Rhonda Shear

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Rhonda Shear (born November 12, 1954) is a United States television program host and actor.

Shear was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a Jewish American family. Before she became famous, she earned titles in several beauty contests, including holding the titles of Miss Louisiana USA 1975 for Miss USA and that of Miss Louisiana for both the Miss World and the Miss International pageants. ^[1] Among her other titles was Queen of the Floral Trail Society. While she sported the latter title, she posed fully clothed for Playboy, but the organizers of that title opposed to her appearing in that magazine, and took the title away from her. Shear gained notoriety after this episode.

After a feud with the New Orleans Register of Conveyances she ran against him the following election. She conducted her campaign in a deliberately flippant way, handing out numerous glamour shot photographs of herself to potential voters. She lost by some 130 votes, but in the process succeeded in her goal of ousting the incumbent. Noticing her, comedian Bob Hope then took her to Hollywood to produce a special named The Starmakers.

Shear is better known for her role as host of the USA Network's weekend movie show, USA Up All Night. From 1991 to 1998 she hosted the show on Friday nights, while Gilbert Gottfried hosted it on Saturdays. She replaced comedian Caroline Schlitt, Friday night host for the show's first few years. Shear's tone of voice when pronouncing the title "USA Up!! All Night!!" made it a temporary household phrase.

In 1991, Shear returned to Playboy to have her own pictorial published by the magazine, with fewer clothes this time.

In 1994, Shear made a guest-appearance as a time-keeper for a match at the World Wrestling Federation's WrestleMania X.

She can be seen regularly showcasing her legs in pantyhose and has her own clothing line sold on HSN from hosiery to other intimate undergarments. In 2007, it was announced she will be opening a retail store for these products in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Shear's movie credits include: