The Miss America organisation has introduced a new era of a beauty pageant scrapping the swimsuit round from the 2019 edition of the competition. The organisers made this announcement on Tuesday.

Gretchen Carlson, chairwoman of the Miss America board of directors, announced they would no longer be judging the contestants on their outward appearance. After last year’s controversy involving a former Miss America mocking the contestants for their appearance and intelligence, this major change was made this year.

The news was shared on the official Twitter page of the pageant along with a short video clip. The video showing a white bikini set go puff in the air has been trending on social media with the hashtag #byebyebikini. The tweet read, “We’re changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini #MissAmerica2019.”

We’re changing out of our swimsuits and into a whole new era #byebyebikini #MissAmerica2019 pic.twitter.com/08Y7jLFxhs

— Cara Mund (@MissAmerica) June 5, 2018

However, Tweeple are divided over the decision, where some people see it as an empowering initiative, others are just sad they wouldn’t witness models parading in bikinis anymore. Check out the reactions of people on social media.

#byebyebikini. The @missamerica competition will no longer have a Swimsuit portion! 🙌 It’s a bold move for the @MissAmericaOrg to cut👙 after nearly 100 years, but I’m excited to see a new era of #MissAmerica with emphasis on scholarship, talent, and the inner beauty of women. pic.twitter.com/WXNO8sfbGJ

— Caroline Weinroth (@carofinew) June 5, 2018

The new evening gown competition!! #byebyebikini pic.twitter.com/mujeFUC4nc

— Mark Kevin Steed (@MarkKSteed) June 5, 2018

How I really feel about #MissAmerica removing the swimsuit and evening gown competitions: #byebyebikini 🙄 pic.twitter.com/hm2KKaqYKV

— Tessa Dee (@TheTessaDee) June 5, 2018

WOW FINALLY. It’s only taken decades for Miss America to choose to learn about women’s achievements instead of judging physical fitness/appearance #ByeByeBikini pic.twitter.com/Bv2bDNbiqn

— blabbsabbsabbs (@abby_wennick) June 6, 2018

This is @GretchenCarlson right now, and I am here 👏🏾 for 👏🏾 it 👏🏾#MissAmerica2019 #byebyebikini pic.twitter.com/xwkKJn6GuL

— Hershila Lallu (@hershila14) June 5, 2018

Bravo! Positive step forward for @MissAmerica program. #byebyebikini Save the swimsuits for swimming competitions. pic.twitter.com/l8nuUTU8zi

— Velvet Hasner (@hasnerv) June 5, 2018

Miss America says #byebyebikini as contest hopefuls react … @gigirules7 @countrycakes @ModelCarolAlt @joeygiggles @PlanetSharkFit @libbytalks @POWERATL @TrivWorks @JokeBlogger @midnight @AskMen @GiGiBclub @Foodiechats @KeshaTedder @RockysPride @LVGambler123 pic.twitter.com/zNAxe3dXMu

— planetshark (@planetshark) June 5, 2018

LOL @ #MissAmerica cancelling the swimsuit competition. That’s like Major League Baseball cancelling the part where they play baseball. 🤣 #ByeByeBikini

— Live Cum Sluts 40.5K (@LiveCumSluts) June 5, 2018