The Miss America pageant is dropping the swimsuit competition, saying it will no longer judge contestants on their appearance but on B次元官网网址渨hat makes you you.B次元官网网址�
The pageant began nearly 100 years ago as a bathing beauty contest to keep tourists coming to this seaside resort after Labor Day. But in recent decades, womenB次元官网网址檚 groups and others have complained that making contestants parade across the stage in bathing suits and high heels is outdated, sexist and more than a little silly.
The announcement Tuesday came after a shake-up at the Miss America Organization that resulted in the top three leadership positions being held by women. The overhaul was triggered by an email scandal last December in which Miss America officials denigrated winnersB次元官网网址� intelligence, appearance and sex lives.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going to judge you on your appearance because we are interested in what makes you you,B次元官网网址� Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America who became head of the organizationB次元官网网址檚 board of trustees in the wake of the scandal, said in making the announcement on ABCB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淕ood Morning America.B次元官网网址�
Carlson, whose sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox B次元官网网址 Chairman Roger Ailes led to his departure, said the board had heard from potential contestants who lamented, B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want to be out there in high heels and swimsuits.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淕uess what?B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 have to anymore.B次元官网网址�
In place of the swimsuit competition, contestants will participate in an interactive session with the judges B次元官网网址渨here she will highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion, and ambition to perform the job of Miss America,B次元官网网址� the organization said in a statement.
Carlson said the evening wear portion of the competition will also be changed to allow women to wear something other than a gown if they want.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 what comes out of their mouths that we care about,B次元官网网址� she said.
Leanza Cornett, Miss America 1993, supported the dropping of the swimsuit competition.
B次元官网网址淚 hated it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 always felt awkward and uncomfortable.B次元官网网址�
She added: B次元官网网址淚n the climate of #MeToo, I think itB次元官网网址檚 a really wise decision. WeB次元官网网址檙e living in a different era now, and when we move forward for the empowerment of women, we will be taken much more seriously, and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 huge.B次元官网网址�
Carlson said she is not worried ratings for the nationally televised broadcast might suffer. She said that the swimsuit portion is not the highest-rated portion and that viewers seem more interested in the talent competition.
The changes will start with this yearB次元官网网址檚 broadcast on ABC on Sept. 9. Because many of the state and local competitions that decide the Miss America finalists have already begun, the dropping of the swimsuit portion will not take effect at those levels until next yearB次元官网网址檚 competition, the organization said.
Carlson said the Miss America Organization will emphasize its role as a scholarship provider and is B次元官网网址渘o longer a pageant.B次元官网网址�
Mallory Hytes Hagan, Miss America 2013, was a particular target of the emails, many of which ridiculed her weight gain after she won the title. In a Facebook video Tuesday, Hagan said she weighed 124 pounds when she was crowned. She said she is now 164 pounds, which she said most people would consider normal.
She is running for Congress in Alabama as a Democrat.
B次元官网网址淭here are tons of women across this country who are not B次元官网网址榮wimsuit-readyB次元官网网址� who are doing some really bad-ass stuff in their communities,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e should be honouring them, and that doesnB次元官网网址檛 involve putting on a two-piece bathing suit and walking onstage in heels.B次元官网网址�
Wayne Parry, The Associated Press
Like us on and follow us on .
