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Miss World Pageant Bans Swimsuit Portion of Competition: How Are People Reacting?

The Miss World pageant has banned the swimsuit portion
The Miss World pageant has banned the swimsuit portion of the competition -- get the details and see how people are reacting!

Glam and sparkle is still in, but bikinis are out! Miss World pageant chairwoman Julia Morley has banned the much talked-about swimsuit portion of the competition, which has been a staple in the event since 1951.

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"The organization has decided to take itself out of the swimsuit world because it isn't the path they're trying to take," Chris Wilmer, the national director of the Miss World America and Miss United States organization, recently told ABC News.

"It's not just a beauty contest, it's 'beauty with a purpose,'" he continued. "There didn't seem to be a purpose to have the swimsuit."

Related: PHOTOS: Miss America 2015 bikini bodies

Over 100 contestants parade their perfect assets on the Miss World stage each year, but Wilmer hopes that this new development will lessen the amount of attention contestants receive for their physical appearance.

Related: PHOTOS: Hottest celebrity bikini bodies

"Miss World should be a spokesperson who can help a community," Wilmer told ABC News. "She's more of an ambassador, not a beauty queen. It's more about the outreach and what a woman could do with a title like Miss World."

Related: PHOTOS: Hottest bikini bodies of 2014

He added: "Pageantry is an age old industry and I think Julia getting rid of swimsuit and making it more of a lifestyle competition sends a strong message and I applaud her for it."

As for others? See what some critics are saying about the change:

Tell Us: What do you think of the ban?

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