From swimsuit to sports bra: Is there a difference?

Miss Teen USA announced its plans in a USA TODAY exclusive last week to permanently drop the competition’s swimsuit category, starting with the upcoming July 30th event. Pageant officials say it’s a move to empower young women, but is bye, bye swimsuits, hello athleisure good news or a smoke screen for ongoing criticism that pageants hurt women by objectifying them?

The reactions to the switch-up have ranged from positive and skeptical to humorous and, well, downright crass.

“(It seems to be) a sign of changing conceptions of beauty and what’s fashionable, however slight it may be,” says Juliet Liu, a rising senior at Wellesley College.

“I love it,” Miss North Carolina Teen USA, Emily Wakeman, shared in a blog post. “When I get up on that stage in a month in my athletic gear … I am sending a message to young people all over the country. Strong and healthy is beautiful.”

Reigning Miss Teen USA, Katherine Haik, reports eonline.com, sent out a statement reading in part, “I have been an athlete my entire life. … This new direction for Miss Teen USA is a great way to celebrate the active lives that so many young women lead and set a strong example for our peers.”