Why I am applauding the Miss Universe Organization

FILE - In this July 12, 2015 file photo, Miss USA co-host Todd Newton and former Miss Wisconsin USA 2009, Alex Weherley during the 2015 Miss USA pageant in Baton Rouge, La. The Miss Universe Organization said Wednesday, April 20, 2016, it will conduct an online search for a candidate to join the 51 contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia on the live telecast June 5 on Fox. (AP Photo/Derick E. Hingle, File)

By Madison Gesiotto - - Wednesday, June 29, 2016

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Less than a year after talent and marketing agency WME/IMG purchased the Miss Universe Organizationfrom Donald Trump, it was announced that some contestants will be saying goodbye to their bikinis.

In place of the swimsuit competition, Miss Teen USA contestants will now compete in an athletic wear competition, similar to the “Lifestyle and Fitness in Sportswear competition” of their rival pageant, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.

The 2016 Miss Teen USA competition is set to be held on July 30 in Las Vegas and will be the first time since the pageant’s 1983 creation that the contestants will not compete in swimwear.

Similarly, the swimsuit portion of the Miss World pageant was eliminated following protests from Muslim groups in 2014.

As a former Miss USA competitor who myself competed in swimwear, I disagreed with the Miss World Organization’s decision and felt that they were sending the wrong message by giving in to the demands of these Muslim groups and eliminating the swimsuit portion of the competition formerly enjoyed by women from countries across the globe for over 60 years.

However, I do not feel the same way about the Miss Universe Organization’s decision.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/29/why-i-am-applauding-miss-universe-organization/