Laryssa Bonacquisti, Miss Louisiana 2017, participates in the swimsuit challenge during last fall's Miss America competition in Atlantic City, N.J. The segment won't be a part of the competition starting this year. Donald Kravitz/Getty Images for Dick Clark Productions hide caption
Miss North Dakota Cara Mund reacts after being named Miss America in September. For the first time in the pageant's history the two branches of the organization will be lead entirely by women, the group announced Thursday. Noah K. Murray/AP hide caption
Miss America pageant chief executive Sam Haskell apologizes to Vanessa Williams, who was forced to resign her Miss America title. Mel Evans/AP hide caption
Bess Myerson poses at the Miss America pageant. Myerson, the first Jewish Miss America, parlayed her stunning 1945 victory into national celebrity. Sam Myers/AP hide caption