Free Republic

Cara Mund, whose reign as Miss America comes to a close next month, accused the pageant’s parent organization of systematically silencing her in a letter made public Friday. It was the latest setback for the organization, which has struggled to reinvent itself after a string of scandals. In a missive that ran over 3,000 words long, Ms. Mund said that the pageant’s leadership had “reduced me, marginalized me, and essentially erased me in my role as Miss America in subtle and not-so-subtle ways on a daily basis.” She went on to say that members of the organization had prevented her...

North Dakota's Cara Mund claimed the crown as Miss America 2018 during Sunday night's competition at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. Miss America 2017, Savvy Shields, former Miss Arkansas, placed the crown on the 23-year-old teary-eyed successor's head as the new Miss America accepted applause and cheers from the audience and judges. Miss North Dakota emerged victorious through a series of swimsuit and talent contests, onstage speeches and two rounds of interviews by judges. In one of her onstage interviews, Mund said President Trump, a Republican, was wrong to withdraw the U.S. from the climate accord aimed at reducing greenhouse gas...