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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 9 augusT 2018
Miss America head Gretchen Carlson seeks 'healing process'

By WAYNE PARRY that sponsors and networks
Associated Press will not come if we had
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — swimsuit," added Jenni-
Gretchen Carlson, the for- fer Vaden Barth, a former
mer Fox News host now in board member and former
charge of the Miss America Miss North Carolina.
Organization, says the or- Vaden Barth said when
ganization needs to heal she and others questioned
a rift that has seen 20 state that, "they said, 'No, no,
groups call for her and oth- no, we didn't mean ABC,
er top leaders to resign. we were talking about pro-
In an interview with The As- duction companies.'" An
sociated Press that Carl- ABC spokeswoman told
son said would be her last the AP the network never
on the subject, she said threatened to cancel the
Miss America officials at broadcast, and Hopper
all levels need to be "on confirmed that in January,
the same page" and she months before the swimsuit
hoped that would happen decision was made, ABC
before the next Miss Amer- agreed to broadcast the
ica is crowned in Atlantic pageant.
City on Sept. 9. Miss America 2016 Betty
"It would be important that Cantrell said the deci-
we all try to come together In this Sept. 18, 2015, file photo, newly-crowned Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell poses for a sion to eliminate swimsuit
and have a healing pro- portrait in Los Angeles. was presented as a fait
cess," she said. Associated Press accompli.q
Yet Carlson, chairwoman
of the Miss America Orga- Hopper said critics are un-
nization, dismissed critics as happy that Miss America
"a noisy minority" unhappy is eliminating the swimsuit
over the elimination of the competition, a staple of the
swimsuit competition from pageant since it debuted
this year's nationally tele- in 1921. She said the rein-
vised broadcast and resis- vention of Miss America is a
tant to change in general. turnaround that would typi-
Carlson, who was Miss cally take two to four years
America in 1989, also said in the corporate world but
on Tuesday the decision to had to be done in eight
eliminate the swimsuit com- months, forcing people to
petition has made the pag- come to terms with it much
eant more relevant and quicker than usual.
has been praised by many Carlson and Hopper were
supporters who considered among a wave of female
the pageant outdated and leadership swept into office
demeaning to women. after emails from former
Twenty-two state-lev- pageant leaders denigrat-
el pageant officials last ing the appearance, intel-
month signed a letter ex- lect and sex lives of ex-Miss
pressing no confidence Americas surfaced last De-
in Carlson, president and cember. But the decision to
CEO Regina Hopper and drop the swimsuit competi-
the current board, claiming tion and the way oppo-
"Miss America 2.0 is simply a nents say it was presented
new title for the same old to them led many to rethink
tactics of obfuscation and their initial support for the
fear-based governance." new regime.
Two states later disassoci- Many opponents say Carl-
ated themselves from the son and others presented
letter, Carlson said. the swimsuit elimination as
Several opponents told the an ultimatum, coupled with
AP actions are being con- a threat that the pageant
sidered for the week of the would lose its national tele-
Miss America competition, vision broadcast if swimsuits
including litigation, news were retained.
conferences and public "We were told we had
demonstrations outside a choice — it was either
Boardwalk Hall, where the swimsuit or TV," said Leah
pageant will take place. Summers, executive direc-
However, at least 30 former tor of the Miss West Virginia
Miss Americas have voiced Organization.
confidence in the current "I heard from Regina Hop-
leadership. per and Gretchen Carlson