Miss Teen USA Pageant Ditching Swimsuit Competition!!

The Miss Teen USA pageant is about to change for the better! They are taking out the prominent swimsuit portion of the competition, and changing it with athletic wear.

For the longest time, these competitions glorified the swimsuit wear in the pageants and now, they are saying it’s a no go from now on. The overseers of the competition say the swimsuit portion was intended to show the athleticism of the women, but they say the change is better and comes off as USA Today says, “less exploitative” and focuses on the younger participants being that they are aged around 15-20 years old.

Miss Teen USA as of now, Katherine Haik states, “This new direction for Miss Teen USA is a great way to celebrate the active lives that so many young women lead and set a strong example for our peers.”

This push is to “celebrate women’s strength, confidence, and beauty” not to glorify the women’s body. Especially in a teenage girl.

Valerie Hayes, pageant coach to some girls, states that with this new outlook one the pageant, it could possible encourage more parents to have their girls indulge in more competitions, whether it be state or local.

With this new trend also being able to help out ethically and emotionally, it can also help expand Miss Teen USA financially. Former Miss Virginia, Nancy Redd states that most teens spend 50% of their time “athleisure” and 1% in a bathing suit. It could help with sponsorships from brands such as Nike and Adidas be apart of something greater.

Even Julianne Hough has spoken out against the changes she feels should be made even with the adult Miss USA pageant, explaining that she and the producers have talked about leaning more towards another aspect and ditching the swimsuit idea as well.

“Being confident in the fact that you worked so hard to get that body and you go to the gym and toys eat healthy and do certain things,” Hough says is a big reason as to what hey should celebrate health and wellness more often.

Be on the lookout for the July 30th showing of the Miss Teen USA pageant that will be held in Las Vegas this morning, and it will air at 10PM EST live!