Jessica Simpson bikinis have Miss USA covered

One door closes, another opens ...

In the same week Jessica Simpson saw her country music career take a nosedive, the Miss USA pageant put contestants in itsty-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikinis she designed - modeled here by Miss Kansas, Courtney Courter of Olathe, 23.

The pageant airs at 6 p.m. Sunday on KSHB-TV.

According to New York's Daily News, "Identical $104 white 'n' gold string bikinis were especially created for the contest, as well as the $88 bright green string bikinis modeled by the crown-chasers during a pre-pageant photo shoot in Las Vegas."

Why go with Simpson's designs?

"Why not?" publicist Lark-Marie Anton told the Daily News. "They're fabulous swimsuits."

The suits will go up for sale at JessicaSimpsonCollection.com after Sunday's pageant.

Simpson split with her Nashville recording studio this week and is thought to be taking a break from recording.

| Lisa Gutierrez, The Star