Organizers of the Miss America pageant may be backing off from plans to relax some of the eligibility rules as it enters the new century. Only yesterday pageant officials said beginning in the new year, divorced women and women who have had abortions will be allowed to compete. But the proposal is running into strong opposition from pageant traditionalists who claim such a move would conflict with Miss America's ability to appear as a role model for young women. Since 1950, the Miss American organization has required contestants to vow they have never been married and never been pregnant. The pageant approved these changes to keep from violating anti-discrimination laws in New Jersey.
March 07, 2006
Entertainment (Miss America)
Organizers of the Miss America pageant may be backing off from plans to relax some of the eligibility rules as it enters the new century. Only yesterday pageant officials said beginning in the new year, divorced women and women who have had abortions will be allowed to compete. But the proposal is running into strong opposition from pageant traditionalists who claim such a move would conflict with Miss America's ability to appear as a role model for young women. Since 1950, the Miss American organization has required contestants to vow they have never been married and never been pregnant. The pageant approved these changes to keep from violating anti-discrimination laws in New Jersey.
