The organisers of the Miss America pageant have just announced some massive changes to the annual event: for one, they’re dropping the swimsuit portion of the contest. Also, it’s technically no longer a pageant.
In a statement, the Miss America Organization‘s board of trustees said the weirdest part of the whole ordeal – where the women vying for the title of Miss America take to the stage wearing bikinis – will be scrapped for the September 9 event.
We’re changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini #MissAmerica2019 pic.twitter.com/pgyHotpoYz
— Miss America HQ (@MissAmericaOrg) June 5, 2018
The Miss America Organization said contestants “will no longer be judged on outward physical appearance.”
Instead, the swimsuit portion of the event will be replaced with “a live interactive session” where contestants discuss their achievements with the judges, and outline why they should be chosen to “perform the job of Miss America.”
In addition to the binning of swimsuit section, contestants will no longer be restricted to gowns for the evening wear line-up. Instead, contestants will be allowed to wear whatever the heck they want as they discuss their social initiatives.
The talent portion of the competition – which in recent years has included opera singing, Bollywood-inspired dancing, and even chemistry demonstrations – will remain.
Gretchen Carlson, who chairs the organisation’s board of trustees, said “we are no longer a pageant,” instead emphasising Miss America as a scholarship provider.
Last year, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships were awarded to contestants. Now, that cash will be bestowed without bikinis.
