While many believe that shallow is synonymous with beauty pageants, Miss America contestants and creators alike have long said the 97-year-old contest is not about looks. In a first step to proving that the pageant isn’t just about a contestant’s outer appearance, Miss America announced that they will no longer include the swimsuit competition portion. In a press release, the Miss America Organization claimed that not only will the upcoming 2019 Miss America Competition not include a swimsuit portion, but also that contestants will no longer be judged based on their looks. The swimsuit section will be replaced by a live conversation about their goals and accomplishments.
Some have expressed dismay about the organization’s decision, citing how the first Miss America competition in 1921 had a swimsuit competition, and every competition since has held it.
This is an important portion of the #MissAmerica history! It is how it began! I competed years ago and it taught me how to get a #healthybody and helped with #confidence
— Crystal Church (@cjcchurch) June 5, 2018
While some may enjoy or be inspired by the swimsuit competition, this decision is important as its seemingly more and more unrealistic expectations have now been diminished, which will hopefully take away the stigma about needing to be thin to become Miss America. According to Psych Guides, Miss America contestants have gotten increasingly skinny since 1921, while the average 20 year old’s waistline has grown.
It seems the beauty pageant wants to step into a new era. Gretchen Carlson, former Miss America and the chair of Miss America’s board of trustees, is now involved with Miss America’s new decisions and making sure that everyone feels comfortable competing in Miss America. Carlson proclaimed of the competition, “We are no longer a pageant. Miss America will represent a new generation of female leaders focused on scholarship, social impact, talent and empowerment.”
Cara Mund, 2018’s crowned winner, shared her support for the decision on Twitter.
We’re changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini #MissAmerica2019 pic.twitter.com/08Y7jLFxhs
— Cara Mund (@MissAmerica) June 5, 2018
President and CEO of the competition, Regina Hopper, announced, “Miss America’s new mission statement is: ‘to prepare great women for the world and to prepare the world for great women.” We’ll see when the program airs if all aspects related to beauty are really erased from the competition, but in the meantime, all signs point to this being a change for the better.