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Neither rain nor controversy could stop the Miss Atlantic Show on Atlantic City Drive Saturday night.
The local tradition, held on the eve of the televised finale, brought together the different factions of the divided show, including volunteers, state directors, former Miss Americas and queens of all levels.
For decades, until the contest unfolds in 2013 upon his return to New Jersey, Miss America's competitors donned exaggerated costumes and shoes to emphasize their condition at a parade on the famous Boardwalk of Atlantic City.
Miss New Jersey, Jaime Gialloreto, was inspired by the Jersey Devil and the Pine Barrens. She wore a fluid red cape printed with the name of the mythological creature and red horns on her head and her shoes, covered with greenery representing the Pinelands.
While some competitors chose to drive in rain-covered cars, Gialloreto, 19, who lives in Woolwich Township, was proudly sitting on a convertible, holding one of his shoes in plain view.
The young queen of the show accompanied the legends of Miss America as BeBe Shopp, Miss America 1948 and Lee Meriwether, Miss America 1955 (you could also know as Catwoman), during the parade.
Despite internal struggles over the recent elimination of the swimsuit competition and the consternation at the allegations of intimidation on the part of Miss America, the faithful gathered on the ponchos boardwalk and T-shirts showing their support to each of the 51 participants.
Some, like Julianna Erdesz, Miss Nevada 2008, had walked in these same shoes. Since she's competed in 2009, while the contest was still in Vegas, it was her first time in Atlantic City.
"At first, I was a little upset because I still loved the swimsuit when I was competing," said Erdesz, 34, of the decision to cut the contest's tradition .
Because of the way they say the decision was made, representatives of 46 state reenactments signed letters demanding the resignation of Gretchen Carlson, chair of Miss America's board of directors (Miss America 1989) and Regina Hopper, Executive Director.
But Erdesz said the elimination of the swimsuit section was perhaps a good thing for the contest.
"We did not really miss it this year," she said. "I watched the three nights of the prelims and it was fun to see the girls talking more, that's all, that's the job."
Miss West Virginia's Madeline Collins, who named Donald Trump the country's biggest problem during the preliminary competition on Friday, climbed onto a convertible in a feathery red dress and heels on Saturday.
"Sometimes the change is good and sometimes the change might not be so good," said Deborah Butler, 54, co-director of Miss Greater Wilmington's Delaware contest. "We must give him a chance."
Yet she was disappointed when the swimsuit contest was cut.
"Regardless of your body shape, as long as you enjoy your body and are encouraged and improved and empowered, it does not matter if I'm skinny, tall or tall, or tall. 14 or that I am complete, that's how you feel and empower yourself, it makes you stronger. "
Miss America Cara Mund was standing on a parade float next to a giant high-heeled shoe adorned with flowers. She was not wearing the usual dress, but a Wonder Woman costume instead. In August, the 24-year-old national title holder accused Carlson and Hopper of being intimidated and ignored for months.
"No young woman from this organization should ever feel this," said Erin Gambrell, who participated in the organization in 2003 and 2004.
"At a minimum, we were looking for national leaders to at least apologize and that's not what we got," said Gambrell, 38, a volunteer for the Miss South Carolina contest since 10 years.
Rachel Daly, 33, executive director of the Miss Nebraska competition in 2008, called Mund "a pioneer of her year" for denouncing leadership.
"Because of his stance against these problems, these are things that can be changed where those crowned tomorrow night will not have to bear that and that these lines of communication can be opened from the start. "
Miss America was founded by Atlantic City businessmen in 1921 to allow visitors to come to town after Labor Day. From the beginning, the contest featured teenagers parading the boardwalk in their swimsuits (though of course they were far from the bikinis).
Jim Thompson has volunteered for the Miss New York contest for 46 years and volunteers for the Miss America National Organization based in Atlantic City.
"I think the show goes in the direction of today 's woman," Thompson said Saturday. The most common misconception about the contest is that it is something other than a scholarship program, he said.
Why should people listen to the Miss America 2019 show on Sunday? To get an education on the so-called "Miss America 2.0," Thompson said.
"Today's competitors are relevant to what the young woman from America and the world are today."
The show of Miss America in 2019 is broadcast at 9 pm Sunday, September 9 on ABC.
Amy Kuperinsky can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.
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