.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes she was gorgeous and I think that like Andy said I love the live element of the show. Anything happens, that's why I like doing live red carpet shows because it is fun to know that you can tune-in and anything can happen.

And I've been watching pageants my whole life - Miss Universe, Miss USA.

And you know the craziest things happen. The funniest things are said that you want to see it live.

And for us to be able to be there front row center seeing it all happen is great. You know and so I'm excited.

I mean even last year, Andy, remember when we first walked up the very first thing, before we even opened our mouths, we came up these stairs and I had the highest slit in my dress? And I didn't realize until I watched it back that it was like pretty much, you know, like a bit of a wardrobe malfunction. It went up a little too high and you could catch it, if you paused it or rewound it you could basically see things I didn't want you to see.

But...

ANDY COHEN: That was one of two wardrobe malfunctions if I remember correctly.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh you're right there were...

ANDY COHEN: You were wearing stilts as well.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Andy was so mad at me because in rehearsals I wore regular shoes and then I showed up right before the pageant, I throw on like six inch heels and Andy wanted to kill me because I was towering over him.

I won't wear (unintelligible) four inch heels.

ANDY COHEN: Well I look forward to any wardrobe malfunction. I hope you have a dress with a long slit.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes or like low cut - something, we'll do something sexy.

ANDY COHEN: Yes, yes, yes.

QUESTION: How much of the show is rehearsed?

ANDY COHEN: Well all that's rehearsed is really the mechanics of this is the moment where you eliminate you know X people and you go from eight to five or you know from the entire group down to 16.

So it's really just blocking, that's all that's rehearsed and everything else is live and spontaneous.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes.

ANDY COHEN: By the way I just want to say before we get to [another question], there are a few judges that we can announce now.

The former bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky - she's the host of NBC's First Look and also Joe Jonas is going to be judge and Rob Kardashian and Giuliana's co-host on E!' Fashion Police George [Kotsiopoulos].

GIULIANA RANCIC: He's a judge?

ANDY COHEN: Kotsiopoulos yes he's going to be a judge.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh my God that's so fun.

ANDY COHEN: Yes.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh my God that's going to be such a good weekend.

ANDY COHEN: Yes.

QUESTION: Andy, we know you like to play games on Watch What Happens Live, so we thought we would play a game with you guys this morning really quick.

ANDY COHEN: Okay.

QUESTION: If you were a pageant contestant, how would you answer these real life pageant questions?

ANDY COHEN: Okay.

QUESTION: Describe yourself in three adjectives and explain why.

ANDY COHEN: Giuliana you want to go first?

...

GIULIANA RANCIC: Fun because I love...

ANDY COHEN: Fun.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Smiling and laughing and having a good time.

Let's think - fashionable because I love fashion and I love clothes.

And driven because I'm always setting goals and have my eye on the future.

ANDY COHEN: Very good.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Thanks Andy.

ANDY COHEN: I would say fun because I like to have a good time.

Passionate because passion guides everything I do from my kind of zest for what I do during the day to my off hour activities.

Well no I mean I don't mean it like that but yes.

And tired because I never get any sleep.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Love it.

QUESTION: Andy, were you a big pageant watcher when you were growing up?

ANDY COHEN: I love a pageant.

QUESTION: Do you really every year watch Miss USA and Miss America?

ANDY COHEN: Oh yes, absolutely yes.

QUESTION: Wow.

ANDY COHEN: Love it. Its fun it's like the gay Olympics.

QUESTION: Well you mentioned earlier about - someone mentioned that you are becoming in your own way an icon. You've got a book out, you've got your own show, you produce these shows.

You're a star both in front of the camera and behind the camera. Was that the plan all along?

ANDY COHEN: No.

QUESTION: Are you going to be on...Miss America?

ANDY COHEN: No my plan was always just - I just always wanted to work in TV and the rest was just kind of whatever happened to me.

And it's an amazing - it really is kind of a dream come true thing that's going on with me because I gave up any idea of being in front of the camera years ago. I just gave it up because I didn't want to move from small market to small market trying to get in front of the camera.

So the idea that now organically six years ago a blog showed into a web show turned into some reunion shows turned into a talk show once a week at midnight to stripped at 11 to a book is very - it's really cool.

And it's really exciting and I pinch myself and I consider myself lucky and look I consider - I always say about working in TV, you don't work in TV you get to work in TV.

So the idea then now I get to work in TV both in front of and behind the camera is really a gift and so that is my answer to your question.

QUESTION: Giuliana do you see that at NBC how excited he is to be working television?

