Eliminating swimsuits is not the only change that has been made in the history of the 97-year-old event.
- June 6, 2018
AceShowbiz - Miss America is making a huge shift. The next edition of the beauty pageant will not be featuring its swimsuit portion, the contest announced on Tuesday, June 5. In addition, the competition will be inclusive of women of all size.
Gretchen Carlson, chair of the Miss America board of directors, says on "Good Morning America", "We are no longer a pageant. We are a competition." She goes on saying, "We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That's huge."
The official Twitter account for the competition also takes to the micro-blogging site to announce the big change. "We're changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini #MissAmerica2019," the account writes in the caption.
We’re changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini#MissAmerica2019pic.twitter.com/08Y7jLFxhs
— Cara Mund (@MissAmerica) June 5, 2018
Rather than competing in bikinis, the contestants will be taking part in a live interactive session with the judges. According to a statement from the Miss America Organization, the session will require the contestant to "highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion, and ambition to perform the job of Miss America."
Eliminating swimsuits is not the only change that has been made in the history of the 97-year-old event. Carlson reveals that the evening gown competition undergoes change as well. The contestants will now be able to wear "whatever they choose."
The contestants will also discuss their way to advance their social-impact initiatives during this part of the contest. Meanwhile, the talent portion of the competition remains the same.
Carlson shares that the #MeToo movement is one of the factors behind the changes. "We're experiencing a cultural revolution in our country with women finding the courage to stand up and have their voices heard on many issues," she says in the statement. "Miss America is proud to evolve as an organization and join this empowerment movement."
