Prescott native joins the board of Miss America Organization
For Jessie Ward Bennett, the future of the Miss America Organization shows plenty of potential for great things.
Bennett’s a former Miss Texarkana from 2000, a former Miss Arkansas from 2001 and a Top 10 finalist in Miss America. A Prescott, Ark., native, she served in recent years as director of the Miss Arkansas organization.
Now she’s been tapped to serve on the board for Miss America in the wake of controversy that embroiled that national organization after derogatory email exchanges by the CEO and board members were exposed by HuffPost in December.
From there, resignations ensued and new board members were elected. Former Miss America Gretchen Carlson now serves as the chairman of the Miss American Organization. Bennett was elected to the board as one of two representatives of the states programs, along with Ashley Byrd of South Carolina.
“The new Miss America Board of Directors is comprised of several different stakeholder groups,” Bennett said, explaining the board also includes former Miss Americas and members of the Miss America State Titleholders Association, plus one previous board member.
“We are all selected to serve on an interim basis,” Bennett said. Their purpose is to shape what the Miss America Organization will look like going forward. It’s a time of big changes for the Atlantic City, N.J.-based group.
“The Miss America organization is evolving in almost every way possible right now,” Bennett said, emphasizing new leadership is in and old leadership gone. She was a state director for nearly a decade before being elected to the board, and she’s been involved in the organization at almost every level for many years.
Bennett said they’re not sure what the Miss America organization will look like in the future, but board members meet and talk frequently to work through its issues. She says they’ll use this opportunity to take it to a new level, to embrace young women and help them as they take advantage of Miss America opportunities.
“It’s really a complex organization, but it has so much potential to be amazing going forward,” Bennett said.
She believes it’s one of the most important and relevant programs for women and gives them a platform for positive change. Even if women don’t win a title, the Miss America experience gives them skills to be a better parent, employee and community advocate, she said.
“You also gain life skills that can help you down the road,” said Bennett, who’s on a leave of absence from Miss Arkansas while serving on the Miss America board.
What will it take to make Miss America successful as an organization for the future?
“That is the million dol-
lar question,” Bennett said, noting the board has a re-visioning meeting scheduled for March. She believes Miss America should commit to educational opportunities for women, both formally and outside education. Traveling abroad is another idea, she said.
“We live in sort of a global society now,” Bennett said, noting she also believes the organization should embrace women beyond the stage through programs like professional networking. She wants to see a Miss America Organization that’s relevant and focused, and gives the titleholders a voice about issues of the day.
“Give them a voice. Let them use it,” Bennett said.