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  • Donald Trump, Tara Conner and Jessica Simpson
  • Jessica Simpson performs at the 99.9 Kiss Country 24th Annual Chili Cook Off at CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Florida

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    Donald Trump, Tara Conner and Jessica Simpson
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    Jessica Simpson performs at the 99.9 Kiss Country 24th Annual Chili Cook Off at CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Florida
 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: January 29, 2009 8:24 PM EST
LAST UPDATED: January 29, 2009 8:54 PM EST

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. --

Jessica Simpson makes her first foray into the public spotlight tonight since the Weight Gain Scandalette erupted on Sunday. The country-pop singer/actress is the opening act for Rascal Flatts when they play the John Paul Jones Arena on the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville.

You will recall (if you’ve been paying any attention at all) that video sprouted on the Internet late last week of Simpson performing at a chili cooking contest in Pembroke Pines, Florida while wearing high-waisted “mom-style” jeans. She appeared (in the low quality video) to be heftier, bordering on plus-sized. And the look was judged to be an instant fashion faux pas. She was caught on camera arriving in Charlottesville on Wednesday, but it was hard to tell how Jessica really looked.

The whole situation does have an up-side; Jessica has been little more than a dart board for a long time and this has gotten her some sympathy points.

Wednesday night, at a Super Bowlparty  in Tampa, for example, Kim Kardashian told Access Hollywood, “It makes me think, what do they think about me? Because I’m bigger than Jessica in that picture. I think it was absolutely ridiculous. I think she looks amazing and I loved the outfit.”

And in New York, Donald Trump told Access “I think Jessica Simpson looks great. Don’t change Jessica. You look great!”

Keep in mind, however, that Donald usually talks when he’s selling something. And in this case he is selling a new MTV reality series, “The Girls of Hedsor Hall.” Ironically, or not, the show is hosted by another blonde who knows a thing or two about having a rough ride on the media roller-coaster. Tara Conner, the visiting American instructor for “Hedsor Hall,” is the de-throned former Miss USA (also owned by Trump) and she jumped on the pro-Jess bandwagon too.

“Bless her heart,” Tara said. “I think people like to grab on and lash out. Heaven forbid someone has curves. Don’t most women have curves?”

Meanwhile, we are on the lookout for video of tonight’s performance to appear on the Internet, via camera phone (since her people aren’t allowing TV cameras inside). Friday night, she and Rascal Flatts move their show to Lexington, Kentucky.

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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