Miss America, what is going on??? There are reports of some real beef between former contestants and the current national leadership of the pageant.
Well because of this revolt, the #MissAmericaOrganization has terminated the licenses of four states and threatened 15 others with probation! #Georgia, #WestVirginia, #Pennsylvania and a fourth unidentified state have received notices that their Miss America licenses have been revoked, according to @Insider.
These states can no longer claim affiliation to the Miss America Organization and must hand over bank accounts containing scholarship money. These terminations follow reports that Miss Arizona 2015, Madi Esteves, and two other past contestants said they were bullied, belittled and forced to lie by pageant organizers.
Those three were inspired to come forward after Miss America 2018, Cara Mund, accused the national organization of bullying just days before her successor was crowned last month.
“(The Miss Arizona organizers) didn’t want to hear what I wanted to do. They didn’t allow me to be myself. … It was: ‘You do as we say,'” Esteves told The Arizona Republic. “I got a glimpse of what it feels like to be silenced and feel like you don’t have a voice.”
Despite her claims, two executives in the Miss Arizona organization disputed what Esteves said.
States whose licenses have been terminated can request appeal hearings from Miss America’s executive committee or replace their current leaders.
Things have been drama-filled for the organization though, especially behind the scenes. This year’s pageant took place last month, after 46 of the 51 organizations, along with 23 former contestants, called for the CEO, Regina Hopper, and chairwoman and former Fox News Host Gretchen Carlson to resign, claiming the two were perpetrators of bullying and manipulation. And last December, the then CEO of the organization Sam Haskell stepped down after leaked emails revealed past contestants and winners had been body shamed.
We’ll keep you updated on the latest, #Roommates!
TSR STAFF: Christina C! @cdelafresh
