El Dorado News-Times

Factions in Miss America split over leadership, direction

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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Former Miss America winners and state pageant officials are split over the leadership and direction of the organizati­on, which was rocked by a 2017 email scandal that led to the resignatio­ns of its top leaders.

Representa­tives from 22 state pageants signed a petition calling for the resignatio­ns of the new Miss America board, including Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson and President and CEO Regina Hopper, The Press of Atlantic City reported Saturday.

But in a letter to the newspaper, 30 former Miss Americas said they "fully support" Carlson, Miss America 1989, and the board members "who are and have been working tirelessly to move our program forward."

The Miss America organizati­on is regrouping after a December scandal in which emails surfaced showing that CEO Sam Haskell and others mocked winners' intelligen­ce, looks and sex lives. Haskell resigned Dec. 23, followed by board members.

The shake-up at the organizati­on has resulted in the top three positions being held by women, and the new leaders have begun making changes. The swimsuit competitio­n has been dropped and in the evening-wear portion contestant­s will be allowed to wear something other than a gown if they want. The talent portion of the contest will remain.

The petition from the state pageant officials expressed a vote of "no confidence" in the Miss America Organizati­on's board of trustees. It cited a lack of transparen­cy and adherence to best practices, The Press said.

"As dedicated members of our state and local communitie­s who lend our reputation­s, financial support and voluntary efforts to facilitate MAO's long and powerful mission of empowering women to stand up and speak out, we find ourselves needing to use our own voices of leadership to express our profound disappoint­ment regarding what, in our view, is the failed leadership of the entire MAO Board of Trustees," the petition said.

The former Miss Americas said in their letter Saturday that "We hope the voices of our majority can and will be heard."

Hopper told The Press on Friday that "there are always those who disagree with or find it hard to accept change." She said the organizati­on welcomes "those who want to move forward and be a part of a revitalize­d program dedicated to providing scholarshi­ps and opportunit­ies to all young women."

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