Ironically, Miss USA co-owner Donald Trump -- who told Larry King that the "disgusting" pictures were not "representative of Miss USA" -- announced just a week prior to Rees' dethroning that current Miss USA Tara Conner's underage drinking, drug use and promiscuous behavior were not enough to cause her to lose her title. Instead, Trump remanded her to rehab.

Rees isn't taking her loss sitting down. In true Las Vegas style, the demure Rees is making the best of a bad hand. On Jan.29 -- the same night as the Miss America pageant -- JET nightclub at the Mirage will crown her "Miss JET Las Vegas."

Rees met with Racket at STACK inside the Mirage over cocktails and Buffalo wings ("I really like pub food," Rees said.) to tell us more about what brought her to this point, and more importantly, what's next.

RACKET: What was your childhood like?
REES: I actually had a great childhood. I'm an only child, so I'm really close to my parents and lived in one spot my whole life, really. I was born in St. Petersburg - grew up in Clearwater [Florida]. I was really heavily involved in musical theater and art and enjoyed what I did my whole life.

When you were a little girl, were you the tom-boy type or the princess type?
I was very much a girl. I never wore tennis shoes, I hated jeans, I always wore a dress and slippers. I hated P.E., so I used to lie to try to get out of running track.

What were some of the lies you told?
Oh just, you know, my stomach hurt, or I can't breathe.

They never asked you for a note from the doctor or your parents?
No, it was just a little fib. Usually I ended up having to run anyway, but I was always the last one at the finish line.

How did you initially get into pageants? Did you start young?
Really, I started dance when I was 5 years old - tap and jazz and ballet - and after that I wanted to sing, and then I started singing lessons and then acting. I went to a performing arts middle school and then I went to a performing arts high school for musical theater. Since I was kid and since I loved performing, pageants kind of had that in it. I love people and I guess I love the stage, so I kind of progressed from there. And then, I guess since I was about 5, which was when I started doing pageants, I didn't really do too many of the pageants that we hear of, like the JonBenet [Ramsey] pageants. It was more Miss America-based for children, and Miss USA, and then since then, a dream of mine was to be Miss America or Miss USA. And after I got older, I realized that Miss USA was really more for me. I probably wouldn't use the scholarship money that Miss America was giving so I went for Miss USA.

Was there a talent portion when you were doing the beauty pageants when you were 5 years old?
Actually, the talent starts around 7, so when I did talent, I would always sing.

What's the difference between Miss America and Miss USA?
Well Miss America offers scholarship money, and Miss USA is more cash. You get a lot of offers becoming Miss America or Miss USA, so I just thought Miss USA would get my name out there and open doors for me really.

You used to work in bottle service at Light nightclub. How did your friends at Light react? Did they know you were in the running for Miss Nevada?
I told everybody. I did tell everybody. My roommate came and supported me, and my mom and my aunt, and I guess they were just kind of surprised, only because I don't talk much about dreams or aspirations. Then when I won, they were really excited for me, but I guess it was kind of a shock. Nobody really knew that I did pageants.

Why did you leave Light?
I got Miss Nevada, and it took up my time. I wanted to be open to be able to make appearances and do a lot of charity work--which I did, in the small amount of time that I was Miss Nevada. That's basically why I didn't work there anymore.

Can you tell me what exactly happened in Tampa, where the questionable pictures were taken?
I was just a young girl being silly, really. It was more in a playful, joking-around light, and everybody took it so seriously. And when I look back on those pictures -- which I hadn't even recalled to be honest with you -- I'm not proud of them, but what's done is done and I'm just trying to turn around and make everyone understand that that's not me, it's the not person that I am, and it's not who I want to be.

Were you celebrating anything those nights, or just sort of kicking up your heels?
I went to [University of Central Florida] for musical theater, and I came back home because I missed home and I missed my family. College was a little disappointing because I felt my major was two steps back, if you will. I felt like I wasn't really growing very much so I decided that I just wanted to go home and work on my art. I just wanted to get going.

So I went home and I was just celebrating with my friends, and I mean, just having a good time on the weekend, out. I don't even recall, to be honest with you, what month they were taken. So I don't know how long I had been back from college, but I know that it was within that time. I know it wasn't the first night out or anything, but just coming back from college where there's a lot of stuff going on and, you know, I grew up a little bit, and now I've grown up more.

You don't remember the pictures being taken?
It rings a bell now, but you know, at first I got a phone call from the Miss Universe organization hearing of these pictures and also from my director, who was the Miss Nevada director, and they asked me about them, and I couldn't even recall what they were talking about. I said, "Oh my gosh, that can't be me." When they mentioned the sign with that was behind me in the picture, it rang a bell, only because I remember my friends and I just looking at the "Listen to Your Dad" sign and laughing, and for some reason it was funny and we took pictures in front of it, but I really had no idea how bad the pictures kind of were. I feel silly sometimes.

Do you know who took them?
I do know who took them, and he was a friend of mine - was a friend of mine. I was somewhat disappointed only because he's been to my house to dinner and met my parents. I didn't recall until I saw other pictures that he had taken of me - modeling pictures on the beach and stuff that showed up on TV with the cowboy hat and different pictures here and there. He took photography, and I never mind pictures so ... I don't know if that sounds right.

