For nearly a century, Miss America contestants have struck poses and traipsed across the stage in skimpy swimsuits. But now it won’t longer be the case as they the contestants will no longer be judged on their physical appearance, according to the organisation that runs the national contest.
The Miss America Organisation, confronting a harassment scandal and trying to find its place in the #MeToo era, announced on Tuesday its decision to scrap the swimsuit challenge starting with its next pageant in September.
Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News anchor and organisation’s chairwoman said on ABC’s Good Morning America, “We are not going to judge you on your outward appearance. We want more women to know that they are welcome in this organisation.” She also said that the competition would focus more on the contestants’ talents, intelligence, and ideas. “We are moving it forward and evolving it in this cultural revolution,” said Ms. Carlson, who is also the Miss America 1989.
Ms. Carlson was named chairwoman in January and seven of its nine board members are now women after several women were appointed to its highest ranks. Those changes came after emails surfaced in December showing that Sam Haskell, the former chief executive, had made disrespectful and misogynistic comments about former pageant winners.
Ms. Carlson said on Tuesday that viewers’ opinions had changed. The swimsuit portion of the competition was ‘not a highly rated part,” she said. “People actually like the talent part of the competition.” Last year, 5.6 million viewers watched The Miss America Competition on ABC, down to 10% from 6.2 million in 2016 and seven million in 2015
