Has The Time Come To Discontinue The Miss America Pageant?

I see no reason why it should it may be a reality show but it is one of the few positive ones left and I think the benefits of it are still good

I think it should be discontinued. I'm not interested in it at all and I feel most people aren't either.

Not the whole program, just the swimsuit competition. Any organization that gives scholarships to women should be continued.

No I do not see a reason for it to end. I was once Miss Tulare in 1978 and I did not feel like i was being exploited in any way. These women CHOOSE to enter for many reasons. I do agree with previous comments about switching the swimsuit contest to something else but other than that i see no reason to end it. It was a very exciting experience for me.

as long as it still offers scholarships, community service and stops having swimsuits as part of it I'm ok with it

It's funny where we are... Where being politically correct is the norm now. Where a name of a sports team, or beliefs of a business, or pageants become so offensive that it becomes the latest band wagon to end it lest one more be offended. In my mind, there are many other things in this life to be offended or upset about. Pageants are not my "kind of thing" however, it is not offensive to me as a woman, and I have the choice to watch or not to. America is falling apart, and I assure you it has nothing to do with the pageants. We need to wake up and fight for our country and stop being sidetracked by the politically correct circus.

time to stop! Bad enough Media puts in our heads that a woman is only beautiful if she is tall , Size 0 , D cup and has perfect proportions ! I guess my 5'3 ~ size 6 and wrinkles make me an "ugly duckling" ---- NOT!

I think it is okay for now as little girls love to watch it and maybe dream of being Miss America at some point. I just feel that it is a shame that the last couple or so have had to give up her crown because of naked pictures or some other issue that surfaced from their past. No one is a perfect angel no matter what they say.

No it shouldn't be discontinued, but it definitely needs to be changed. I remember when the pageant used to be on Saturday nights..it was a event. Now its on during the week, just like its no big deal...never even know when they are on. I do hate that it seems to be more of a swim suit contest than anything. Needs to be based on their intellect, involvement in the community, knowledge of American and the world (they are representing America), I think it needs to be more natural beauty/less cosmetic procedures to win, Instead of the judges asking the question..have regular Americans ask questions...judges can pick the best ones, have them ask the contestants. I do love the scholarship money aspect of it...also think they should be able to win money to donate to the charity of their choice.

No one forces these women to compete in this competition. I think that as long as there's a market for it and women who wish to compete, more power to them. Honestly, the bathing suits cover more skin than I see young women wearing around my small town. If there were no contestants, the pageant would just die out.

I don't think it needs to stop, but I think it needs to change even more. I always loved that they had the talent aspectas well as poise and beauty. I think they should try to diversify more and not try to be a cookie cutter as Miss USA (a pagent that is not needed). Different sizes and shapes and looks. That's where pagents need to go. Make it about the girl not the image.

I grew up watching Miss America,and as a young girl I always wanted to try out for it.I think Miss America is as american as hot apple pie is. It gives young girls something to work towards if they want to compete for it. Which means good grades and leaning a talent,having a Opinions,and have some knowledge of the world around them.So yes america needs Miss America.

I think education should be a top qualifier in the pageants of course beauty is good but it fades and these young women are considered role models by some and lately I've noticed a disturbing trend in the contestants lack of ability to answer some of the simplest of questions,so my suggestion is adding g.p.a in the qualifications.

Oh hell yes! Men judging women for prizes. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

its always given little girls something to grow up lookin forward too