LAS VEGAS— from www.avn.com – The 2011 AVN Awards Show kickoff festivities got underway at the Palms Pool & Bungalows on Friday, when a 21-year-old Russian college student pocketed $5,000 in the “Ditch Friday” Hot Body contest.
Ilona Gorelik, a native of Belarus who lives in Toronto, wowed the crowds and the celebrity porn star judges in her purple bikini on a sweltering Vegas afternoon.
“I love it, it’s fun,” said Gorelik who came to Vegas with four of her hot girlfriends who were all wearing identical swimsuits. “We got here yesterday afternoon and saw this contest [advertised] in the elevator and we said let’s go for it.
“But then we got up too late today but we came over anyway and they saw me and just asked me if I wanted to do it. It was so last-minute. I didn’t even have makeup on.”
With a sea of onlookers straining their necks from the pool-deck to see the winner, Gorelik smiled for a horde of photographers while holding a giant cardboard check. She was flanked by a bevy of adult A-listers in Jenna Haze, Savanna Samson, Misty Stone, Kirsten Price and Belladonna. Gorelik, who does occasional promotional modeling in Toronto, said she actually entered a bikini contest once before.
“I’ve done one in Cancun for fun and I got second place,” she said, adding that this was just her second time partying in Las Vegas.
What does she plan to do with her winnings?
“I’m going to share it with my friends,” said Gorelik, who is a senior at George Brown College majoring in Human Resources.
Meanwhile, the first day of the 2011 AVN Awards Show ad campaign shoot got underway inside a Penthouse Suite on the 56th floor of Palms Place with veteran photographer Chris King behind the lens.
King described his day with several of the leading performers in adult entertainment in a word: “flawless.”
The ace shooter utilized several parts of the room on Day 1, shooting the stars against various backgrounds wearing bustiers and little else.
“Savanna Samson. There isn’t anything that looks like that anywhere,” he said with wonderment in his voice. “Kagney Linn Karter brought an energy, a spice, a sexuality to it. … Joanna Angel is eternally wonderful.”
King continued, “Misty Stone…we wanted to start the day on a good note and she just brought…cinnamon to the room. Just sweetened the room.”
He was also impressed by Sara Sloane, who like Karter is exclusive with Zero Tolerance.
“Zero Tolerance has an absolute gem,” he said. “In a year with such desperate economic needs, this shoot alone gives us all hope for the future.”
King plans to photograph several more starlets on Saturday, including Bobbi Starr, Tori Black, Kirsten Price, Riley Steele, Kayden Kross and Raven Alexis. The shots will be used throughout the year to promote the 28th annual AVN Awards Show scheduled for Jan. 8 at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms.