Pageant Chatter is a segment where I highlight the opinions of pageant enthusiasts concerning major changes in the pageantry industry. Today, we are discussing the changes to the Miss America Organization.
Earlier this week, the Miss America Organization (MAO) under the leadership of MAO Board Chair Gretchen Carlson (Miss America 1989) announced they would be making some changes to the system. Some of the changes include the following:
- Miss America is no longer a pageant. It is a competition.
- They are doing away with the swimsuit competition.
- The evening gown competition will be revamped, and contestants will have the opportunity to wear whatever makes them feel confident.
Of course pageant enthusiasts took it to social media to express their opinions of the new changes. I myself was tagged in a few posts to get my take on the new changes.
Here are my thoughts.
I am actually perfectly fine with them doing away with the swimsuit competition. I am all about fitness and living a healthy lifestyle (I am distance runner), but everyone is not going to be size 2 or 4 no matter how much they exercise or diet. There are some great women who would do well serving as Miss America, but I don’t think one category should prevent them from manifesting that crown just because they do not have the ideal body type. I believe more women will enter this competition because of this change.Now, I don’t understand why they are revamping evening gown. That was one of my favorite parts of the competition, and I don’t believe it should be changed.
Now that you have my opinion, I decided to take it to social media to get the opinions of some of my followers. Here is what they had to say.
“This just affects so many people! Doing away with swimsuit? Okay, fine that’s been a rumor for years. Replacing it with an on stage Q & A? A little weird because we already have interview AND on stage question. Changing the evening gown competition to more OOC? Uhm…why? Literally, what is the point of that? I wonder how their national evening gown sponsor, Sherri Hill, feels about that? How does this effect personal trainers? What about pageant coaches? The girls who have already spent thousands on personal trainers, healthy food, swimsuits, and evening gowns and are literally at prelims for their states right now. What can they even do?” -Talisha White
“My size was always a problem when competing but overall I did well in everything else. So I think it’s awesome for young ladies who are maybe more on the curvyside. #TheresHope#IamNotMySize I Have A Voice and Purpose!” -Kaye J. Jones
“It sounds good but will be detrimental to the program. I think they will lose prime time TV coverage on major networks. Makes me wonder if it is about including as many girls as possible to make more money. Because the local directors can’t charge the girls to compete (Miss only). They must strictly follow the Miss America guidelines, pay franchise fees, sponsorship fees, in Alabama, pay or get sponsorship for a golf tournament, so it sounds like a money maker for the MAO on the national and state level but more of an expense for the local directors. Glad we are no longer affiliated with a local prelim because this would cause me to walk away from it. I love the system and all it does for charities and for scholarships but not sure I can jump on board with the new changes.” -Kerrie Juliana
“I understand both sides. People can be so judgmental. I admire anyone that has the courage to even get on stage. I’ve competed in pageants since the age of 3. Even as a child, I would hear others body sham little girls. I think it could be a great if done properly. It shows who really has personality and who’s depending on “pretty”. When I judge pageants I always tell the contestants you don’t have to be beautiful to win. It’s all about wearing your invisible crown at all times.” -Karla Dillard Coleman
“I’m excited for the change.” -Candice Colston Reese
“Getting rid of the evening gown portion literally makes no sense; that was the highlight of the show especially when it came to prime time.” -Shalela Victoria
“I like the change..many will have the courage to compete that otherwise would not, regardless I believe the ladies will all be poised, beautiful, confident and most of all empowered leaders of the future. I like the change, although the evening wear I would have kept, and I suspect most ladies will continue wearing beautiful gowns…what else would work with the grown 
😜.” -Sari Valimaki
At the end of the day, we have no control over the changes of this beloved system. We just have to sit and watch, and hope that the changes are for the better.
Do you still want to share you opinion of the new changes? If so, let’s keep the conversation going in the comments section. All I ask is that you keep it classy and professional.
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