Miss America Organization Split by #MeToo Era Swimsuit Decision

Wall Street Journal ^ | July 8, 2018 | Valerie Bauerlein

[reaganaut1]

Nearly half of Miss America’s board has quit or been forced to resign in the wake of the organization’s decision to eliminate the swimsuit competition from the contest, and 22 state pageant leaders are seeking to oust Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson over concerns about the pageant’s new direction.

Ms. Carlson, a former Miss America and an early leader in the #MeToo movement, announced on June 5 that Miss America was dropping the swimsuit and evening-gown competitions and replacing them with an extended onstage interview. She said it was important to make women’s voices heard during a “cultural revolution in our country.”

Some former directors and state pageant heads said they felt pressured by Ms. Carlson and other executives to choose to end the swimsuit competition or risk having the pageant not being broadcast on television.

When asked for Ms. Carlson’s comment, the Miss American Organization said in a statement that no binary choice between swimsuit and a television deal was ever posed.

The TV broadcast is of critical importance to the pageant as it generates a significant amount of the organization’s revenue. The organization has long been on precarious financial footing, with a net loss of $575,000 in 2016—the latest available figures—on revenue of $9.8 million, according to federal filings.

The elimination of the swimsuit competition is testing the ability of a nearly 100-year-old institution to adapt to a fast-changing culture. Miss America started as a swimsuit competition in 1921, at a time when it was considered modern and liberating for women to pose in bathing suits.

Many volunteers who run the state and local competitions that lead up to Miss America said the change has been disorienting.

[Yaelle]

What a cool pair to be brought up by. Very special.

While my mom didn’t win any beauty contests, all my male teachers were in love with her. And dad was an immigrant from England when he worked his way through college here lettering in 4 sports... he did his stint in the US army and then became a self made success. They both did so well professionally and were good people if hands off parents.

And I remember watching Miss America when I was 7 and I thought it was so cool. Staying up late to see all the pretty girls.

I don’t mind the swimsuits but I mind the hella too high heels. I have a thing against 3”+ heels because they are more meant to hobble women than to look pretty. 2” is plenty. Really high, they all walk like cows down a rocky slope. And women are in shackles when they wear them. Men wouldn’t do it. If some gay male shoe designer told men to wear 4” heels, they’d show him the middle finger. Why are women so dumb? I love beauty and sometimes it hurts to get pretty, but super high heels are too far, IMO, so that is what I hate about the swimsuit or evening gown competition. Marilyn Monroe didn’t wear those highest heels. You don’t need Chinese foot binding to be pretty.

[wardaddy]

My wife wears 90mm on occasion..shirt skirt or her size 24 J Brand black leather pants...I have to beg

Most her heels are 70-90mm

I bought some Weizmann YSL black satin ankle and top strap sandals that are 110 mm and they sit unworn but once

She has some Manalo 110s just black suede pumps that she loves

Claims he and Choo make best feeling shoes

I try to buy her what she wants..

I coulda bought Walmart and TarJay and a beach house instead honestly..over past 10-12 years

She does have some Target ,...that Missoni stuff they carried and swimsuits

[Yaelle]

I love clothing but hate really high heels. My feet want to be happy and I want to feel I can use them whenever I want. I did wear 3” heels as a teen playing grownup. I don’t have to play any more! I think it’s a trick by gay clothing designers who wouldn’t wear them!

No man really minds if his woman doesn’t wear them and still manages to look good.

[Pelham]

My dad would likely have known those Meridian families... his hometown, but he was a decade or more older than your father’s generation.

His older first cousin became wealthy in a fashion similar to your grandfather, in his case milling and selling lumber during the massive WWII construction boom.