So what do you think this close friend's motivation might have been?
Money. I don't know why he didn't think of the repercussions, because he's ruining something that I've worked for my whole life, and maybe he didn't realize that, and not only that, but I was using my crown to do a lot of good things in the community, which I still intend on hopefully doing. I worked for a Toys for Tots event, and I worked with the Special Olympics, and I did a Goody Two Shoes event. And I don't think he would even think about those people who I don't have as big of a connection with.

Did you try to contact him after the photos came out?
No, absolutely not. Nothing good would come of it, I was somewhat heated and hurt, and I just honestly, there's nothing I can do about it. I like the saying, "What goes around comes around."

How did your parents react when the pictures came out?
They were I guess a little confused and little distraught, but really they acted as my rock. I don't know what I would do without them. They were not very happy, but they were there for me because I wasn't very happy either.

There are some other stories that are starting to circulate, indicating that you were partying at Seamless one night and ...
I'm really not supposed to say that. Sorry. The story was completely false. It said something about sex scandals and partying with celebrities, and it's just not true.

And rumors that you were romantically linked with two local celebrities?
That's completely false. I didn't even know there were local celebrities in Vegas. Wayne Newton, and I've never met him. I thought I was the local celebrity.

Your replacement as Miss Nevada is Helen Salas. You must have gotten to know her somewhat during the run-up to the pageant. What do you think of her?
Very sweet girl, very beautiful. You know, she was my first runner-up, and I was standing there the whole time that they were about to announce who won, and I was saying to her, "I think you won, I think you won." So, I mean, I wish her the best, and I hope she does well.

Have you talked with her since the changing of the crown?
I haven't. I haven't heard from her. I did hear from a good friend of mine from the pageant who I became close with. She was the second runner-up I believe, and she called to wish me luck. But I haven't heard from Helen. I did hear on the news, they asked her about me, and she said that she feels bad for me and she wishes me the best. So that was nice.

What would you say is next in your career? How does it feel being such a big public figure now, whatever the reason?
Oh gosh. It feels kind of good, only because I'm hoping I can turn it around and make it positive. Obviously being somewhat of a public figure got me into this mess, if you will, but I'm excited really because of offers that are coming in, and I want to make the most of it. I was doing [Miss USA] not only because it's been a dream of mine, but to open doors for me. And the career that I want to do is acting and things of that nature so ultimately, I suppose it's doing that.

So what sorts of offers are coming in for you?
I'm not really supposed to say, only because I'm under contracts, but we'll see what happens I guess. Nobody really knows who I am, so the offers are good, but not set in stone because they don't know me.

But is it interest from film or TV or magazines?
It's all sorts of stuff, really.

What would be the ideal thing? What would be the perfect, most worthwhile offer for you?
Gosh, I don't know, launching my acting career or hosting a show, anything really. Like I said, I love the stage -- Broadway, anything.

So you haven't made any choices yet on any of the offers that are coming your way?
Not really. Just trying to get past the first interview.

You told me you've had the same manager since you were five. What kind of role is he playing?
Oh gosh--a second god, a brother, a manager, a good friend--everything. He's been so amazing and I'm lucky, because although not everybody loves--my family and friends don't love the pictures--they're so supportive, and they really do wish the best for me, and they've really been amazing.

You've said multiple times that you want to be a role model. Do you think you can still manage to do that despite everything that has happened now?
Well, actually, being Miss Nevada or Miss USA is a position that puts you as a role model. I always looked up to those women when I was a kid. I thought they were prestigious, and the crown when you're a kid is just like a really big deal. I would love to be a role model, but I don't like telling people to model themselves after me, of course. But as far as traits of being a good person, and you know, reaching for your dreams, I would definitely declare myself a role model in that respect. The pictures, of course, are not something to be looked at the same way, but hopefully they'll continue to be something that everybody thinks is respectable. I've worked hard to be a nice young lady, but we all have our fun, crazy times.

Are there any lessons you've learned or are taking away from this experience?
Maybe not to be so trusting, not to be so ... don't take pictures. Not don't take pictures, just be careful of what you do, and always think one step ahead of what you might plan for in the future. Especially since I have always known I wanted to be a public figure of some sort, so I probably should of thought about that before.

And what about are you excited about or looking forward to getting signed at JET? Sort of one title goes, the other title comes in?
It should be fun. It's exciting that people are still my friends and still want to do something nice for me. It will be a good time, and also a good time to see the people that have been supporting me. I have tons of friends that are in the pageant system, if you will, that are also on the Miss America board. It's the evening of the Miss America pageant finals here in Las Vegas, so they'll all be in town and they're all coming, and my parents are coming because we always go watch Miss America every year, so after the pageant, we're all going to come here and celebrate my new, exciting future. It will definitely be a good time.

Do you think you were unfairly treated at all during this?
I do. I do, but what's done is done.

Do you think the media might've reacted differently if it hadn't been on the heels of the Tara Connor scandal?
Gosh, I don't know, but I tell you, [Trump's] timing is impeccable. Only because with this whole Tara Connor thing coming out, and it was just right after that, which is probably when he made the most money for it, I would say. It might not have been as big of a deal, to be honest with you, but it is what it is. I guess Tara is kind of lucky that she wasn't the only one.

You mentioned in your pageant bio that Lucille Ball is an idol of yours. If this were an "I Love Lucy" episode, what do you think she might do?
Probably laugh at herself, like I have been. I mean, it sounds silly, but as upset as I was I just couldn't help but laugh at it, and think, "Gosh, that was so silly." And just humor myself really.

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