Why Miss America is still indefensible, even without the swimsuit competition

Slate

New Miss America Organization chair Gretchen Carlson's announcement that it's now a "competition" and not a "pageant" doesn't mean much, says Christina Cauterucci. "No," she says, "I don’t think the pageant is notably more progressive without the swimsuit shtick. Without any judgment of physical appearance, the Miss America competition almost becomes less defensible—what are the judges judging, if not a woman’s ability to mold her body to conventionally desirable proportions? The remaining components of the pageant—talent, interview, on-stage questions, and the new conversation with judges about life goals—don’t lend themselves to a cohesive vision of best-ness any better than they did when evening gowns and swimsuits were part of the rubric. If women wanted to showcase their tap-dancing or piano skills, they’d audition for America’s Got Talent. If they wanted to get better at answering on-the-spot questions about current events, they’d join a debate league or mock trial."