Miss America aims its sights in a different direction

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a face lift that many argue is long overdue. The Miss America Organization is scrapping the swimsuit portion of competition and making evening wear portion optional.

An American tradition that’s 3 years shy of turning a century old, is rocking the pageant community to its core.

On June 5, 2018, the Miss America Organization leadership made the decision to do away with the swim suit and evening gown portion of competition.

“The evening wear, I’m a little bit sad about because I think that kind of brings the pageantry. The swimsuit, I’m ecstatic,” said former Miss Mississippi Contestant Iika McCarter.

“I think the pageant is a part of tradition but another part of tradition is that it kind of always has gotten a bad rap from at least some corners of American society. That’s because it has always been at least partially about a bikini contest,” said assistant professor of Women’s Studies, Dr. Chanley Rainy.

Dr. Chanley Rainy is the assistant professor of Women’s studies at MUW. She says this change is not only for the best but could be a springboard for the organization to becoming more relevant.

“Gretchen Carlson, when she was announcing these changes she said that it was about the ongoing revolution of the way we understand women in society. This is kind of the pageant catching up to that. I do think it’ll make it more relevant to a broader segment of women and young girls in America and it will make it more positive in its relevance,” said Rainy.

“In the long run I feel like it’s going to bring more women back to the program, probably more than I can handle,” said McCarter.

McCarter competed for the title of Miss Mississippi as Miss Mississippi University For Women twice in the mid 90’s.

“That was one of the thorns in my side when I was competing. I don’t care how small I got because of my body, I was little, compact, 5’3″. I was still never small enough but I was being compared to the skinniest girls on the stage. I think that’s going to eliminate that side of feeling inadequate,” said McCarter.

She said she welcomes a push towards women’s empowerment, especially from an organization that supports the success of women and young girls.

“We’re getting back to the whole gist of it all. The whole purpose of why we do this pageant; scholarship, getting to know the young lady, who she is, how intelligent they are, who they are on the inside, what makes this young lady who she is, and not about her two pieces,” said McCarter.

A new Miss Mississippi will be crowned on June 23rd. The state competition will still include the swimsuit and evening gown competitions this year.