LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – Pageant woman will no longer strut the stage in swimsuits after the Miss America Organization announced it is dropping it from its competition.
The organization announced Tuesday it will no longer judge contestants based off of appearance. The organization is also dropping the name pageant, and referring to it as a “competition.”
“I was a little surprised but at the same time not because I think it makes sense for the Miss America organization. They’re a scholarship organization,” Alexis Sims said.
Sims is a former pageant competitor. She competed in dozens of pageants across Arkansas, including Miss Arkansas.
“I went to UCA on two different types of scholarships: pageants and ACTS,” she said.
Sims said the swimsuit portion of Miss America is a long standing tradition. It is how Miss America got its start in the early 1900s.
She said eliminating this portion can be a positive change. She said this opens the doors for more contestants.
"Girls who were religiously morally against the swimsuit competition. That wasn't their cup of tea. Girls who are just interested in the scholarship and furthering and empowering woman,” Sims said.
Sims also said not judging based off looks will hopefully help with body image.
"The Miss America organization is also unique because of the talent competition contestants participate in. Highlighting that I hope is where they're going to go,” she said.
Scott Carter judges pageants and he said eliminating the swimsuit portion is the Miss America Organization keeping up with the times.
"The whole history of the Miss America pageant organization is one of change,” Carter said. "To me, it's just part of the pageant evolving as it tries to continue to stay of interest to both the young ladies who would be contestants as well as the viewing audience."
Sims said if a woman still wants to seek out swimsuit competitions, there are still plenty of pageant options available.
"I'm a firm believer that just because something has always been done a certain way, does not mean it always has to continue that way,” she said.
The Miss Arkansas competition taking place next week at the Robinson Theater will still include swimsuits.
Jessie Bennett with the Miss America Board of Trustees said the first non-swimsuit competition will be this coming September. Bennett said she hopes woman will reconsider the Miss America option with the elimination of swimsuits.
Bennett also said scoring will be based off of what the woman say during their interviews and talent. There will still be an evening gown section, encouraging woman to wear red carpet attire that is not limited to a dress.