Minnesota Native Gretchen ​Carlson Will Chair Miss America Board

A Minnesota native has been elected to head the Miss America Organization following an email scandal that lead to the ousting of the organization's leaders. Gretchen Carlson, who won Miss America in 1989, was elected chairman of the group's board of directors Monday.

The move comes after former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell and Chairman Lynn Weidner resigned after a Huffington Post investigation revealed the two sent emails to each other lambasting former Miss America winners about their weight and sex life. Carlson had said the resignations of Haskell and Weidner were not enough, and called for a full leadership house cleaning.

"The only solution that will #SaveMissAmerica is resignation of all board members," Carlson tweeted Dec. 27. Carlson said Monday that she has begun a "transparent" process to identify new board members and management.

"Everyone has been stunned by the events of the last several days, and this has not been easy for anyone who loves this program," Carlson said in a statement. "In the end, we all want a strong, relevant Miss America and we appreciate the existing board taking the steps necessary to quickly begin stabilizing the organization for the future."

Carlson rocked the TV news world in 2016 when she alleged widespread sexual harassment from former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, who eventually resigned after several other women at the network came forward with similar claims. Ailes died in May of 2017.

Carlson's Minnesota credentials are unquestionable. Originally from Anoka, Minnesota, Carlson was babysat by former Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Carlson played the violin for the Minnesota Orchestra when she was 13. She was crowned Miss America in 1989 while representing Minnesota.

In 2006, Carlson became a host of "Fox & Friends." She continued to host until 2013. Carlson said Ailes made unwanted sexual advances toward her and then refused to renew her contract after she declined them. Her civil complaint claims Ailes would ogle her in his office and make off-color remarks about her appearance in passing.

According to Politico, Carlson's lawyers say she was once chastised for answering a question from a hometown newspaper about her favorite Minnesota State Fair food.

Carlson continues to be an avid Minnesota Vikings fan.

Photo credit: From left, former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson, accompanied by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois., speaks during a news conference where members of congress introduce legislation to curb sexual harassment in the workplace, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)