Miss America Competition: New name, structure
It’s being billed as “Miss America 2.0.” Whatever that may mean, it’s no longer your mama’s (or great-grandmama’s) Miss America Pageant anymore.
In fact, the event founded in 1921 is no longer even called a “pageant,” with all the negative baggage some feel that term drags behind it. See for yourself when The 2019 Miss
America Competition airs live at 8 p.m. today on ABC from Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
Choreographer/judge Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing With
the Stars) will co-host alongside television personality Ross Mathews.
Inaba said, “I have always been a fan of the Miss America Organization that consistently encourages women to be strong, intelligent and radiant women in the world.”
Mathews added jokingly, “Since I’ll never get to compete for the Miss America crown, this is the next best thing. Who knows? Maybe the winner will even let me try on the crown!”
Yes, the erstwhile pageant is now a “competition” and, most importantly, the swimsuit and evening gown segments are history. Bikinis, by the way, have been allowed since 1997, just as long as the bottoms dipped no lower than one inch below the belly button.
Instead of parading around half dressed on stage, this year the contestants will take part in a “live interactive session with the judges” where they will be asked “to demonstrate their passion, intelligence, and overall understanding of the job of Miss America.”
Evidently, even calling the swimsuit segment “lifestyle and fitness” didn’t placate the cheesecake critics.
In lieu of the evening gown portion, the young ladies will wear attire “that makes them feel confident and express their personal styles.” Hopefully, their “personal styles” will be appropriately modest.
In announcing the changes in June, new Miss America Chairman of the Board Gretchen Carlson (a former Fox News anchor and Miss America 1989) said, “We’ve heard from a lot of young women who say, ‘We’d love to be a part of your program, but we don’t want to be out there in high heels and a swimsuit.’ So guess what? You don’t have to do that anymore.
“Who doesn’t want to be empowered, learn leadership skills, and pay for college and be able to show the world who you are as a person from the inside of your soul? That’s what we’re judging them on now.”
The changes coincide with the current female empowerment movement, but what if nobody watches now that they’ve banned bikinis? Certainly, a percentage of the audience tuned in just to see the women’s lifestyle and fitness. Or maybe they’re fond of the occasional quirky talent displays such as artistic roller skating (seriously), hula or baton twirling.
Even though Carlson says, “We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance,” I’d be stunned if Miss America 2019 did not appear to be a cookie-cutter version of her predecessors — tall, thin and gorgeous.
Not everyone on the inside is happy with Carlson and the new order. Cara Mund, the reigning Miss America, has called for Carlson to resign, claiming she’s controlling, manipulative and a bully. Twenty-three former Miss Americas have backed Mund up, calling not only for Carlson to step down, but the entire board of trustees and the chief executive officer as well.
The official response from the Miss America Organization was, “It is disappointing that [Cara] chose to air her grievances publicly, not privately. Her letter contains mischaracterizations and many unfounded accusations.”
Maybe the curiosity factor will kick in tonight and more folks will tune in to see if Mund and her supporters take a knee in protest during the singing of “There She Is, Miss America.”
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Rel. Inspired by the comedy of Lil Rel Howery (The Carmichael Show), this new sitcom gets a sneak peek at 7 p.m. today on Fox. It follows a hardworking father and husband who discovers his wife is having an affair with his barber. Hilarity ensues.
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