The Controversy Around Miss America
Last month, Miss Texas was crowned Miss USA. Since then, many contestants have accused the Miss USA organization of unfairness. Not only is Miss USA under investigation for biases and unfairness, but the pageant industry as a whole has faced scrutiny recently. In an article by CBS News, a federal court ruled a few weeks ago that beauty pageants can prevent trans women from participating in the competition. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals came in response to a lawsuit brought by openly transgender woman Anita Green. She sued the United States of America Pageants organization after she was not allowed to participate in the Miss Oregon beauty pageant. Pageants' desired expression of who can be an 'ideal woman' has a long history in the past century.
The Miss America beauty pageant started in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1921. In 100 years, this pageant has moved from a basic swimsuit competition focused primarily on outer beauty to a contest where young women are able to showcase the causes that are meaningful to them. When it began, the contestants could only compete if they were white. Today, it is the world’s largest provider of scholarships for women, regardless of race. It wasn’t until 1971, 50 years later after its’ catalyst, when Cheryl Browne became the first African American contestant. Just 6 years ago in 2016, the first openly gay contestant competed. The Miss America pageant has overcome exclusivity and controversy over the years, but it still continues to receive questions about fair judging practices.
On October 3rd, Miss Texas, R’Bonney Gabriel, won the Miss USA title at the annual pageant in Reno, Nevada. Gabriel is the first Filipina-American Miss Texas USA to win the national pageant. Gabriel is also a fashion designer with her own sustainable clothing line.
“With fashion being one of the largest polluting industries in the world, I love to reuse old pieces to make something new and fabulous to cut down on waste,” said Gabriel. She is an inspiration to people everywhere on the importance of sustainable fashion.
Just days after she was crowned, several contestants accused the pageant of favoritism and of rigging the competition.
“Most of the Miss USA contestants feel very strongly that there was favoritism towards Miss Texas USA and we have the receipts to prove it,” said Miss Montana USA, Heather O’Keefe. Many girls felt like it was the organization’s plan for Gabriel to win based on sponsorships from people inside the pageant system.
Crystle Stewart bought the Miss USA license in 2020 with hopes to usher the pageant into a new era, making it relevant again. She called it “Pageantry Reimagined” because of the seeming declining interest in the pageant. In 2015, viewership dropped to less than 1 million. Stewart was met with controversy as soon as her ownership began. Following the 2021 pageant, multiple contestants said that Stewart's husband, Max Sebrechts, vice president of Miss USA at the time, had sexually harassed them during the competition. Other contestants said their accusations about Gabriel was not an attack on Gabriel herself, who denied all of the allegations and claimed she won the title on her own merit. Rather, they are upset with the Miss USA organization.
The contestants want to inspire and bring change for women and have spent years of work to compete on the stage.
"We are given the opportunity to use our voices to stand up for what we believe in and be a voice for the unheard, which is why many of my sisters are speaking out against what we experienced," Miss Ohio, Sir'Quora Carroll, told Insider. "We want to protect the women who come in the future and to protect the longevity of what Miss USA is truly about."
The Miss Universe Organization confirmed that the investigation into impartiality and integrity will continue for the Miss USA competition. In the meantime Gabriel says, "I’m very grateful to be Miss USA. It’s been a dream of mine. Obviously, it’s been kind of a rocky start. But I’m really looking forward to the year ahead and expanding on my platform."
Written by Mckenna Madis, Photography: Peri Shaink, Social Media: Katie Ibanez