‘Here’s your proof,’ says former winner
MISS AMERICA 2013 Mallory Hagan held her head high Friday, saying her complaints about pageant CEO Sam Haskell were “validated” by the leak of his sexist emails. The former Miss New York said she knew for years Haskell had been disparaging her in private conversations and undermining her career as a pageant coach — and now she has the proof. “This type of language that was being used to describe me, I knew it all existed, I just didn’t know how to prove it,” Hagan, 28, told the Daily News. “Sam was a pretty powerful and wealthy man. I knew if I said something publicly, I couldn’t prove it.” Hagan said it was hurtful to learn Haskell slut-shamed her in emails that criticized her private life. He also dubbed her “huge” and praised another colleague who called former winners “c---s.” But she felt hopeful and heartened by her fellow Miss America contestants who rushed to her side and blasted Haskell. “We’re an army of women who compete against each other, but we also have great admiration and love between us. We’re so much more than women strutting across a stage in a bikini,” she said. “People are seeing Miss Americas speaking out across the country today. They’re seeing we’re civic-minded, passionate, empowered women who won’t accept this behavior.” Hagan said she believes Haskell had to resign or get voted out by the board, and she’s considering legal action. “This type of bullying behavior was totally unnecessary. I don’t think people should get away with that,” she told The News. A Park Slope, Brooklyn, resident who won Miss America in 2013, Hagan (below) said she wants the competition to continue despite Haskell’s unacceptable comments. “I hope this will bring light to the type of behavior that’s been in leadership of the Miss America organization and really help us put in place some people who care and who embody the mission of Miss America,” she said.