LET’S GIVE PAGEANT A MISS
SO the Miss America beauty competition has announced it is no longer going to judge contestants on their looks. Bosses have said they are scrapping the show’s swimsuit section and that a woman’s physical appearance will now not affect scoring.
Instead, hopefuls are to take part in a live interactive session with judges. Contestants will now be asked to demonstrate their passion, intelligence and an overall understanding of the title they hope to win.
Officials are also getting rid of the evening gown portion of the competition.
The move comes after the organisation was last year hit by an email scandal involving former chief Sam Haskell.
In the leaked messages, Haskell and others were found to have insulted the looks, intellect and personal lives of pageant winners, including new boss and former Miss America Gretchen Carlson. Making the announcement, Carlson said: “We are no longer a pageant. We are a competition.
“We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That means we will no longer have a swimsuit competition.”
The move is being touted as a victory for the #Metoo drive, of which Carlson has been a key figure since exposing abuse she suffered from former Fox News boss Roger Ailes.
For many, it is a positive step, but wouldn’t ending Miss America be a better one?