MA Beauty Queen Relinquishes Crown After Pageant's #MeToo Joke

If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

For Maude Gorman, it might be how a girl diagnosed with obesity as a teen who couldn't even run up her street ended up finishing a 50-mile race. It might be how that 5-foot girl who finished last in her first pageant went on to represent Massachusetts on the national stage surrounded by young women a foot or so taller. It might even be how that same girl survived being raped by three men at 13 years old to become a prominent advocate for sexual assault survivors.

Why the Miss America competition dropped the swimsuit competition probably wouldn't be on Gorman's list of questions to God.

But that's what an emcee at this weekend's Miss Massachusetts Miss America asked "God." And the #MeToo-mocking response struck Gorman like a lightning bolt from the heavens.

Gorman went home and drafted a letter to the organization. She was resigning as Miss Plymouth County.

Poor Judgment

Call it a bad joke, a misguided attempt at humor, or a shining example of what it means to be tone-deaf. For Gorman, an outspoken survivor of sexual assault, it was simply unacceptable.

"There is no reason why it should have happened in the first place — whatever joke you're trying to make or bit you're trying to do, it shouldn't involve the Me Too movement. Keep that out of your mouth," Gorman, who lives in Hingham, told Patch.

She had just gotten off the phone with Inside Access. Her story was already plastered over CNN and Slate. She's the beauty queen who relinquished her crown in pursuit of a larger platform.

And in classic Gorman fashion, she was making lemonade out of what could generously be described as lemons.

The controversial skit, seen below in video obtained by the Observer, saw a woman remark to someone playing God: "We may have very well seen the last ever swimsuit competition on stage. It’s very upsetting. And I’m trying to understand, God, why it happened.”

"Me, too, Amy" was the not-so-divine response. He held up a corresponding "#MeToo" sign.

The skit got some chuckles. But the reception backstage was different. Gorman knew she couldn't carry on the crown.

She sent an email to pageant officials that said she would be resigning as Miss Plymouth County 2018. It was a competition she'd worked hard to win and had nearly won years ago before getting the crown this year

"They replied to the email and said "I'm so sorry, we'll see if the first runner-up wants to take over,' " Gorman said.

The Miss Massachusetts Board of Directors offered what they called a "sincere and heartfelt apology" on the organization's Facebook page, saying the skit was not in the script or authorized by the Board.

"Moving forward, we will review all content with future emcees and other participants prior to our show to be sure offensive or potentially offensive content is not allowed. We are proud of our contestants and even prouder to be part of an organization that celebrates what makes all of them truly extraordinary."

Gorman said she hasn't heard from the organizers since their email to her.

"I think a lot of people are viewing this as 'What's the big deal,'" Gorman said. "This is something that empowers people to look forward and seek treatment and get help. I think that they were taking away empowerment from women."

Speaking Up

Gorman's story finds its genesis in a dark beginning she herself has shined a light on. When representing Massachusetts at the 2015 Miss World America Pageant, she talked about her struggle taking back her life's footing after being raped by three men when she was 13.

Gorman shuttled between several high schools as a sophomore because "people turned their back on me. I was written off as a troubled teen."

She was diagnosed with obesity in high school, then had to temporarily withdraw from college due to anorexia. She was told she wouldn't graduate on time.

"So I said, 'Watch me.' "

She ended up walking with her graduating class.

Now Gorman is preparing to represent the U.S. Skyrunning Team in Scotland later this year. Then it's the Obstacle Course World Championships in London, where she'll try to improve on her fifth-place finish in last year's short course run.

"I like to show people things that you think are impossible are quite possible if you are willing to try," she said with razor-sharp determination.

It's not the resume some might expect from a beauty queen. Those people, Gorman said, don't have a grasp on the strength of the competitors.

"Go walk a mile in their heels," she said. "[The women] are changemakers and role models in their community and they are working hard to make a difference. Every single girl competing has their personal platform. This organization gives girls the opportunity to speak out on whatever cause is important to them."

For Gorman, that meant finding a way to love herself again, and then helping others do the same.

"I started competing first and foremost because I wanted to feel a little more confident in who I was. It was hard to look at myself in the mirror and love who I was. I did my first pageant and probably got last place, but I felt empowered. "

What's Next

Gorman is grateful for her beauty pageant experience. But she's moving on from them after giving up her crown.

"I'm disheartened to have to walk away but I want to show people I am standing up for myself and others," she said."

Next on tap: A college tour speaking about sexual assault and a book a few years in the making.

Gorman has heard from people sharing their own stories with her. She'll continue the advocacy she has championed by speaking with elected officials and working with the Coast Guard.

"I saw myself as a role model," she said. "Showing survivors there is hope."

Gorman is trying to draw people to her Instagram and Facebook accounts as a source of inspiration.

"I want to show people even though you're one person you can make a difference in this world. They don't deserve to have their voices mocked."

Photos courtesy of Maude Gorman