Miss Teen USA Competition Trades Bikinis for This

The Miss Teen USA competition will no longer be judging the girls in bikinis, but instead, athletic wear.

"Pageant organizers have long said swimsuit portions were intended to show off the athleticism of the competitors. But Miss Teen USA's transition to athletic wear reads as less exploitative and more focused on the importance of physical fitness for its younger participants, mirroring the rise of athleisure with the demographic that Miss Teen USA is aimed towards and populated by," the Miss Universe Organization said according to NBC News. 

Reigning Miss Teen USA Katherine Haik, who also played softball, praised the new change. 

"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," Haik said. 

Meanwhile, the bikini is not the only change that will be seen in USA pageant competitions this year. 

Erin O'Flaherty, who was crowned Miss Missouri on Saturday, will be the first openly gay contestant. She will be competing for the Miss America title in September, according to an interview with ABC News.

The Miss Teen USA competition will take place July 30, when girls from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will compete.