FLORIDA — Kayleigh Bush, the reigning Miss North Florida 2024, has publicly announced her resignation from the Miss America circuit. In a move that has sparked significant debate across social media and the pageant world, Bush revealed that she refused to sign a revised participation contract that expanded the definition of womanhood to include transgender individuals.
The controversy began shortly after Bush was crowned in September 2024. According to Bush, the Miss America Organization (MAO) presented a updated agreement four weeks into her reign that fundamentally altered the eligibility criteria she had initially agreed to.
1. The Contract Conflict: A Change in Definitions
Bush stated in an interview with TMZ that the new contract introduced a specific legal definition for “female” that she and her family found unacceptable.
- The Clause: The revised regulations define a contestant as a “female” if they are either born female or are an individual who has fully completed Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS).
- The Stand: Bush argued that she entered the competition under the impression it was a space exclusively for biological women. “I was unwilling to agree that little boys can become girls,” she stated, confirming she worked with the Liberty Counsel to plea her case before ultimately stepping down.
2. Miss America Organization Responds
The Miss America Organization has pushed back against the narrative that Bush was “stripped” of her crown.
- The Counter-Claim: An MAO representative told media outlets that Bush “retained her crown” in the sense that she wasn’t fired, but she simply could not advance in the competition because she refused to sign the standard contract required of all participants.
- The Requirement: Every contestant vying for state or national titles (such as the recently crowned Miss America 2025, Abbie Stockard) is required to sign the same document to ensure eligibility uniformity.
3. Eligibility Requirements for Miss America (2025-26)
| Criterion | Requirement |
| Gender | Born female OR completed Sex Reassignment Surgery |
| Age | 18 to 28 years old |
| Marital Status | Single / Never Married |
| Parental Status | No children |
| Citizenship | Must be a U.S. Citizen |
4. Cultural Impact: Pageantry at a Crossroads
Bush’s departure highlights a growing rift in international pageantry. While the Miss Universe organization has moved toward even more inclusive rules—allowing married women, mothers, and all transgender women to compete—the Miss America system had long been seen as more traditional.
Bush’s decision has made her a hero among conservative groups advocating for “protected spaces” for biological women, while critics argue that the updated policy is a necessary step for modern inclusivity in a changing social landscape.