Karl Stefanovic defends bikini-clad beauty pageant contestants

Karl Stefanovic has defended bikini-clad beauty pageants, after Miss America announced it was scrapping the swimsuit competition.

During a Today show segment on Wednesday, the 43-year-old said it was up to the female contestants whether they want to wear bikinis onstage.

‘If a woman chooses to be in a bikini pageant, isn’t that her choice?’ he said.

 

‘Isn’t that her choice?’ Karl Stefanovic (centre) has defended bikini-clad beauty pageants, after Miss America announced it was scrapping the swimsuit competition

Karl’s female panellists, including his sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys, seemed to take a slightly different approach.

While she agreed it was ‘absolutely’ a woman’s choice, Sylvia claimed that dropping the bikini competition was ‘a step in the right direction’. 

She added: ‘But, if they are not being judged on appearance, the entire concept of a beauty pageant should be thrown out altogether.’

Bye bye, bikinis! Earlier this week, Gretchen Carlson, the new head of Miss America's board of directors, revealed that the competition will no longer judge women based on their looks

Bye bye, bikinis! Earlier this week, Gretchen Carlson, the new head of Miss America’s board of directors, revealed that the competition will no longer judge women based on their looks

Co-host Georgia Gardner also said: ‘I find them outdated. However, there are plenty of people who love them and see them as a mark of success.’

Earlier this week, Gretchen Carlson, the new head of Miss America’s board of directors, revealed that the competition will no longer judge women based on their physical appearance.

‘We are no longer a pageant,’ Gretchen told Good Morning America on Tuesday. ‘We are a competition.’

He's a lucky guy! Karl's fiancée, Mara & Mine co-founder designer Jasmine Yarbrough, walked the runway in bikinis during her former career as a fashion model

He’s a lucky guy! Karl’s fiancée, Mara & Mine co-founder designer Jasmine Yarbrough, walked the runway in bikinis during her former career as a fashion model

The decision came months after internal emails revealed former CEO Sam Haskell and board members frequently demeaned the physical appearance, intellect, and personal lives of former pageant winners, including Gretchen.

Gretchen, 51, was named chairwoman of the Miss America Organization just days after Sam Haskell resigned in January.

Now, she hopes to usher in a new era for Miss America, revealing that the bikini and evening gown rounds will be cut from the competition.

Changing direction: 'We are no longer a pageant,' Miss America chairwoman Gretchen Carlson (pictured) told Good Morning America on Tuesday. 'We are a competition' 

Changing direction: ‘We are no longer a pageant,’ Miss America chairwoman Gretchen Carlson (pictured) told Good Morning America on Tuesday. ‘We are a competition’ 

Instead, contestants will be asked to wear any attire that makes them feel confident, expresses their personal style, and shows how they will advance the role of Miss America. 

‘We’ve heard from a lot of young woman who say, “We’d love to be a part of your program but we don’t want to be out there in high heels and a swimsuit”‘, Gretchen said. ‘So guess what, you don’t have to do that anymore.

‘Who doesn’t want to be empowered, learn leadership skills, and pay for college and be able to show the world who you are as a person from inside of your soul?

'Outdated': Karl's Today co-host Georgia Gardner said on Wednesday, 'I find them outdated. However, there are plenty of people who love them and see them as a mark of success'

‘Outdated’: Karl’s Today co-host Georgia Gardner said on Wednesday, ‘I find them outdated. However, there are plenty of people who love them and see them as a mark of success’

‘That’s what we’re judging them on now… We want more women to know they are welcome in this organisation.’

The swimsuit competition will be replaced with an interactive session with the judges, in which the women will be asked to demonstrate their ‘passion, intelligence, and overall understanding of the job of Miss America’.

‘It’s going to be what comes out of their mouths we’re interested in when they talk about their social impact initiatives,’ Gretchen said.



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