Twitter in shambles as Miss America ditches bikini
The Miss America beauty pageant, conceived a century ago as a bathing suit contest, has caused uproar after saying it’s ditching the iconic bikini contest. Instead of “physical appearance” it’ll judge the candidates by their wits.
“We are no longer a pageant, we are a competition,” Gretchen Carlson, the chairwoman of the board of trustees for the Miss America Organization told the ABC’s Good Morning America on Tuesday. “We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That’s huge, and that means that we will no longer have a swimsuit competition and that is official.”
READ MORE: Bikini-clad cabin crew ditched for flights to Muslim country
From now on, the main criteria will be “what comes out of [the contestants’] mouths,” Carlson stated, specifically “when they talk about their social-impact initiatives.”
We’re changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini#MissAmerica2019pic.twitter.com/08Y7jLFxhs
— Cara Mund (@MissAmerica) 5 июня 2018 г.
While some welcomed the announcement, it was largely met with a storm of online mockery.
That puff of smoke is the last 4 viewers disappearing.
— Right Ghost (@RightGhost) 5 июня 2018 г.
Some users were not satisfied with the scrapping of the bikini contest alone and jokingly suggested to conceal the looks of the contestants altogether. Many supported an idea to dress them into full veils.
Islamists and Puritans the world over are cheering! Ankle length skirts or better yet full on burkas only please! That way the eye shan't be tempted by a woman's body.Progress seems to be taking us backward but whatever floats your boat feminists.
— Marley (@ReckoningMarley) 5 июня 2018 г.
Others suggested the contest should be held entirely in darkness to not offend anyone and focus on the personalities of the contestants, while forecasting an incoming meme storm, mocking such an event.
So, so lame. South Park will have a great time with this one. Guess you should wrap them in blankets and turn out the lights and judge them on their personality and wit so as not to offend anyone.
— MoneroMan (@ManMonero) 5 июня 2018 г.
"Beauty is judged from the inside...not the outside." Pfrrrrt....if that's the case, what's next, The Beauty Pageant-Voice Style?" No cameras, only their voices- great following. I'm going back into my safe space- I'm offended. 😋
— Crypto_DJ (@CryptoDJ1) 5 июня 2018 г.
Many urged the beauty pageant to shut down completely instead of revising its program. Some argued that the bikini contest was actually the only part of the event worth watching, while the others claimed that the whole concept of a “beauty contest” was “offensive and sexist.”
Sad, I won’t watch anymore. Sorry @GretchenCarlson but there is nothing wrong with a woman in a bikini at all. This is political correctness due to current climate and pressure. #maga
— Steve Morris Jr (@Stevemorrisjr1) 5 июня 2018 г.
Great first step, provided the second and immediate next step is getting rid of the entire pageant. The entire idea of a "beauty pageant" (yes, that's what you are) is sexist and offensive - the swimsuit competition was the worst of it, but it is far from the only offensive part.
— Chad Marlow (@ChadAaronMarlow) 5 июня 2018 г.
People didn't care about Miss America, but the few that did, watched it for the swimsuit competition. Now it is completely doomed. No one is watching to hear beauty queen's solution to end world hunger. This is just silly now.
— Paxton Fudge 🦅 (@paxtonfudge) 5 июня 2018 г.
Excluding the appearance of the contestants from the criteria list effectively meant that Miss America would not be a beauty pageant any longer, some users pointed out.
The pageant started as a swimsuit competition, it's part of the tradition. There is nothing wrong with wanting Miss America to be intelligent, healthy, and in good physical shape.
— 3 Paw Pundit (@3pawpundit) 5 июня 2018 г.
BREAKING: Miss America scraps itself because there was no further point in having it.
— Jest Joan (@jest_joan) 5 июня 2018 г.
Just make it an essay contest!
— Michael (@BlackSabbath22) 5 июня 2018 г.
Then there were those who read between the lines of what the statement of Carlson, herself Miss America 1989, said. They suggested that the move to ditch bikinis meant the contestants will appear before the audience full-nude instead.
It's about time you got rid of those skimpy bikinis. It's going to be so much better in the nude!
— fmcjfc (@fmcjfc) 5 июня 2018 г.
Others argued that the alleged “offensive” nature of the contest can be balanced out by a similar event for men sporting swimming trunks – in the name of equality.
Not to speak for all women but do they really care? Wouldn't you all prefer a new 'Mr' America competition with an equally sexualized swimsuit event?
— RandomMoniker (@middlewingJeff) 5 июня 2018 г.
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