The operator of the Miss America pageant, Miss America Competition LLC, has filed for bankruptcy, citing $4 million in debts. The filing, made last Friday in Florida’s Southern District Bankruptcy Court, comes amid claims from a former manager accusing the company of acting in “bad faith” and disputing the legitimacy of its financial distress.
The 103-year-old pageant has faced waning cultural relevance, but the current court battle stems from ownership disputes between Glenn Straub, who owns the company, and former CEO Robin Fleming. Straub’s team alleges Fleming withheld financial records and refused to cede operational control.
Despite the turmoil, the Miss America pageant remains scheduled for December 31, 2024, to January 5, 2025, when reigning titleholder Madison Marsh of Colorado will crown her successor.
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