Beauty finally takes a back seat to intelligence
SO the organisers of the Miss America beauty competition have announced it is no longer going to judge contestants on their beauty.
Bosses have said they are scrapping the show’s swimsuit section and that a woman’s physical appearance will now not affect scoring.
Instead, Miss America contestants are to take part in a live interactive session with the judges.
The contestants from all 50 states will now be asked to demonstrate their passion, intelligence and an overall understanding of the title they hope to win.
The organisation is also getting rid of the evening gown portion of the competition, and instead asking finalists to wear attire that makes them “feel confident, expresses their personal style and shows how they hope to advance the role of Miss America”.
The move comes after the organisation was last year embroiled in an email scandal involving the group’s former CEO Sam Haskell.
In leaked emails, Haskell, who later resigned, and others were found insulting the appearance, intellect and personal lives of former 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 major victory for the #MeToo campaign against sexual harassment, of which Carlson has been a leading figure since courageously exposing abuse she suffered from former Fox News TV boss Roger Ailes.
For many, it is a hugely positive step, but wouldn’t ending this contest entirely be a bigger and better move?
That said, the way things are going I reckon give it a few years and I, as a ginger, overweight, tall Yorkshireman, may have a legitimate shot at the Miss America crown myself.