Glam and sparkle is still in, but bikinis are out! Miss World pageant chairwoman Julia Morley has banned the much talked-about swimsuit portion of the competition, which has been a staple in the event since 1951.
"The organization has decided to take itself out of the swimsuit world because it isn't the path they're trying to take," Chris Wilmer, the national director of the Miss World America and Miss United States organization, recently told ABC News.
"It's not just a beauty contest, it's 'beauty with a purpose,'" he continued. "There didn't seem to be a purpose to have the swimsuit."
Over 100 contestants parade their perfect assets on the Miss World stage each year, but Wilmer hopes that this new development will lessen the amount of attention contestants receive for their physical appearance.
"Miss World should be a spokesperson who can help a community," Wilmer told ABC News. "She's more of an ambassador, not a beauty queen. It's more about the outreach and what a woman could do with a title like Miss World."
He added: "Pageantry is an age old industry and I think Julia getting rid of swimsuit and making it more of a lifestyle competition sends a strong message and I applaud her for it."
As for others? See what some critics are saying about the change:
Miss World ditches 'bikini round' after 63 years, "it doesn't do anything for women". Bc that was of course the problem w the competition...
— JowanM (@JowanM) December 19, 2014
Congrats miss world
— smangaliso bongani (@bonganismangal1) December 19, 2014
Miss World gets rid of swimsuit competition... and now maybe I have a smidgen of respect for beauty pageants.
— Christine Sisto (@ChristineSisto) December 19, 2014
Miss World Competition has banned the bikini contest from future pageants so contestants can focus on charity work. Im so happy about this.
— Leah (@leahrebus) December 19, 2014
The swimsuit part of the miss world competition has been taken out, I guess some people want to see the world burn
— Matt Daniels (@MattDanielsJR) December 19, 2014
So they took out the swimsuit part in the miss world pageant.... wtf is wrong with yall.
— Abby ?? (@Nottooshabby25) December 19, 2014
MISS WORLD NO BIKINI CONTEST?!
— Patrick Stafish (@patrickstafish) December 19, 2014
Don't get why Miss World is ditching the bikini round. Those women are magnificent why shouldn't they show their bodies.
— Reuben Goldberg (@RubyGold) December 19, 2014
Tell Us: What do you think of the ban?
