OMG! Since when did the Miss USA competition turn into a Hooters face-off or a convention for Tiger’s “girls?”

Has the Miss USA Pageant turned from a beauty contest into a raunchy contest? The new Miss USA promo photos  reveal a side to the girls — and the competition — that we, and we bet you, never expected ! When did risqué poses and sexual innuendo become a prerequisite for our nation’s beauty standards? Are the 51 contestants being judged on their ability to score a Playboy center spread?  Listen, we’re not prudes here at Hollywoodlife.com but it’s one thing to dress sexy for a calendar but another to present barely covered, scantily-clad babes as role models for little girls, tweens and teens, who love to watch the annual Miss USA competition, held this year on May 16 on NBC. Nevertheless, the photos have the full support of the pageant’s owner Donald Trump and his officials!

Officials say that the new photos of these year’s contestants are “tasteful and sexy” (TMZ) and that the contest is adhering to the belief that “you can have brains and be smart and still be sexy.”

Yesterday, May 10, Donald went on Ryan Seacrest‘s KIIS radio show to add: “I think they’ve gone maybe a little over the top this year. These pictures are pretty wild, but the girls are INCREDIBLE! The bathing suits got smaller and the heels got higher!” Wow — thanks Donald. So the creme de la creme of America’s beauties should be in scantier bathing suits AND higher heels?

It kind of makes you wonder why Miss California 2009, Carrie Prejean, was fired when photos of her partially nude in lingerie surfaced. Uhh … aren’t these new contestants partially nude too?

So much for the hallowed tradition of Miss USA being a competition for a college scholarship based on the values of hard work and selfless beauty. Are these girls really fit to compete on behalf of America for the title of Miss Universe?

It looks like we have said goodbye to ANOTHER institution that was American as apple pie!

- Lindsey DiMattina and Bonnie Fuller

Take a look at the top 100 hottest celebs! (Maxim)

Should Betty White host the Oscars? (The Frisky)

Did you catch DWTS last night? (AOL TV)