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Despite Controversy, Miss America Taps 'Dancing With the Stars' Judge to Co-Host
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Carrie Ann Inaba will be joined by 'Celebrity Big Brother' runner-up Ross Mathews, who will provide reports throughout the evening from backstage.

AceShowbiz - Despite the ongoing turmoil, Miss America doesn't seem to slow down the prep for this year's competition. The pageant officials have just announced that "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba has been tapped to host the 2019 Miss America Competition.

The 50-year-old reality star reveals in a statement she choreographed the competition for years, adding that she is "thrilled" to be this year's host.

Inaba will be joined by "Celebrity Big Brother" runner-up and TV personality Ross Mathews. The panelist from "RuPaul's Drag Race" is set to provide reports throughout the evening from backstage while also providing commentary and updates.

The announcement arrives amid email scandal that leads to leadership changes in the Miss America Organization. Alleged sexist and derogatory email messages from CEO Sam Haskell leaked online back in December. The emails saw him blasting everyone from 2013 winner Mallory Hagan to former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who was crowned Miss America in 1989.

Haskell later was suspended before resigning alongside other executives including Chairwoman Lynn Weidner and President Josh Randle. Carlson then filled in Weidner's vacant position in January.

The controversy didn't stop there as Miss America 2018 Cara Mund penned an open letter to former pageant winners, revealing that she felt "controlled, manipulated, silenced" and "bullied" by the organization's leadership. Mund specifically named Carlson and President and CEO Regina Hopper in the open letter, writing that the two "erased" her from her role as well as prevented her from doing interviews with major news outlets.

Carlson later defended herself by denying Mund's allegations. She wrote that she was "surprised and saddened beyond words" to hear how Mund felt.

The 2019 Miss America competition will air live from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on September 9 at 9 P.M. EDT/PDT on ABC.

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