Swimsuits at the Miss Teen USA pageant are
officially dead in the water. The organization is ending the swimsuit portion
of the beauty pageant and replacing it with an athletic wear competition, a
spokesperson confirmed to CNN.
The news was first reported by USA
Today.
It's a nod to a more modern approach
in an era where there are gender empowerment videos and commercial campaigns
including Always' #LikeAGirl aimed at highlighting equality among the sexes.
"This decision reflects an
important cultural shift we're all celebrating that empowers women who lead
active, purposeful lives and encourage those in their communities to do the
same," Miss Universe president Paula Shugart wrote in a memo to the
pageant's state directors. "Our hope is that this decision will help all
of Miss Teen USA's fans recognize these young women for the strong, inspiring
individuals they are."
Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss
Universe are all owned by WME/IMG after Donald Trump sold the organization
following his remarks about Mexicans caused a falling out with NBC Universal
and Univision.
Beauty pageants have long been the
target of ire and viewed as both archaic and demeaning to women.
In a column written last year for The
Guardian writer Jessica Valenti said, "The notion that beauty pageants are
anything more than an opportunity to ogle gorgeous, scantily-clad women and pit
them against each has long been debunked."
"Despite long-standing claims
that pageants like Miss America are a major source of scholarships for young
women, the truth is that they offer only a fraction of the money that they
claim they do," Valenti wrote. "Women who participate are also much
more likely to spend money than make money on the endeavor -- the cost of
dresses, hair and makeup, entrance fees and more are the responsibility of the
contestants alone."
The Miss World pageant ended its
swimsuit competition in 2014.
Source: CNN Money, June 29, 2016
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