The Miss America pageant is dropping the swimsuit competition, saying it will no longer judge contestants on their appearance but on 害羞草研究所渨hat makes you you.害羞草研究所�
The pageant began nearly 100 years ago as a bathing beauty contest to keep tourists coming to this seaside resort after Labor Day. But in recent decades, women害羞草研究所檚 groups and others have complained that making contestants parade across the stage in bathing suits and high heels is outdated, sexist and more than a little silly.
The announcement Tuesday came after a shake-up at the Miss America Organization that resulted in the top three leadership positions being held by women. The overhaul was triggered by an email scandal last December in which Miss America officials denigrated winners害羞草研究所� intelligence, appearance and sex lives.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not going to judge you on your appearance because we are interested in what makes you you,害羞草研究所� Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America who became head of the organization害羞草研究所檚 board of trustees in the wake of the scandal, said in making the announcement on ABC害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淕ood Morning America.害羞草研究所�
Carlson, whose sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes led to his departure, said the board had heard from potential contestants who lamented, 害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 want to be out there in high heels and swimsuits.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淕uess what?害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 have to anymore.害羞草研究所�
In place of the swimsuit competition, contestants will participate in an interactive session with the judges 害羞草研究所渨here she will highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion, and ambition to perform the job of Miss America,害羞草研究所� the organization said in a statement.
Carlson said the evening wear portion of the competition will also be changed to allow women to wear something other than a gown if they want.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 what comes out of their mouths that we care about,害羞草研究所� she said.
Leanza Cornett, Miss America 1993, supported the dropping of the swimsuit competition.
害羞草研究所淚 hated it,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 always felt awkward and uncomfortable.害羞草研究所�
She added: 害羞草研究所淚n the climate of #MeToo, I think it害羞草研究所檚 a really wise decision. We害羞草研究所檙e living in a different era now, and when we move forward for the empowerment of women, we will be taken much more seriously, and I think that害羞草研究所檚 huge.害羞草研究所�
Carlson said she is not worried ratings for the nationally televised broadcast might suffer. She said that the swimsuit portion is not the highest-rated portion and that viewers seem more interested in the talent competition.
The changes will start with this year害羞草研究所檚 broadcast on ABC on Sept. 9. Because many of the state and local competitions that decide the Miss America finalists have already begun, the dropping of the swimsuit portion will not take effect at those levels until next year害羞草研究所檚 competition, the organization said.
Carlson said the Miss America Organization will emphasize its role as a scholarship provider and is 害羞草研究所渘o longer a pageant.害羞草研究所�
Mallory Hytes Hagan, Miss America 2013, was a particular target of the emails, many of which ridiculed her weight gain after she won the title. In a Facebook video Tuesday, Hagan said she weighed 124 pounds when she was crowned. She said she is now 164 pounds, which she said most people would consider normal.
She is running for Congress in Alabama as a Democrat.
害羞草研究所淭here are tons of women across this country who are not 害羞草研究所榮wimsuit-ready害羞草研究所� who are doing some really bad-ass stuff in their communities,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e should be honouring them, and that doesn害羞草研究所檛 involve putting on a two-piece bathing suit and walking onstage in heels.害羞草研究所�
Wayne Parry, The Associated Press
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