Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a formal warning to the Miss America and Miss Florida organizations on Friday, alleging that the pageants may be violating state consumer protection laws by allowing biological males to compete while advertising the events as female-only.
In a letter addressed to the leadership of Miss America IP, Inc. and the Miss Florida Scholarship Program, Uthmeier detailed the case of Kayleigh Bush, who was stripped of her Miss North Florida 2025 title and scholarship after refusing to sign a new contract.
According to the Attorney General, the updated agreement defined “female” to include individuals who have undergone sex reassignment surgery.
“Despite advertising that Miss America and Miss Florida are beauty competitions open only to female competitors, your organizations misled Kayleigh and the public by allowing certain men to compete as well,” Uthmeier wrote. He characterized the move as a “bait-and-switch tactic” that could violate the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA).
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The state’s investigation found that Bush spent significant personal funds on coaches, lessons, and wardrobe based on the public-facing eligibility requirements. Those requirements stated that contestants must “be a female” and that delegates would consist of “girls and women.”
Uthmeier noted that nothing in the public representations defined these terms as anything other than biological females. However, after winning her local title and a $500 scholarship, Bush was reportedly told she must sign a contract acknowledging that biological males who have undergone specific medical procedures could compete.
“Kayleigh refused to sign this contract, citing the fact that Miss America and Miss Florida led her to believe that their competitions only include females,” the letter stated. “Her refusal led to Miss Florida stripping Kayleigh of her title and scholarship and barring her from further competition.”
The Attorney General argued that an advertisement is considered deceptive under Florida law if it has the capacity to convey misleading impressions, even if other interpretations are possible.
He asserted that the organizations “go above and beyond” to market themselves as platforms for women, citing Miss Florida’s slogan that the crown “fits every great woman.”
“These organizations cannot operate under the false and misleading title of ‘Miss’ if indeed they are open to male participants,” Uthmeier wrote.
The Attorney General has given both organizations until May 1, 2026, to provide a written report on corrective actions taken to clarify their eligibility rules to the public. The letter concluded by stating that a failure to take these steps may result in formal enforcement action by the state.
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