TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Miss Tallahassee weighs in on the changes the Miss America pageant is undergoing.
Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America and the new head of the organization's board of trustees, announced Tuesday that when the pageant is held this September, it will no longer have a swimsuit competition.
Instead of showing off in a bathing suit, each contestant will interact with the judges to "highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion and ambition to perform the job of Miss America," the organization said.
Miss Tallahassee Leila Sabet says she was not shocked by the removal of the swimsuit competition, adding the changes are a reflection of the time we are in.
"I can see how they're predicting that it will be more inclusive," Sabet said. "However I think that it is going to attract a whole different group of women. I think that's okay but the competition will be different, it's going to go from a pageant to a competition
Carlson said the evening-wear portion of the competition will also be changed to allow women to wear something other than a gown if they want.
The talent portion of the contest will remain.