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh absolutely. You know absolutely but Andy I mean he's just so good at what he does and you know what he does is not easy to do.

And he just engages with people so well. People will just love him; they want to go on his show not because of the show but because of Andy. They love being with Andy and they love like that (unintelligible) that they can talk about you know the Real Housewives and fun things with him.

But, it's funny a lot of people who haven't even seen the Real Housewives or you know watched any of those shows still go on the show - big stars, because they love Andy.

So I don't find it surprising at all. I think it's just...

((Crosstalk)).

GIULIANA RANCIC: No it's true and I think - but I do love that story. I love that Andy was behind the scenes and he was this big, bad powerful executive and then you know he was so damn good that he ended up in front of the camera too.

I just love it. I think it's just such a great story.

ANDY COHEN: Thank you.

Tonight on Watch What Happens Live - Dan Rather and John Mayer.

GIULIANA RANCIC: See I mean, come on.

ANDY COHEN: Hilarious.

GIULIANA RANCIC: That is amazing. Is that really the lineup?

ANDY COHEN: Yes, yes tonight, yes, yes, yes.

GIULIANA RANCIC: That's a total testament to Andy and his relationships and his appeal.

So good for him.

QUESTION: What I'm excited about to see on the show is both of you deal with fashion and fashionistas all the time.

Andy, are you going to be giving props to these women who wear side ponytails if they dare?

ANDY COHEN: Well you know I love a side pony, and if I was a judge I would be giving extra points for side ponies and one of the many great things about when I went out on this book tour has been the army of side ponies I've encountered; it's been great.

So yes I always give a little extra shout out to a side pony.

QUESTION: I think it's fantastic that you're bringing that fashion idea back.

ANDY COHEN: Oh you know it.

QUESTION: Are you and Joan and the gang going to review the gown on your show after it's over?

GIULIANA RANCIC: That's such a great idea. There are no plans to yet but I'm going to steal your idea and pitch it because I think that's a really good idea.

But you know what's nice is Kelly Osbourne is actually going to be there.

She's going to be doing fashion commentary so she'll be there as well. And George is a judge so all we're missing is Joan Rivers. We've got to get Joan on stage somehow.

QUESTION: Giuliana, you're such an inspiration about what you've gone through this past year, and Miss USA is committed to increasing breast cancer awareness. What does it mean now being a part of it a second round? Does it mean more being involved?

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes I mean it's fantastic. You know, yes, there was so much emphasis on awareness for breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer.

So it makes me even happier to be a part of it. So yes I mean I'm always kind of chatting with the girls seeing what sort of charities they're involved with and what their platforms are.

And you know of course I always hold a special place in my heart for any of the girls who are out there campaigning for breast cancer awareness and that sort of thing.

So yes but I'll be curious to see what different passions the girls have this year.

QUESTION: The both of you obviously are involved with so many different projects. Besides your day job what would you say are three passions you have in life?

It could be traveling it could be even a simple film that you love. Three passions that people wouldn't know about you.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Three passions?

One of them is hiking with my husband. I know that sounds so lame but it's true. I just - I love being with my husband; we're best friends. It's kind of amazing. In six years we've barely had a fight. I mean we just - we're just best friends. We're very compatible.

And there's nothing I love more than just being alone in nature like with a gorgeous view of like Malibu in Los Angeles with my husband and just talking about life.

So I love doing that.

I'm trying to think what else. I love going to Italy and one of my passions is going to Italy and just taking in the culture. I was born in Naples, Italy, so we go back a lot - my husband and I.

We just love to sit in a Piaa and take in the culture and you know and eat until we are blue in the face.

And what's another passion - and I love to be honest I love the behind the scenes of what happens at E! You know I love like right now I'm dealing with today's content for our show tonight as Managing Editor and I love that. That's one of my biggest passions is producing and you know putting a show together every night.

It's not easy to put together a one hour show but we have an amazing team and I love being part of the first steps of producing the show and seeing it play out that night. It's a great feeling.

ANDY COHEN: Mine are - wow what are my passions? I like going - I have a house in Sag Harbor on Long Island and one of my passions is just going there and just kind escaping and going really underground and chilling out and having some Andy time alone.

And shutting the heck up which I never do.

So that's one thing.

I love boxing. It's really great; it's a really good stress release for me.

And I love long walks on the beach.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Awe.

QUESTION: I remember from a previous Giuliana and Bill episode that you two guys love to dance a lot backstage and Giuliana was not a big fan of Andy's dancing.

So I wanted to know if Andy has gotten better and if you guys were competing to show off a signature dance move for the talent portion, what would the dance be called and who would win?

