After months of controversy within the Miss America organization, executives announced Tuesday that the nearly century-old pageant will no longer judge contestants on their physical appearance. Effective this year, the show will scrap the famed swimsuit competition. [Miss America leadership steps down as controversy envelops the organization]Shortly after, Gretchen Carlson — the former Fox News anchor who won Miss America in 1989 — was named the organization’s new chairman. Miss America will represent a new generation of female leaders focused on scholarship, social impact, talent and empowerment,” Carlson said in a statement. Miss America first launched in 1921 as a swimsuit pageant, a publicity stunt to promote Atlantic City beaches.

Source: Washington Post June 05, 2018 14:00 UTC