Will having the contestants pose almost topless kick up the ratings for the pageant?

This year’s Miss USA pageant was a yawner compared to some past shows. No Carrie Prejean-type controversy, no Muslim pole dancer winner, nothing shocking. Maybe that’s why the ratings were disappointing. And maybe that’s why Donald Trump and his cronies at the Miss Universe organization have spiced up the competition by posing some contestants semi-topless to promote the show, which airs from Las Vegas on August 23.

Predictably, some people aren’t happy with this gambit. Former pageant worker Angie Meyer told Fox News: “It’s alarming that this has been turned into a Playboy-esque masquerade. By implementing topless photos as part of the pageant process, they’re putting applicants in an extremely compromising position.”

Miss Universe organizers shot back this statement: “The contestants who compete at Miss Universe are diverse as they represent more than 82 countries around the globe. Many of their cultures embrace nudity. These photos are a form of artistic expression for each contestant and we respect their desire to pose topless, or not. We feel the images captured are fashionable and cutting edge.”

But will they get ratings? After all, that’s what counts!