Miss. America 2.0 // Instead Of Sex Appeal, The Focus Will Be On Contestant's Talents and Goals

By christinelai on 07 Jun 2018

Just 2 days ago, Miss America has announced that they will not judge based on outward appearances. (Say what... I mean, after all its a beauty contest...?) In a move to focus more on a female's gifts, goals and who they are, they have scraped away swimsuit contest and other components to pursue this cultural revolution. Do you like the sound of it?

JUST IN: "We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That's huge. And that means we will no longer have a swimsuit competition." - @GretchenCarlson on the major changes coming to @MissAmericaOrg https://t.co/ICRIsRN71h pic.twitter.com/IWKcVvCC50

— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 5, 2018

Heyy, I'm not sure if you know some of my friends called self-worth, self-esteem and negativity. While we should be proud of who we are, focusing on our talents, our giftings and what we are doing, we strengthen and affirm our above friends instead. Is it our fault that we gave these friends the voice to influence our mind? And when it becomes full-blown, we forget who we are and slowly silently, we become someone else. How much part does the media play to influence a strong sense in us to be a certain type of beauty? Do you believe that you are beautiful the way you are?

Photo from stock

Ms. Gretchen Carlson assumed the role as the new chairwoman after the previous chief executive resigned in December over lewd emails. Ms.Carlson once sued Fox News for sexual harassment and she was Miss America 1989, a former beauty queen herself. She's a strong voice in the feministic movement. In fact, there has been a big change in the entire management of the Miss. America beauty pageant this year.

Photo from Getty Image

"We are not going to judge you on your outward appearance," Ms. Carlson, said on ABC's 'Good Morning America' on Tuesday. "We are moving it forward and evolving it in this cultural revolution."

Photo from Miss. America

At the moment, the pageant tries to redefine its role in an era of female empowerment and gender equality. Moving on from this decision, the competition would focus more on the contestants' talents, intelligence and ideas, more so over physical appearances and body shapes.

"This will be more inclusive," said Jennifer Vaden-Barth, a Miss America board member, "it'll allow us to put the ownership of a woman's presence and beauty in her hands."

Photo from Miss. America

In facilitating this new vision, the organisation announced that it would scrap both the swimsuit and evening gown portion of the competition, replacing them with “a live interactive session with the judges” in which a contestant “will highlight her achievements and goals in life.” I really like the sound of that, except that hopefully, it would be short and sweet.

Photo from The Atlantic

In an interview, that Ms.Carlson has confirmed her aim was to “make the event more inclusive” and described it as a "competition," not a "pageant." The organization's new motto is "To prepare great women for the world, and to prepare the world for great women."

Photo from USAtoday

Miss. Deidre Downs Gunn, former Miss America 2005, now a doctor.

This is great news for girls and women all over the world. The social media and the United States play a big part in influencing females. This move will indeed provide a far healthier role model for girls, starting from the US and all around the world. May this move be the first of the world. Let's hope this change is attractive enough for real beauty queens with a brain and a heart to step up and be a voice to the little ones.

Photo from AZ Quotes

Yet again, we know that for the TV and mass media, outer beauty is the main pull. With this shift and focus on inner beauty, how will it work out? Without the sex appeal of the swimsuit show and related judgement placed on physical appearance. Can the show still run??

Netizens have some interesting say:

Photo from Twitter