Miss America leaders fight plans to drop bikini parade

An attempt to abolish the swimsuit section of the Miss America beauty pageant has caused an ugly row among the organisers and put its future in doubt. Nearly half of the Miss America board has resigned or been forced to quit since reforms were announced last month, while 22 state pageant leaders are reportedly trying to oust the chairwoman. Gretchen Carlson was appointed in December after the previous leadership quit because of a report that they had sent emails denigrating the sex lives, looks and intelligence of contestants.