NBC host Megyn Kelly derided the Miss America pageant on Tuesday for their decision to get rid of its swimsuit competition.
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Kelly noted that the pageant has already been declining in popularity and questioned who would want to watch the program without the swimsuit contest. (RELATED: Miss America Stops The Swimsuit Contest, And Won’t Judge On Physical Appearance)
“I mean, let’s face it, it hasn’t been a popular thing for a lot of years,” Kelly argued. “They’re getting rid of the swimsuit competition, they’re revamping the evening gown competition, now you can wear whatever you want — you can go out there in your house robe.”
“What they’re saying is, ‘we’re now only interested in your social impact initiative’ — I mean, the question is: who wants to watch that?” Kelly said.
Kelly added that she thinks it is wrong for organizations like Miss America to tell women that it’s not okay to be celebrated for being sexy, explaining, “I love that they embrace that piece of themselves.”
“We, trying to make women choose between being sexy and strong or sexy and smart, are doing them a disservice,” Kelly concluded.