ANDY COHEN: Well Giuliana would win.

GIULIANA RANCIC: No.

ANDY COHEN: I would do the hustle or some kind of - I would just get into really good disco shape and just bring it out.

GIULIANA RANCIC: The hustle?

ANDY COHEN: Yes totally, no.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Andy you're aging yourself.

ANDY COHEN: I'm old; I'm 44 next week so yes.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Wait, when's your birthday? Not when you're in Vegas right?

ANDY COHEN: It's when we're there. Yes, no it's when we're there.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh God, oh my God.

ANDY COHEN: It's Saturday, we're going to be in rehearsal all freaking day on my birthday.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Wait Andy we've got to do something fun Saturday night.

ANDY COHEN: Woo hoo.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh my God Andy I'm not going to let you just go to bed at like 9 o'clock.

ANDY COHEN: No you're - okay go on.

GIULIANA RANCIC: We'll go to dinner or do something.

So anyway - I would do the running man paired with the Roger Rabbit.

ANDY COHEN: Wow.

GIULIANA RANCIC: And maybe a little like - yes I know hardcore here. And maybe a little cabbage patch.

So we're talking like 80's amazing break dancing moves.

ANDY COHEN: Love it.

GIULIANA RANCIC: I know people are scared. And I'd call it the (G-Rile).

QUESTION: Andy, my question for you is, if you had a Real Housewives Miss USA pageant, which would be phenomenal..

ANDY COHEN: Yes.

QUESTION: Who would you say would win?

ANDY COHEN: I think Gretchen Rossi from Orange County because I always - I just think she is always pageant ready. She has like full pageants hair, she is very - she embraces a strong color, she is very clear and concise, she has good posture.

She's just - I just I feel that it's Gretchen.

QUESTION: There are a ton of media events surrounds this year's pageant, have you been to any of them? And if you have which ones are your favorite?

ANDY COHEN: Media events - what do you - I'm trying to think.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh, like the wedge run that the girls done in Vegas and yes - I mean I've been able - we've been watching them on E! News you know we've been airing them and we go shoot them all but a lot of them have been in Vegas and out of town.

And Andy's in New York, I'm in LA so we haven't been able to go to any of them yet but we're headed to Vegas soon so we'll be able to do some fun stuff with the girls when we get there.

ANDY COHEN: Yes.

QUESTION: Andy, I would like to play your game plead the fifth.

ANDY COHEN: Right.

QUESTION: I have two questions.

The first is who is your favorite housewife?

ANDY COHEN: I plead the fifth.

QUESTION: Okay, and then the second question is if you had to pick one lady to win Miss USA right now who would your favorite or top two be?

ANDY COHEN: Well I haven't met them yet so I'm just going to say Miss Missouri because it's my hometown - you know it's my home state. I grew up in St. Louis.

But I actually haven't really met them yet so it's a total shot in the dark.

QUESTION: Being that the Miss Universe organization is so committed to increasing breast cancer awareness, Giuliana, how did you re-cooperate your own fitness and wellness regimen as part of your recovery from breast cancer?

GIULIANA RANCIC: You know I've got to say it's funny someone tweeted me today - a 20 some old girl tweeted that she just had a mastectomy and it's been so hard to get back into working out and how should she do it?

And I said just start walking baby steps because it's so true I mean at the beginning it is so hard and I would just you know walk around the house and I would walk around my block and then I would walk around my whole neighborhood. And walking was everything to me.

And then it's funny because I was just thinking about it this morning. I was on the treadmill and I was going you know 7.5 miles per hour, it's like doing sprints like 7.5 to 8 and I was thinking, wow I can't believe it was only four months ago that I got my double mastectomy now here I am running at top speed.

And it's just a great feeling - it's a nice feeling to know that even when you are so low and you're just so sad and you feel like you are never going to become yourself again it just you know little time, in my case four months, you can make a comeback.

But you have to start very slow and that was hard for me to do but it was everything. So yes - so just the little walks I took helped me.

QUESTION: I'm wondering what are some of the qualities that you guys think a Miss USA winner should possess and why?

ANDY COHEN: I think poise, intelligence, independence, strength, you know ability to present herself well and speak well, passion - what else Giuliana?

GIULIANA RANCIC: I agree with all of those. I love passion but I also love compassion. I mean I think that you know these girls you know they really work hard all year long and they go you know they make a lot of people's days. They brighten up a lot of people's days.

They go to homeless shelters, they go to hospitals and they have to be compassionate.

