ATLANTIC CITY — As the tramcar passed Kennedy Plaza on the Boardwalk Wednesday afternoon, a tour guide pointed out the bronze Miss America statue — a popular selfie spot where anyone can be "crowned" a pageant queen.
Several visitors to the city stopped for a photo, and shared their thoughts on the recently announced elimination of the swimsuit category that’s been part of the Miss America Competition since its inception in 1921.
“I enjoyed the swimsuit part of the pageant,” said Francis Robinson, 69, of Birmingham, Alabama. "It’s something they’ve always done. You don’t need to change it."
Look Back at the Miss America swimsuit competition
Members of the National Women's Liberation Party hold protest signs in front of Convention Hall where the Miss America Pageant will be held tonight in Atlantic City, N.J. on Sept. 7, 1968. The picketers, also seen behind, are protesting the annual pageant as degrading to women. (AP Photo)
Women protesting the Miss America pageant on Sept. 8, 1968, toss their bras, girdles, high-heeled shoes, fake eyelashes and other items into a ‘Freedom Trash can.’ While the symbolic action sparked the term ‘bra burners,’ no bras were actually burned during the protest.
On Sept. 7, 1968, Women’s Liberation Party members drop bras — and girdles, high-heels, fake eyelashes and other items — into a “freedom” trash can in Atlantic City to protest the Miss America Pageant. None of the bras were burned, but the alliteration stuck and became legend.
Miss America swimsuit finals, Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Sunday Sept. 11, 2016. (Ben Fogletto/Press of City)
Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields. Miss America swimsuit finals, Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Sunday Sept. 11, 2016. (Ben Fogletto/Press of City)
Swimsuit contestants from the MU Group. Wednesday September 7 2016 Miss America Pageant Preliminaries night two at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. (The Press of Atlantic City / Ben Fogletto)
Top 12 Swim Suit comp. Miss America Pageant 2018 held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Sunday Sept 10, 2017. Vern Ogrodnek / Press of Atlantic City)
Top 12 Swim Suit comp. Miss America Pageant 2018 held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Sunday Sept 10, 2017. (Vern Ogrodnek / Press of Atlantic City)
Top 12 Swim Suit comp. Miss America Pageant 2018 held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Sunday Sept 10, 2017. (Vern Ogrodnek / Press of Atlantic City)
Sept. 13, 1997. Miss Ilinois Katherine Shindle competes in the swimsuit competition at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. Shindle was later crowned the 1998 Miss America. (AP Photo/B. Vartan Boyajian)
Miss Delaware Jody Kelly jokingly wears a reversed baseball cap on stage with her swimsuit as she rehearses the swimsuit competition for the Miss America Pageant at the Atlantic city Convention Hall Monday, Sept. 14, 1998. Preliminary competition begins Tuesday night Sept. 15, 1998. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Sunday, Sept. 13, 1997. Miss America pageant at convention hall in AC. Top Ten in swimsuits.
Miss America pageant 1922. Center is Miss America 1922, Miss Columbus Ohio Mary Katherine Campbell. On the right is the pageant’s first winner, Margaret Gorman.
Miss America pageant 1922. Miss Greater Camden Eleanor Lindley with Miss America 1921 Margaret Gorman.
Miss America pageant 1965. Two contestants wave to onlookers.
Miss America pageant 1965.
Miss America 1971 contestants. Presss file photo.
Miss Ohio 1971 waves to the crowd on the boardwalk. Press file photo.
Miss North Carolina and Miss South Carolina 1971. Press file photo.
Miss America 1971 contestants. Presss file photo.
Miss America pageant 1967. Miss Idaho, left and Miss Florida, right, were two winners in the preliminary competitions.
Miss America pageant 1924. Miss Oklahoma Willie Mae Stockton.
Miss Illinois and Miss Kansas 1985 contestants on the Atlantic City beach. Press file photo.
Miss America contestants 1987
Miss America 1987 contestants
Swimsuit competition during the final night of the Miss America Pageant at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, Saturday 9/20/03
Miss Florida, Ericka Dunlap, is shown during the Miss America Competition in Atlantic City, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003. Dunlap was named Miss America 2004. (AP Photo/Brian Branch Price)
Nicole Lemarche, Miss California, wins the Swimsuit competition during the final night of the Miss America Pageant at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, Saturday 9/20/03
Miss Illinois Erika Harold is seen during the swimsuit competition at the 2002 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002. Harold won the competition to become Miss America 2003. (AP Photo/Brian Branch-Price)
Camille Lewis, Miss Maryland, competes in the swimsuit competition during the Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Laura Lawless, Miss Arizona, competes in the swimsuit competition during the Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Miss America 1942 Jo-Carroll Dennison from Texas.
Miss America 1942 Jo-Carroll Dennison from Texas.
Miss America 1942 Jo-Carroll Dennison from Texas.
Miss America 1942 Jo-Carroll Dennison from Texas.
Miss America 1942 Jo-Carroll Dennison from Texas.
21-year-old Miss Memphis, Barbara Jo Walker, wins the Miss America crown on September 6, 1947. She was the last Miss America to be crowned in a swimsuit. Historical photo archive
Miss America Board of Trustees Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson announced Tuesday morning that the competition would be doing away with the swimsuit category and would revamp its evening gown section.
Candidates will now have the freedom to wear the attire of their choice while discussing how they will advance their platforms, and will participate in a live interactive session with the judges, highlighting their achievements and goals in life, she said.
Some see the changes as drastic.
“I don’t think they know what it’s going to be,” said Marilyn Cocozza Trillo, Miss Rhode Island 1968. “I think there could be unforeseen, bad consequences. I may be wrong; I hope I am.”
Author Michael Callahan, of Philadelphia, said the changes could affect the show's ratings. He's been covering the Miss America Competition for 30 years and wrote the novel “The Night She Won Miss America.”
“There are very, very few things in American culture that last 100 years,” Callahan said. “Some things shouldn’t be messed with.”
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He said he knew there would be significant changes after hearing about the new leadership, but didn’t know it would be cutting entire segments.
Carlson took over as chairwoman of the Miss America board in January after an email scandal in December in which previous Miss America officials mocked winners’ intelligence, looks and sex lives.
Former CEO Sam Haskell, Chief Operating Officer Josh Randle, board Chairwoman Lynn Weidner and several other board members later resigned.
Carlson on Tuesday said the organization will no longer judge contestants on their physical appearances.
Lindsey Sikel, a nine-year volunteer with local pageants in Washington and for the Miss Washington state competition, said the swimsuit component wasn't about being judged on appearance. It was about body appreciation, confidence and getting out of a comfort zone.
A former Miss America has won the Democratic nomination for the 3rd District congressional r…
“It’s pretty amazing that they can get up there and be in front of everybody,” Sikel said, adding she felt the changes came too soon. "The girls aren’t going to get as much out of this as they have in the past.”
Back at the statue Wednesday, Christina Nichilo, 28, of Long Island, said Miss America should keep the swimsuits, but suggested a more classic look.
“I think the style has gone too far. I watch old-school movies and see the beautiful bathing suits they used to wear, and they look just as nice.”
Two-piece swimsuits have been in fashion since the 1940s, but the Miss America Organization didn’t allow bikinis until 1997, giving the contestants the option to choose their swimwear.
Pat Reiley, 68, of Philadelphia, said she used to watch the pageants on TV, but hasn’t followed Miss America in many years.
