MISS AMERICA TO INCLUDE WOMEN OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

Miss America has officially scrapped out swimsuits and will be now be a competition and not a pageant.

Gretchen Carlson the chairwoman of the contest board of directors announced on Tuesday at Good Morning America, that the event will no longer feature a swimsuit portion.  “We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That’s huge,” she said.

Carlson also said the new Miss America competition will be more inclusive to women of “all shapes and sizes.”

The official Miss America Twitter account tweeted a short video of a white bikini going up in a puff of smoke with the hashtag #byebyebikini.

The elimination of swimsuit category is not only change made to the competition. The evening gown competition is being refurbished as well. Carlson said contestants will now be able to wear “whatever they choose.”

Contestants will also be required to discuss how they would advance their social-impact initiatives during this part of the contest. The talent portion of the competition will remain.

“The rise of the #Me-too movement is powering the changes,” Carlson said.

“We’re experiencing a cultural revolution in our country with women finding the courage to stand up and have their voices heard on many issues,” she said in the statement. “Miss America is proud to evolve as an organization and join this empowerment movement.”

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