
Miss America's swimsuit competition will soon be no more so allow us to welcome you to 2018, the year of: 'Shouldn't that have happened literally years ago?'
That's right, the swimsuit competition, which actually launched the pageant's inaugural contest, is being scrapped according to Miss America Organisation chair Gretchen Carlson.
Carlson announced this change, which is one of many, on Good Morning America.
She revealed the title of Miss America will no longer be fought for in the form of a pageant, but instead as a 'competition'.
Carlson said during the interview:
We’ve heard from a lot of young women who say: ‘We’d love to be a part of your program but we don’t want to be out there in high heels and a swimsuit'.
So guess what? You don’t have to do that anymore. You’re welcome. Please, come join us.
Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News host, has been a strong advocate for the Me Too movement. She sued the late Fox News founder Rodger Ailes for sexual harassment and she is also the first former Miss America to chair the organisation.
Carlson won the Miss America title for Minnesota in 1989 and became chair after emails from the organisation's leadership uncovered misogynistic language.
JUST IN: "We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That's huge. And that means… https://t.co/nKCBshfboB— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1528198831
There are hopes the change will make the competition more inclusive of women who might have been deterred by judging of women's physiques specifically.
The official Miss America Twitter released a video of a white bikini going up in smoke with the hashtag #byebyebikini.
We’re changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini #MissAmerica2019 https://t.co/08Y7jLFxhs— The Miss America Org (@The Miss America Org) 1528199495
Naturally, users on social media had a lot of thoughts on the news:
Superficial means "relating to the surface" or "external." E.g. Miss America is scrapping its practice of asking… https://t.co/CJX4Ey2eLp— Dictionary.com (@Dictionary.com) 1528203020
Judging a woman in her swimsuit during the Miss America pageant was nothing short of subjective sexism. Ask a conte… https://t.co/FGtWmZgnl3— Angela Belcamino (@Angela Belcamino) 1528204972
Of course, there were those who opposed the change:
Miss America has decided under Gretchen Carlson that there will be no more swimsuit, evening gown or for for that m… https://t.co/2OREWSPmCd— Dean Read (@Dean Read) 1528204475
No swimming suit segment for Miss America wow goodbye ratings good bye Miss America #MissAmerica— Rude boy for life (@Rude boy for life) 1528198604
No more scantily clad women during the Miss America Pageant ... sounds like great radio.— Paul Bracken (@Paul Bracken) 1528198864
Miss America will effectively devolve into a contest to hear which woman presents the most “woke” monologue. Good luck.— Chris Stigall (@Chris Stigall) 1528203696
The next Miss America competition is September 9 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The changes to Miss America won't be implemented until 2019.