‘Such a hot mess’: turmoil inside the world of US beauty pageants

A Miss USA winner has handed back her crown, and another champion has resigned - is the lustre of the pageant starting to wear off?

The US beauty pageant industry, in a concise summation made last week, is such a hot mess".

Two reigning beauty queens have stepped down in as many weeks, and there may be more turbulence to come to an area of showbusiness that promotes a sheen of perfection - at least among its contestants - but is increasingly seen as out of date with modern social mores.