The Miss Universe Organization has released a set of black-and-white pictures of the Miss USA 2010 contestants that are very sexy and causing a bit of an uproar.  According to TMZ, traditionalist fans are making “tons of calls” complaining about how “provocative” the photos of the Miss USA 2010 contestants are.

The Miss Universe Organization defends the photos, noting that the pictures are “tasteful and very sexy.”  Tasteful the photos might be, but it is most likely the “very sexy” that many find so objectionable.  Pageant representatives told TMZ: “You can have brains and be smart and still be sexy.”  Many would agree that intelligence is a form of beauty and be quite attractive in a sexy sort of way.

The black-and-white Miss USA 2010 pictures may simply be a pushback from the political correctness –where intellect has been championed over pulchritude — that seems to have been pervasive in the beauty pageant sphere for the past decade or so.  There have been various movements to discontinue certain portions of the contests, including the bikini contests, because some believed that it objectified women, placing too high a value on the sexuality and the physical beauty of the contestants.

Of course, the sexy Miss USA 2010 photos may simply be a very smart and timely promotion by the Miss Universe Organization, which is owned by Donald Trump, a man who knows more than a little about promotion.

And what’s a beauty pageant these days without a little scandal or controversy?  Last year’s Miss USA Pageant exploded in scandal after Miss California Carrie Prejean’s answer to judge Perez Hilton’s question on gay marriage branded her as a pro-marriage, anti-gay marriage proponent.  The answer and the subsequent war of words between Carrie Prejean and Hilton led to a national debate that devolved into a series of nude photo scandals, a video scandal, lawsuits, counter-lawsuits, and Carrie Prejean eventually losing her Miss California USA crown.

The upcoming Miss USA 2010 Pageant will be shown on NBC May 16 at 7 p.m. EST.  The sexy pictures of the contestants can be seen and rated at MissUniverse.com.