Hi, I’m Jillian Leiby and I like to remain well-read on current news. I am one of the JagWire’s resident feminists, so I believe in the equality between genders and I can’t shut up about it. Mixing these two elements together, I will be giving my opinion on female injustices going on in the news. Let me know if there is anything you want to know about all things feminism.

Let’s start with this.

This past weekend, Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was crowned the next Miss America. This win doesn’t come with much controversy, though her talent portion left some disgruntled. In face, nearly four days later, no one has talked about Kira or her crown. Maybe people simply don’t care anymore.

I don’t consider Miss America to be sexist. I think it takes actual skill to master everything needed in order to win the coveted crown. If anything, it’s more sexist on the male side. I mean, where is Mr. America? Not on ABC, that’s for sure.

The age old beauty pageant is the problem. So many girls and boys participate in pageants that there are reality shows about it. But beauty and grace no longer make up a public figure. The judging process is completely arbitrary. How someone looks in a bikini should not be the test of their ability to be a role model. We are giving these girls scholarships and countless other opportunities because of the way they walk in their evening gown.

Sometimes we even feel bad for the girl who flubs her answers in the final question, but we really shouldn’t. The final answer is one of the only true tests of the girls’ intelligence and if they cannot answer a simple question about current issues then they don’t deserve the crown. She could very likely lack intelligence. Miss America isn’t sexist; it’s just plain stupid.

The definition of Miss America is not the same as it was in 1955. Miss America can be beautiful and be graceful but strutting around the stage in various states of dress is not the way to show it. It’s time to update beauty pageants to grow with the ever changing United States of America.