NBC's Miss Universe photos spark controversy

NBC's upcoming Miss Universe pageant telecast just got a helpful dose of so-called controversy due to the organization shooting some semi-topless promotional pics.

"It's alarming that this has been turned into a Playboy-esque masquerade," said Angie Meyer, a former pageant worker, to Fox News. "By implementing topless photos as part of the pageant process, they're putting applicants in an extremely compromising position."

This year's competition is being aired on Aug. 23rd from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, where the photos were shot.

Going topless was reportedly strictly optional, with some candidates declining to participate.

The Donald Trump-produced contest can certainly use any extra publicity, since ratings have been falling for pageant in recent years.

"The contestants who compete at Miss Universe are diverse as they represent more than 82 countries around the globe," said organizers in a statement. "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."

Naturally, I won't you leave you without a sample. But, really, is this any more revealing than every other episode of "America's Next Top Model"?