Gretchen Carlson steps down as Miss America chairwoman after a turbulent year that saw her lauded for eliminating the swimsuit contest whilst critics accused her of bullying and conflating the #MeToo Movement
- The former Miss America was head of the pageant's all-female leadership
- The 1989 Miss America winner saw the elimination of the swimsuit section
- Her tenure was marked by accusations of bullying and a lack of transparency
Gretchen Carlson is pictured at Variety's Power of Women event in New York earlier this year. This week she announced she was stepping down as board chairwoman of the Miss America Organization
Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America who helped eliminate the pageant's swimsuit competition, is stepping down as board chairwoman of the Miss America Organization.
She was part of an all-female leadership team that took over the pageant in 2018 following an email scandal in which male leaders insulted former Miss Americas, denigrating their appearance, intelligence and even their sex lives.
During her time on the team Carlson pushed for the elimination of the swimsuit competition from the pageant, which originated in Atlantic City nearly 100 years ago.
In place of the swimsuit competition last year, contestants spoke about themselves, their goals and how they planned to serve the community.
Some welcomed the change as making the pageant more relevant, but many state organizations rebelled against the new leadership team's management.
US media reported pageant directors for New Jersey and other states called for Carlson and other members of the board's resignation - citing a lack of transparency in their management.
Meanwhile, other members of the board claimed Carlson and pageant CEO Regina Hopper had misguided them into thinking ABC would drop the pageant if the swimsuit pageant wasn't cut.
In September last year, more controversy followed as a large group of former Miss Americas also called for the resignation of Carlson, Hopper and the board.
Cara Mund, Miss America 2018, also accused Carlson and the pageant leaders of bullying - something the then-chairwoman denied.
Cara Mund was crowned Miss America 2018 in October 2017. In 2018 she accused Carlson and the pageant leaders of bullying - something Carlson denied
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Others yet accused Carlson of conflating the #MeToo movement - a movement that began picking up in 2017 as it pushed for an end to sexual assault and harassment, particularly in the workforce.
But, in a statement announcing her resignation Carlson said she was proud of the work the team had done to help the organization build on its history while working to secure its future.
'With a promising network partnership, the time is ideal to give new leadership the opportunity to move forward with what has been accomplished. Miss America will always be a part of who I am and I will enthusiastically watch as the organization continues to grow and succeed.'
During her time on the team Carlson pushed for the elimination of the swimsuit competition from the pageant. In a statement, announcing her resignation as pageant chairwoman, she said she was proud of what its leadership had accomplished in the past year
Regina Hopper, the organization's CEO, said, 'We are grateful for the talents, expertise and time Gretchen gave to move this organization to relevancy, diversity and inclusion for a new generation of young women. We are thrilled she will continue to move this transition forward as an adviser to the board as we work toward a successful Miss America 2020 on NBC, and the 100th anniversary of this American icon in 2021.'
Carlson was Miss America 1989.
She will be replaced by Shantel Krebs, the former South Dakota secretary of state. Attorney Brenda Keith will be vice-chair.
'As a female legislator, statewide elected official and entrepreneur, I understand how important it is to empower the coming generations of women to seek out how they can have a positive impact on our society by stepping up to the plate,' said Krebs.
The location of this year's pageant still has not been determined.
Shantel Krebs, the former South Dakota secretary of state, will take over as the new chairwoman of Miss America