They have to have a warm heart (unintelligible).

So I you know I definitely I always look for that in these girls.

SCIFI VISION: First of all, Giuliana, you have just been the epitome of strength and I've just been so encouraged watching your show and what you do and it doesn't seem to really hold you down. I really appreciate that you're such a good role model for women of all ages.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Thank you.

SCIFI VISION: I really do. I watch you and Bill all the time. I love your relationship.

It's been a pleasure watching your show.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Awe I appreciate that, thank you so much.

...

SCIFI VISION: And Andy I hear you're a St. Louis boy. I'm from St. Louis myself.

ANDY COHEN: Yes so excellent.

SCIFI VISION: They've got a con its called Contamination in St. Louis - ever think you might come back for that one year so we could all kind of meet and greet?

ANDY COHEN: Yes that would be fun. I love going back. I was there for a book signing a week ago.

Love it.

QUESTION: In listening to you today, it is very apparent that you're both very goal oriented and very much driven and goal oriented.

I'm just wondering looking into the future what are your unrealized goals? What is still on your wish lists of things you'd like to accomplish?

And I'll start with Giuliana for the answer and then go to Andy.

GIULIANA RANCIC: You know one thing I would love to do is do a show with a husband like a talk show with my husband - not I'm sorry, I take that back.

Like I meant a daytime show but more about relationships not really a talk show or celebrity show interviewing celebrities.

More just dealing with relationships. So many people you know ask us about our marriage and our relationship and how we seem to have such a great relationship and we really do.

So I'd love to have couples come on who have issues and work them through their issues. My husband and I would love to do that.

I think that's definitely something in the future, not the near future but it's nice to dream about and it's something that we can see ourselves doing you know somewhere in the future but we have a long road ahead of us so no rush.

ANDY COHEN: My goal is to get married. How's that?

GIULIANA RANCIC: Really?

ANDY COHEN: Fall in love and get married.

Yes.

I can do it in New York State now.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Andy I feel like we might meet someone in Vegas who's going to fill those shoes. I don't know why.

ANDY COHEN: Really? You do?

GIULIANA RANCIC: I have a really good feeling about it.

Yes I don't know why.

ANDY COHEN: I don't know, Vegas seems like a part time lover place.

GIULIANA RANCIC: No, no but like someone who not necessarily like someone who lives there or someone we don't know like someone who's kind of part of all this.

I don't know I'm feeling good about Vegas. I'm getting good vibes.

ANDY COHEN: Okay great.

Miss USA 2012QUESTION: Giuliana, what was your favorite part or what do you miss the most about competing?

GIULIANA RANCIC: I miss it all. I miss all the competition - I'll tell you my least favorite part, that damn swimsuit competition.

I mean it's funny because it's like probably it's one of my favorite parts of us hosting and watching the swimsuit competition because I mean it's so fun to see the girls have so much confidence and it's pretty incredible.

But when I did it I was mortified. I actually, it was so sad everyone wore bikinis and I wore a one piece.

ANDY COHEN: Oh.

GIULIANA RANCIC: I know Andy could you die? I rolled up in a black one piece.

ANDY COHEN: I love it.

I love it.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Oh my God and it was like a granny butt one piece like it didn't - it wasn't even sexy. It covered like my whole butt and oh my God it was just like the saddest thing and I made up some excuse like right before I went out that my you know my bikini broke.

I mean it was ridiculous and so they had no choice but to let me out in my one piece and I of course lost.

But my favorite part was just - it was fun like hanging out with the girls. I mean you know you always think those poor girls they must be so sad they lost but you actually aren't.

You're so happy you have the experience and it's just such a blast, it really is a fun time.

QUESTION: What advice do you guys have for the competitors who feel nervous?

GIULIANA RANCIC: Andy?

ANDY COHEN: Oh gosh, that is a really hard one because I can only imagine. You know what's so amazing to me you know none of them were nervous last year. They were all just - I mean they didn't seem nervous.

They're all so confident and they've been through this you know they've been through many other pageants, this is the night of their dreams, this is the biggest thing.

But they all seemed like they were excited and having fun.

What I would - the advice I would give them is just you know breathe and focus and try to have a little fun and experience the moment.

GIULIANA RANCIC: Yes you know its funny when I kept asking them I'm like oh my God are you guys so nervous?

And they're like no not at all.

It was kind of amazing because these girls are - this is their moment and they're like marines. For them to get to this point they have to win a lot of competitions and they are focused like a marine.

I mean they are so disciplined and they are ready. Like they are not going to let nerves you know interfere with their big night and their chance to win.

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