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The 'swimsuit problem' is not any extra
The Miss America magnificence pageant is scrapping its swimwear section and can now not choose rivals on bodily look.
The night robe part can also be being axed, with contestants requested to put on one thing that makes them really feel good and expresses their private type as an alternative.
Former winner Gretchen Carson broke the information on ABC's Good Morning America.
"We will no longer judge our candidates on their outwards, physical appearance. That's huge," she mentioned.
"We are no longer a pageant," mentioned Carlson, the primary former Miss America to be named chair of the board of trustees of the Miss America organization.
"We are a competition."
Instead of the swimming costume section, there shall be interviews with the contenders, who shall be requested about their ardour, intelligence and understanding of the Miss America position.
Carson defined: "We've heard from a lot of younger ladies who say, 'we might love to be an a part of your programme however we do not need to be on the market in excessive heels and a swimsuit'. So guess what, you do not have to try this anymore.
"Who doesn't want to be empowered, learn leadership skills and pay for college and be able to show the world who you are as a person, from the inside of your soul?"
She added: "That's what we're judging them on now."
Miss America's former govt director Sam Haskell, president Josh Randle, and different board members resigned over a scandal final yr over vulgar emails disparaging contestants.
In the emails, revealed by the Huffington Post, pageant officers made degrading remarks about previous winners' look, mind, and s3x lives.
Following the revelations, Carlson turned a part of an all-female management staff at Miss America.
She was topped Miss America in 1989.
Recently, Carlson has been an advocate for victims of s3xual harassment and a champion of the #MeToo motion.
In 2016, she settled a lawsuit in opposition to former Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, who stepped down from his position after mounting strain from a number of workers with related accusations. Ailes died final yr.
The 2019 Miss America Competition airs dwell on ABC on 9 September.