Brains Before Beauty: Miss America’s Makeover
THE ISSUE: The Miss America Organization’s decision to no longer judge contestants based on their looks.
The Miss America pageant is whimsical and silly, but not sexist and exploitative (“Feast your minds,” June 6).
These women enjoy the pageant, and many have used it as a stepping stone to fame and fortune in a variety of fields.
The only exploitation involves being used by leftists for their own political ends. How about we change the whole pageant to 50 woman gathered to take a MENSA test while wearing sackcloth? John Brindisi Lindenhurst
Miss America is eliminating displays of beauty.
Why do we shame women for wanting to display healthy, beautiful bodies? The human form is living art.
Women can be seen as sexy and not be objectified. Are we turning into a Puritan nation? Brian Feinblum New Rochelle
Beauty isn’t even in the eye of the beholder anymore. Miss America, the nation’s preeminent beholder, finally realized it never had any right to judge looks.
Now contestants will have other qualities assessed instead, like wit and spunk.
Frankly, the pageant was pretty outdated. What’s the point of parading around in a bathing suit indoors? It’s high time we started valuing inner beauty. Oliver Mosier Queens The elimination of the swimsuit competition and evening-gown portions from the Miss America pageant just about put the final nail in the coffin of this oncegreat piece of Americana.
No doubt sponsors of this once-glamorous show will flee. Over the past few years, TV ratings have tanked. I guess the show will finally disappear from view altogether.
Congratulations to the women’s movement. You have won a silly victory. Robert Lobenstein Brooklyn
The last time such a brilliant business decision was made was in 1985, when Coke changed its flavor.
Miss America can kiss its viewership and sponsorships goodbye. Brad Morris Astoria
Does this mean that the only bra on display in future pageants will be algebra? Vin Morabito Scranton, Pa.