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| Former Miss America calls invitation to help choose new leaders 'laughable' | Former Miss America calls invitation to help choose new leaders 'laughable' |
| (21 days later) | |
| Mallory Hagan calls offer ‘an insult to every Miss America’s intelligence’ | |
| Leaked emails ridiculed former winners’ appearance, intellect and sex lives | |
| Associated Press in Atlantic City, New Jersey | |
| Thu 28 Dec 2017 16.21 GMT | |
| First published on Thu 28 Dec 2017 14.31 GMT | |
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| A former Miss America whose appearance and sex life was ridiculed in emails sent by officials of the Miss America Organization says the group’s attempt to enlist former pageant winners in the search for new leaders is “laughable” and insulting. | A former Miss America whose appearance and sex life was ridiculed in emails sent by officials of the Miss America Organization says the group’s attempt to enlist former pageant winners in the search for new leaders is “laughable” and insulting. |
| Mallory Hagan, who won the title in 2013, said on Thursday that the offer made Wednesday night by the remaining members of the group’s board is insulting to anyone who ever competed or volunteered in the pageant. | Mallory Hagan, who won the title in 2013, said on Thursday that the offer made Wednesday night by the remaining members of the group’s board is insulting to anyone who ever competed or volunteered in the pageant. |
| She and other former Miss Americas are renewing their call for the entire board to step down. The chief executive, president and board chairman resigned on Saturday. | She and other former Miss Americas are renewing their call for the entire board to step down. The chief executive, president and board chairman resigned on Saturday. |
| “The statement from the remaining Miss America board of directors is an insult to every Miss America and volunteer’s intelligence,” she said. “Implying that the complicit members of the current board will now choose the new leadership for the forward movement of the Miss America Organization is laughable. | “The statement from the remaining Miss America board of directors is an insult to every Miss America and volunteer’s intelligence,” she said. “Implying that the complicit members of the current board will now choose the new leadership for the forward movement of the Miss America Organization is laughable. |
| “I will not stop until Miss America is led by the people who embody the morals and values that the organization holds dear,” Hagan said. “Whether they knew about these emails or not only confirms their inability to effectively lead this multimillion-dollar nonprofit. If they truly care about the forward movement of the MAO, they should all step aside. Period.” | “I will not stop until Miss America is led by the people who embody the morals and values that the organization holds dear,” Hagan said. “Whether they knew about these emails or not only confirms their inability to effectively lead this multimillion-dollar nonprofit. If they truly care about the forward movement of the MAO, they should all step aside. Period.” |
| The board said on Wednesday it wants former Miss Americas and state directors to help in the search for new leadership, asking the groups to nominate four people to serve on a search committee that also will include two board members and a person the board members appoint. | The board said on Wednesday it wants former Miss Americas and state directors to help in the search for new leadership, asking the groups to nominate four people to serve on a search committee that also will include two board members and a person the board members appoint. |
| That offer drew widespread opposition from former Miss Americas and state title winners as soon as word of it circulated. | That offer drew widespread opposition from former Miss Americas and state title winners as soon as word of it circulated. |
| The board was hoping for nominations for the search committee by 3 January, but it was not immediately clear what would happen if the former winners do not participate. | The board was hoping for nominations for the search committee by 3 January, but it was not immediately clear what would happen if the former winners do not participate. |
| In emails that were published last week by the Huffington Post, pageant officials ridiculed the appearance, intellect and sex lives of former Miss Americas. | In emails that were published last week by the Huffington Post, pageant officials ridiculed the appearance, intellect and sex lives of former Miss Americas. |
| The emails included one that used a vulgar term for female genitalia to refer to past Miss America winners; one that wished that a particular former Miss America had died; and others that speculated about how many sex partners one former Hagan had. | The emails included one that used a vulgar term for female genitalia to refer to past Miss America winners; one that wished that a particular former Miss America had died; and others that speculated about how many sex partners one former Hagan had. |
| The ensuing uproar led to the resignations of executive director Sam Haskell, president Josh Randle, board chairwoman Lynn Weidner and one other board member. | The ensuing uproar led to the resignations of executive director Sam Haskell, president Josh Randle, board chairwoman Lynn Weidner and one other board member. |
| On Wednesday Dan Meyers, the interim board chairman, said the group wanted former Miss Americas and state directors to recommend members for a search committee that would determine the organization’s leadership structure and choose individuals to fill those roles. | On Wednesday Dan Meyers, the interim board chairman, said the group wanted former Miss Americas and state directors to recommend members for a search committee that would determine the organization’s leadership structure and choose individuals to fill those roles. |
| “The board wanted to have a process that was unprecedented in terms of openness, transparency and inclusion,” he said. “Given the turbulent nature of leadership transitions, asking all the stakeholders to be a part of this process was the best way.” | “The board wanted to have a process that was unprecedented in terms of openness, transparency and inclusion,” he said. “Given the turbulent nature of leadership transitions, asking all the stakeholders to be a part of this process was the best way.” |
| Some past winners reacted negatively, saying the board had not reached out to them. Others said they wanted no involvement whatsoever by any current board members in seeking new leadership. | Some past winners reacted negatively, saying the board had not reached out to them. Others said they wanted no involvement whatsoever by any current board members in seeking new leadership. |
| “At this time all remaining members must step aside so we can take our beloved program back,” said Dorothy Benham, Miss America 1977. | “At this time all remaining members must step aside so we can take our beloved program back,” said Dorothy Benham, Miss America 1977. |
| “They have underestimated the strength, intelligence and determination of the women who have worn the Miss America crown, as well as every young woman who is currently wearing, or has worn the local and state crown. We stand united.” | “They have underestimated the strength, intelligence and determination of the women who have worn the Miss America crown, as well as every young woman who is currently wearing, or has worn the local and state crown. We stand united.” |
| Jennifer Vaden Barth, a former Miss North Carolina, said former winners want a completely new board to search for leaders, not one that supported Haskell. | Jennifer Vaden Barth, a former Miss North Carolina, said former winners want a completely new board to search for leaders, not one that supported Haskell. |
| “The board needs to accept responsibility for the damage they have caused,” she said. “They need to step aside quickly and allow new leadership to save the Miss America program.” | “The board needs to accept responsibility for the damage they have caused,” she said. “They need to step aside quickly and allow new leadership to save the Miss America program.” |
| The emails have cost the pageant its television production partner and raised questions about the future of the nationally televised broadcast from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall the week after Labor Day each year. Dick Clark Productions said last Thursday that it had cut ties with the Miss America Organization over the emails, calling them “appalling”. | The emails have cost the pageant its television production partner and raised questions about the future of the nationally televised broadcast from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall the week after Labor Day each year. Dick Clark Productions said last Thursday that it had cut ties with the Miss America Organization over the emails, calling them “appalling”. |
| Meyers said the group has spoken with ABC, the television network scheduled to broadcast the September 2018 pageant, as well as with pageant sponsors. None has ended its relationship with the Miss America Organization, he said. Independent messages sent over the past two days seeking comment from ABC and pageant sponsors have gone unanswered. | Meyers said the group has spoken with ABC, the television network scheduled to broadcast the September 2018 pageant, as well as with pageant sponsors. None has ended its relationship with the Miss America Organization, he said. Independent messages sent over the past two days seeking comment from ABC and pageant sponsors have gone unanswered. |
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