While Nia Franklin of New York was crowned Miss America Sunday night, there were some noticeable changes to the competition.
For the first time in the competition's 98-year history, there were no swimsuits. A former Miss Nevada talked to 13 Action News about the changes and her hopes for the future of the organization.
The leader behind the new changes is Miss America's new chairwoman, Gretchen Carlson. There have been calls for Carlson's resignation after last year's winner accused Carlson and others of bullying. Carlson has denied the allegations.
Miss Nevada 2004 Elizabeth Hunterton said as contestants, they never found the swimsuits to be demoralizing or degrading. But she knows there are people on both sides of the fence.
"Those of us who know the facts, we don't agree with all the changes but we do agree this continues to be an incredible organization," she said.
This year, Hunterton helped the current Miss Nevada on her journey. She still believes in the organization, which helped her pay for her undergraduate and graduate education.
"I was abandoned as a baby, molested as a child, and raped as a young woman and this organization still found beauty in me," she said.
