Miss America" Is Truly for Women Only

Even in today's modern attempt to redefine everything according to people's whims, it is hard to believe that the Miss America Pageant succumbed to allowing men to compete for the title of "Miss" America. However, last Friday, the Miss America Organization notified the Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, that it has reversed its position and revised its contract language to where competitors must be natural born females. Making the Miss America pageant, truly "Miss" America.

Ensuring the pageant is for natural born females is welcome news to Miss North Florida in 2024, Kayleigh Bush. As she was crowned Miss North Florida in September of 2024. But, later stripped of her title merely two months later. Not for any wrongdoing on her part, but simply for refusing to sign the updated Miss America contract at the time. A contract which allowed biological males who had completed surgical mutilation to compete as "females" in the pageant. A stance that Miss Bush felt contradicted her Christian faith and Florida law.

As a result of her refusal to sign the faulty contract, Miss Bush was deprived of her crown and the accompanying scholarships. Liberty Counsel even sent a demand letter to the Miss America Organization on her behalf at the time requesting that they revise the language of their faulty contract and restore Miss Bush's title so that she could complete in the Miss Florida competition that was scheduled for June 25th, through 28th of 2025. Liberty Counsel's request on behalf of Miss Bush was refused, twice. As the Miss America Organization at the time felt that it was permissible to have a contract defining "female" as boys ages of 14 through 18 who have undergone medical procedures with serious lifelong consequences.

Thankfully, on Friday, April 10th, 2026, the Miss America Organization announced to the Florida Attorney General that they have revised their contract to state the following:

"2.3.5.1 Sex. The applicant must be a naturally born female. "Female" means a born female or born an intersex female individual (defined as one born with two X chromosomes with nonconforming genitalia) who has fully completed Sex Reassignment Surgery via Vaginoplasty with supporting medical documentation and records.

While it does seem like the contract should simply stop at "naturally born female", the revised wording is much improved from its previous wording which stated that "The applicant must be a Female. 'Female' means a born female or an individual who has fully completed Sex Reassignment Surgery . . . "

The founder of Liberty Counsel, a legal ministry that states it "advances religious freedom, protects life, and strengthens the family" and its current Chairman, Mat Staver, is pleased that Miss America has revised its contract to be more sensical, but he also is calling for Miss Bush's crown to be reinstated as well as its accompanying scholarships.

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa Attorney, piano instructor, vocalist, reporter, poet, and columnist who writes about current affairs, politics, and the arts.