With all the hoopla about the swimsuit competition being taken out of the Miss America Pageant, what did I do about it this week?

I went looking for a swimsuit.

Now-a-days, this is not my favorite shopping trip, but with a family beach trip nearing, if I want to enjoy the waves, a swim suit makes it easier.

I can remember the good old days when it was fun to browse the racks for a new swimsuit. In fact, after high school graduation, I took a trip to California to visit my aunt and uncle, and my main goal was to find a great bathing suit.

My aunt patiently waited on me as I tried on several different styles until I finally settled on a bronze two-piece.

It was nothing too skimpy, especially by today’s standards.

Obviously, as the years have gone by and Father Time has made his presence known, I do not gravitate to anything that shows my midriff any more.

However, I have been working on my arms, and I am hoping that when I flex my biceps, no one will notice the small tire tube around my waist.

Being a perfect 10 in a swimsuit is not something every woman can obtain, and while plastic surgery can help in some areas, it can’t make short legs long.

We women come in all shapes and sizes with some body types more on the curvy side while others are thinner and straighter.

Nevertheless, the reality is that with exercise and good nutrition, all body types can be fit.

In fact, while society sometimes equates beauty by the number on the scale, it was my understanding that the Miss America Organization had moved in the direction of promoting a healthy looking body with many of the contestants donning a more muscularly fit look.

I do not have a dog in this hunt. I obviously will not be competing for a title, and my female children have other interests.  On the other hand, with Mississippi scoring the second highest state in the nation in adult obesity, it seems fitting that those of us living here would appreciate any kind of incentive to be fit.

Maybe instead of doing away with the swimsuit competition completely, the Miss America Organization could have moved towards a more conservative one-piece swimsuit, again, and scoring would reflect all body types with even more emphasis on physical fitness.

The thought of putting a swimsuit on every summer is what has motivated me to get to the gym, and while feeling more confident in my swimsuit is certainly my goal, the residual effects are not too bad, either.

Being healthy and fit takes work and dedication, and I for one am sad the new directors of the Miss America Pageant have chosen to remove the swimsuits from the competition.

Women have come a long way, and a few men acting badly should not deter us from displaying all of our strengths.

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.