Miss America Pageant files for bankruptcy after 103 years – but ex-CEO fumes move was ‘reckless’ after ownership brawl

After 103 years, the Miss America Pageant has declared bankruptcy due to a dispute between two top executives over ownership.

This year, a legal dispute has centered on Miss America Competition LLC, the organization that organizes the beauty competition.

Real estate developer Glenn Straub and Robin Fleming, who took over as president and CEO last year, have filed lawsuits claiming they are the only owners of the company.

Fleming submitted a letter on Monday stating the opposite, despite Straub’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the West Palm Beach, Florida bankruptcy court on Friday.

‘BAD FAITH’

Miss America Competition LLC has $4 million in debt, according to Straub, while Fleming, the former CEO, has criticized the current president’s action as a “bad faith” attempt to seize control of the business.

She further stated that the company is not in financial hardship and has asked the court to reject the case, according to the Wall Street Journal. She reiterated that he does not control the company and, as a result, is not eligible to file for bankruptcy.

The present CEO is accused by the former CEO of trying to sabotage the future competition, which is scheduled to start on January 1, 2025.

“In about four weeks, thousands of people will travel to Orlando, with hopeful young ladies and their families present from all over the nation, to fulfill the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete for the title of Miss America, a title recognized throughout America and beyond for more than 100 years,” her court motion read.

“The bad-faith bankruptcy filing for MAC orchestrated by Straub is designed solely to prevent the 2025 Miss America Competition from going forward and succeeding.”

However, Straub responded by saying that Fleming is to blame for the cloud that has been cast on the pageant since he has refused to provide financial details and relinquish control of the business.

A judge ordered Fleming to provide the new CEO with access to the company’s financial records and other important documents in October.

According to Straub’s separate lawsuit, she bought Miss America’s assets in December 2022 and is using them improperly to pay her legal bills.

According to Straub, he tried to terminate her, but the former boss allegedly refused to go.

However, according to a statement released in May, the Miss America board unanimously decided to give Fleming the company’s assets.

The board stated that this was done “to continue to legacy of the Miss America mission which includes educating and empowering women and supporting organizations that promote and support women in all walks of life.”

According to the court’s decision, the contest will go on in January despite the current legal dispute.

According to the WSJ, Straub told board members that he would pay for the pageant himself if needed in order to further guarantee its continuation.

“This careless behavior is putting Miss America in financial and legal danger, and I will not let this ruin everything that you and I have worked so hard to achieve,” he wrote in his letter.

“They have forced me to take this legally proper step to [e]ensure the long-term survival of the organization.”

The Miss America pageant is 103 years old, having been introduced in New Jersey in 1921.

Judge Erik P. Kimball will ultimately make a decision regarding the company’s legitimate owner.

Straub’s accusations of her misusing corporate funds, according to Fleming, are slanderous.

Kimball has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to discuss her request to have the Chapter 11 bankruptcy file rejected.

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