Miss America says goodbye to swimsuits
When the Miss America pageant started in 1921, having young women parade around in bathing suits seemed like a great way to get tourists to come to the Atlantic City Boardwalk after Labor Day.
But how America views women has changed drastically since then, and the Miss America Organization is run by women who don’t think it’s such a hot idea.
Accordingly, when the pageant is held this September, nearly a year into the #MeToo era, it will no longer have a swimsuit competition.
“We’re not going to judge you on your appearance because we are interested in what makes you you,” Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America and the new head of the organization’s board of trustees, said.
For decades, women’s groups and others had complained that the swimsuit portion was outdated, sexist and a little silly.
The announcement came after a shake-up at the organization that resulted in the top three positions being held by women. The overhaul was triggered by an email scandal last December in which Miss America officials mocked winners’ intelligence, looks and sex lives.
Instead of showing off in a bathing suit, each contestant will interact with the judges to “highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion and ambition to perform the job of Miss America,” the organization said.
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. The talent portion of the contest will remain.
“It’s what comes out of their mouths that we care about,” Carlson said.
I don’t think you need to put on a swimsuit to tell that someone is physically fit or beautiful. MALLORY HAGAN
(Miss America 2013)
Miss America is about beauty and brains... We’re telling women to cover up. This is setting women back decades.
BETTY CANTRELL (Miss America 2016)