BALTIMORE -- Charm City will have another rendezvous with Miss USA.

WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Kate Amara reported that pageant officials announced that Baltimore will host competition for the second-consecutive year.

"Just when you thought it was safe, we're back!" said Paula Shugart, the president of the Miss Universe Organization.

But in 2006, the 51 contestants will move from The Hippodrome to the 1st Mariner Marina to accommodate a larger audience.

"It says a lot about the citizens of this state that they made them feel so welcome," first lady Kendel Ehrlich said.

But it wasn't a cheap date. The region paid $575,000 to secure the 2005 pageant, which included city, state and private fundraising.

Still, state tourism officials said pageant guests spent millions while they were here.

"It was worth about $5 million of advertising across the country, and really, around the world, showing off our city," Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley said.

The pageant, co-owned by NBC and Donald Trump, generally changes locations each year.

But Baltimore impressed Mr. Trump, according to Baltimore developer and 1st Marine Bank CEO Ed Hale.

"In the middle of it, I said, 'What do you think?' And, he said, 'I think we ought to come back here again next year, and here we are," Hale said.

This is where the reign began for Miss USA 2005, Chelsea Cooley.

"Out of all the places I've been, Baltimore holds a very special place in my heart," she said.

Cooley will come full circle and will crown the next Miss USA on April 21 -- in front of 250 million viewers worldwide, on a stage right here in Baltimore.

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