Boston Beauty Queen Resigns After #MeToo Jokes at Miss Massachusetts Pageant

A Boston-area beauty queen has resigned as Miss Plymouth County 2018 following a satire performance during the Miss Massachusetts competition that made light of the #MeToo movement, CNN reports.

Maude Gorman says she was backstage earlier this month during the Miss Massachusetts pageant when she heard the ski and told CNN she “instantly knew I had to do something. It was going to eat away at me if I didn’t…we were all shocked. We said, ‘Oh my god. I cannot believe that just happened. Did that just really happen?’”

I can’t believe I just attended my last Miss Massachusetts orientation (ever!!). The last thing I expected this year was to be competing in pageants again; yet alone with the Miss America Organization. I had previously aged out, and thought that was that. But, by some miracle, they the increased the age limit, and I knew I had to give it one last try! I’m extremely grateful to be a titleholder at a time in my life where I stand to show others just how beautiful STRONG is. I’m 30 lbs heavier than when I last competed ???, can now bench press more than I used to weigh when I last stepped foot on that stage, and I can’t wait to show myself (and everybody) that change and strength within self is one of the biggest wins of all ? #missmassachusetts #missplymouthcounty #mao #strongisbeautiful #7seasroasting #rxathlete #beautyandabeast

A post shared by Maude Gorman ?? (@maudernliving) on May 20, 2018 at 5:16pm PDT

Gorman told CNN the connection to the movement is personal, revealing that she was gang raped by three men when she was 13. A description of the sketch reported by the Observer details a woman kneeling onstage, decrying the fact that Miss America will no longer have a swimsuit portion of its competition.

“Miss American did away with the swimsuit competition,” the woman reportedly said. ”We may have very well seen the last ever swimsuit competition on stage. It’s very upsetting and I’m trying to understand, God, why it happened.”

Then, a man described by the Observer to be dressed as God and holding a #MeToo sign, said “Me too, Amy.”

Gorman announced her resignation on Instagram, writing in part: “As both a survivor, and advocate for victims rights and sexual violence on a whole, I refuse to stand idly by and simply ‘let this go.’”

Today, I officially resigned from the title of Miss Plymouth County 2018. While I’m grateful for the opportunities that @missamerica creates for young women, I am also internally conflicted; as the #metoo movement was mocked on stage during the final competition of Miss Massachusetts. As both a survivor, and advocate for victims rights and sexual violence on a whole, I refuse to stand idly by and simply “let this go”. Instead, I will stand up for every individual who has ever had the courage to speak out; and for every person who felt liberated by the #metoo movement. I will not allow ANYONE to take away that empowerment and liberation, or make it anything less than what it is: AMAZING. #metoo #missplymouthcounty #nomore #rainn #surviveandthrive

A post shared by Maude Gorman ?? (@maudernliving) on Jul 5, 2018 at 9:03am PDT

Speaking to CNN, Gorman elaborated, saying: “I wasn’t comfortable staying as Miss Plymouth County. It went against everything I have worked hard for. I was Miss Massachusetts World in 2015. I saw myself as a leader in the community and made appearances to speak out about sexual assault and tell my story.”