Miss America Vs. Miss USA: Swimsuits, Scandals, and Shrinking Rulebooks
Since 1921, Atlantic City’s tourists have been bribed with gawking at young women, starting with Margaret Gorman rocking a rebellious 'bathing beauty review' when swimsuits were scandalous. Fast forward to 1952, and beauty meets capitalist vengence: Catalina swimwear spawned Miss USA after Miss America’s Yolande Betbeze dared not to swimsuit-pose, igniting a pageant breakup. Fast forward again to 2024, and Miss America’s breaking ‘anti-boyfriend’ sorcery with married, engaged, and motherly reforms—because nothing screams feminism like still judging talents and appearances but allowing fiancees now. Meanwhile, Miss USA flexes new CEO Laylah Rose scoring interviews 50% but banning politics, sex, and religion talk, keeping drama PG for your next Zoom call. Top-tier cringe? Ex-Miss America CEO Sam Haskell’s emails leaked calling winners party animals; he bailed faster than you can say 'scandal.' Meanwhile, Gretchen Carlson’s short-lived reign ended thanks to outspoken realness by Cara Mund. Both pageants juggle swimsuits, talent, and interviews like a midlife crisis disco, proving beauty and controversy forever make a fierce ‘power couple.’
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Miss USA and Miss America: same sashes, different battles—one lost swimsuits, the other lost executives to email leaks and diva drama. Turns out pageantry’s biggest competition isn’t talent, but surviving scandals and outdated rules.
Miss America tossed swimsuits to age like milk while Miss USA upgraded their interview rounds to 50% politeness—because nothing says progress like trimming the juicy stuff out of the chat.
Watching Miss USA and Miss America evolve feels like witnessing your grandparents try TikTok: equal parts awkward, surprising rule changes, and a lot of old-school drama nobody needs but everyone watches.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 9/5/2025 | Author: Anneta Konstantinides
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