Several things here. These pageants ARE self serving, money making endeavors for the producers. These pageants are also launching pads for very lucrative careers in advertising, modeling and other things for these young women and as Tom indicated, there is huge money involved for the top girls.
The problem with THIS pageant was "the Donald" and the wingnut homo judge, Perez Hilton. He asked a loaded question that he probably already knew how Carrie would answer. It's called a RATINGS GRAB and "the Donald" knew exactly what he was doing.
The shucking and jiving that the network and "the Donald" were doing the weeks following and up to and including Carrie's firing, were calculated by the pageant directors. This girl had a contract with these people and they screwed her out of something tangible, simple as that.
The pictures I saw were a bit more revealing as one was taken while the wind was blowing and a entire nipple was exposed! BIG DEAL.....I see worse on the FX channel every week.....She's a beautiful girl with a good bit of brains. She'll do fine.
I say to this young lady, suit the crap out of the Donald, he's got plenty to give...
FQ, you have the right to turn the channel.....