The organizers of the Miss America pageant announced today that they will be scrapping all appearance based aspects of their contest including the evening gown and swimsuit portions (archived). The organization's chairwoman, 1989 contest winner and Fox News hostess Gretchen Carlson offered on the changes:

We are not going to judge you on your outward appearance. We want more women to know that they are welcome in this organization… We are moving it forward and evolving it in this cultural revolution…