The Miss America Pageant plans to return to Las Vegas and the Aladdin Resort and Casino for 2007.

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The pageant is scheduled for January with two weeks of preliminary competition leading up to the grand finale on Jan. 29. The selection of the new Miss America is to be broadcast live on CMT.

Miss America began 85 years ago as a modest contest aimed at extending the Atlantic City tourist season for a few weeks past Labor Day. With the advent of television, the pageant became a national and even international event.

But more recently, the Miss America Organization, a non-profit group that distributes millions of dollars in scholarship money to contestants, has been plagued by declining television ratings and financial problems.

"We are thrilled that the city of Las Vegas has embraced our organization again and our legendary pageant," said Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America Organization. "This venue will be the perfect complement to our 2007 show which will introduce a growing audience to the tradition, rich in history, of Miss America."