Andy Cohen: Co-host, 2011 Miss Universe Pageant

Andy Cohen said it plainly: "I've never been to Brazil; I've always wanted to go. It's exciting, it's fun, it's fun to look at women competing for th…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

Natalie Morales (NBC's Today) and Andy Cohen (Bravo's Watch What Happens: Live) co-hosted the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant live from Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil on September 12 (9 p.m. ET) on NBC. The two-hour television event — with a live Spanish simulcast on Telemundo — featured contestants representing approximately 90 countries competing in swimsuit, evening gown, and interview categories. Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico crowned her successor at the conclusion of the telecast. Cohen, then Bravo's Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Development, spoke with Premier Guide Miami's Daedrian McNaughton and Kamilah Wallace ahead of the broadcast.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Who would you like to have seven minutes in heaven with?

ANDY COHEN: Miss Universe.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: You must be excited to be invited to host Miss Universe after hosting Miss USA.

ANDY COHEN: I was so excited. I was flattered. Obviously I was really excited by the ratings from Miss USA — it was I think the highest rated in some years — and so I was thrilled to be asked to do it and just excited to go to Brazil.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Will you be giddy during your hosting duties this year or will you be staying aloof?

ANDY COHEN: Absolutely. I'm always giddy. I think I probably will be. I'm going to be very excited to be in Brazil and to be presiding over this sumptuous pageant.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What are you looking forward to the most this year in Brazil?

ANDY COHEN: Let me count the things. It's so fun that this is women from all over the world, so I'm excited to meet gorgeous women from all over the world. I've never been to Brazil; I've always wanted to go. I love it that this is a worldwide event — it airs everywhere — and so that's really exciting for me. I'm excited to work with Natalie Morales, who I worked with a little bit at the Kentucky Derby a few years ago, and I think she's great. And this is a huge event — about a billion viewers around the world see this. It's just a huge event and that's exciting. And I love it that we're live on NBC with only an hour time difference between São Paulo and New York. The whole thing just seems great.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: When it comes to the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Miss Universe contestants, which group are the biggest divas and why?

ANDY COHEN: I haven't gotten to spend any time with any of the contestants from Miss Universe yet — I'm still in New York, on my way to Brazil tonight. So I have to spend a little time to find out. But I don't know. The Beverly Hills Housewives aren't divas, and Adrienne Maloof is one of the judges at Miss Universe, so I'll have to keep my eye on her and on the contestants.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What's your take or advice to Miss Colombia who had some bad press this week?

ANDY COHEN: I think she's got to be even stronger. She can't lose her confidence and she's really got to wow. I think she should probably wear undies, right? She's got to wear underwear. That's funny.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Why do you think that pageants continue to be so popular?

ANDY COHEN: It's a great format. It just works. It's exciting, it's fun, it's fun to look at women competing for this great title. The prize is actually fantastic and so I think the format works. And it's fun to play along at home — everybody has a pick and you don't know what's going to happen.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What do you find unique about the pageants you have hosted thus far?

ANDY COHEN: This is obviously women from all over the globe. The only difference in tone is this is international and you're dealing with many, many different cultures all on one stage. And you see many different types of women and ethnicities and this is so exciting and just fun. I was very excited at Miss USA and it was really exciting just to be in the middle of it all, and so I'm sure that I'll feel that way too. And I will be interested to spend a couple of days in São Paulo with the women before we go live to see what their energy is. The idea of Brazil to me is like just a huge party. You just think of Carnaval. So I hope that we can kind of translate some of that to the show as well.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What type of questions do you hope are asked of the contestants?

ANDY COHEN: I love the tough questions. I thought the questions at Miss USA were fantastic — about legalization of marijuana, which ultimately Miss California won Miss USA and she was asked that question. I loved the question about religion. I think it's interesting to hear what these women have to say about real issues that people are talking about. It seemed to me standing there, wow, this would change my impression of someone now that I've heard them speak. This could make me turn on someone quickly.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What tips would you offer the ladies this year?

ANDY COHEN: Oh, my Lord. I couldn't offer them tips. I mean I think they already look great. I think they just need to bring it, and I think that final question is the defining moment really. They already know how to walk and model and strut, but that final question — they have to be smart and sharp.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Are we going to have Watch What Happens After?

ANDY COHEN: We're not this time, sadly. I wish, but we didn't do it this time.

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