When the #MeToo movement exploded last year, organizations around the world started taking a hard look at how they treat and talk about women, including the Miss America pageant. After nearly 100 years of the competition, the organization that started as a swimsuit pageant is dropping the bikinis altogether, in favor of longer interviews and an emphasis on brains over beauty. Once the decision was made by new Miss America Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson, a former title holder herself, over half of the board left in retaliation.
Here in Massachusetts, another first came when Lawrence native Gabriela Taveras became the first ever black Miss Massachusetts in the contest. She joined Jim Braude to discuss her historic win and the changes to the national pageant.
