A core aspect of Miss America is celebrating women and their beautiful bodies; the decision to stop showing them in bikinis goes against the essence of the beauty pageant, holds Ronica Clearly of The Hill. These women who were smart, well-spoken, educated about current events and handled pressure well, were being lauded for their unique ability to combine such qualities. The pageant did need a revolution as its waning popularity showed, but the glitz and glamour of the swimsuit competition was a key aspect. This misguided decision removes a highly popular element of Miss America in the name of progress, which is a mistake.