New Crowns for Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA 2009

NEW YORK, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- In keeping with co-owner NBC Universal's "Green is Universal" environmental initiative, the Miss Universe Organization announced today that Diamond Nexus Labs, the world leader in lab-created precious gemstones, is the official jewelry sponsor for the Miss Universe(R), Miss USA(R) and Miss Teen USA(R) pageants.

Diamond Nexus Labs will create a custom-designed crown for Miss USA, who will be crowned from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas live on NBC on April 19th.

"We are very excited to have partnered with the earth-conscious Diamond Nexus Labs to create this year's crowns. Their initiative coincides with the pageant's core values of being savvy, aware and socially mindful," said Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization. "The titleholder crowns are some of the most revered pieces of jewelry in the world."

"We are honored to be creating these prestigious crowns and we stand with and congratulate the Miss Universe Organization and NBC on their bold venture in creating a greener world," said Gary LaCourt, CEO of Diamond Nexus Labs.

Diamond Nexus Labs, the fastest growing online jewelry company in America, is the creator of the world's most technologically advanced man-made gemstones. The gemstones are all synthesized in clean labs using environmentally friendly processes, making Diamond Nexus Labs conflict-free. They are created with no toxic byproducts or pollutants.

The stones are near perfect optical matches to the finest D color, internally flawless diamonds, but cost a fraction of the price. Additionally, the company creates perfect cultured rubies, emeralds and sapphires. In a world in the midst of a Green Revolution, Diamond Nexus Labs offers the solution to the serious effects of gemstone mining on the environment.

The green theme of Nexus Labs corresponds with "Green is Universal," NBC Universal's ongoing environmental initiative. Launched in May 2007, "Green is Universal" is dedicated to raising Green awareness and substantially greening the company's own operations. To date, "Green is Universal" has successfully launched three week-long programming events, airing a combined total of over 300 hours of green-themed content across 42 different NBC Universal brands.

"We're thrilled that the Miss Universe Organization chose to partner with an environmentally-friendly jeweler," said Lauren Zalaznick, President of NBC Universal's Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks and Chair of NBCU's Green Council, "And hope that Miss USA will use this as an opportunity to help raise green awareness."

Along with executive producer Donald J. Trump, veteran executive producer Phil Gurin and the Gurin Company will once again produce the Miss USA and Miss Universe telecasts.

Diamond Nexus Labs will also create three distinct crowns for the 2009 Miss Universe competition where the public will be able to choose the winning crown, which will be unveiled at the live telecast! Visit www.missuniverse.com for more information!