‘Dissed’ Americas: Ax pageant bigs!

Some former Miss Americas criticized in e-mails from the pageant’s CEO are calling on him and other group leaders to resign.

Three former title holders targeted for abuse in emails to and from Miss America Organization CEO Sam Haskell say the group’s leadership needs to be replaced.

Mallory Hagan’s appearance and sex life were mocked in the e-mails. And they also mocked former winner Gretchen Carlson.

In other e-mails, a former writer for the pageant noted the death of one former Miss America and mused he wished 1998 Miss America Kate Shindle had died instead. Shindle wrote a book critical of the Miss America Organization. Haskell responded to the email, indicating it made him laugh.

The Huffington Post re- ported Thursday on the e-mails, which it says it received from two sources.

Shindle responded to the report on Twitter.

“The entire board of directors must immediately resign, including and especially Sam Haskell,” she wrote, adding the content of the e-mails “makes me physically ill.”

Haskell wrote of tactics that would drive 1989 Miss America Carlson “insane.”

The Huffington Post reported she had clashed with Haskell and pageant officials over her push to modernize the organization and her refusal to criticize other former Miss America winners.

Responding, Carlson wrote on Twitter that any board member or official who tolerated such conduct should resign immediately.

“No woman should be demeaned with such vulgar slurs,” she wrote.

The Miss America Organization said Thursday night that Haskell has apologized and that the group is revising its policies regarding communications, adding it considers the matter closed.

Haskell and Miss America Organization officials did not respond Friday.

Dick Clark Productions told AP that it cut ties with the Miss America Organization over the e-mails, calling them “appalling.”