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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="8959" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mtv" source="Orion">MTV</keyword>'s hit series "Catfish: The TV Show" is back with a new season on Tuesday. </li><li><keyword id="2500571" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nev-schulman" source="Orion">Nev Schulman</keyword> and <keyword id="11247591" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kamie-crawford" source="Orion">Kamie Crawford</keyword> talked to Insider about why people ignored red flags.</li></ul>MTV's hit series "Catfish: The TV Show" returns Tuesday with new episodes.<br /><br />The documentary series features its longtime host <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/catfish-mtv-nev-kamie-very-interested-in-the-circle-netflix-2021-5"><u>Nev Schulman and cohost Kamie Crawford</u></a> as they help people uncover the true identities of online scammers and lovers.<br /><br />A "catfish" is someone who creates a fake profile on a dating app or social-media site to deceive someone who's looking for love or defraud them for money. The TV show was inspired by <keyword id="4296117" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="schulman" source="Orion">Schulman</keyword>'s own experience of being the target of an online romance scam.<br /><br />Insider caught up with Schulman and <keyword id="4375780" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="crawford" source="Orion">Crawford</keyword> while they were on the road filming a "Catfish" episode, discussing with them relationship red flags and how to navigate the murky depths of online dating.<br /><br /><h2><strong>Romantic hopefuls still ignore relationship red flags</strong></h2>It may seem like, particularly with online dating, people tend to overlook signs that their love interest isn't being honest with them. "But people are ignoring relationship red flags off the internet just as much, if not more, and have been forever," Schulman told Insider.<br /><br />"I think as long as human beings are vulnerable and insecure and desperate for love and affection, they're always going to find ways to put on blinders," he added.<br /><br />Perhaps it's easier to overlook these flaws to find some measure of happiness. Crawford agreed, saying that she heard stories like this all the time and that it's the reason they're able to make the show.<br /><br />"We've all been in a relationship or dated someone when we know it's not right, but we ignore the red flags because sometimes it's fun to ignore them," she said. "Sometimes a little bit of attention or an ounce of love and affection is better than nothing at all."<br /><br /><h2><strong>Ignore red flags at your own risk</strong></h2>"It's kind of crazy because the three or four major red flags that I've been saying since the show started are still pretty much the ones to look out for," Schulman said.<br /><br />The list includes declining a phone call, not wanting to get on FaceTime, and being unable to send a video of themselves.<br /><br />Another warning sign is having a very small or nonexistent social-media presence or one that seems strange.<br /><br />"You'd expect someone in their 20s or 30s to have some kind of digital footprint, even if you just Google them and they have a LinkedIn profile or a high-school-basketball-team stat sheet," he said.<br /><br />His caveat to this is that many people choose not to be on social media, so it's not the only piece of information to consider. What it comes down to is doing your homework. Plus, you should ask yourself how long you're willing to continue talking to someone who is avoiding you or too busy to meet in person.<br /><br />"It is your job, if you're going to seriously pursue an internet relationship, to poke around and do a little research," he said. "You might not find anything, which might be good. Or you might find something which isn't good, but you should know going into a potential date."<br /><br />Crawford agreed, saying: "I can't believe how many people I've met that have gone on first dates without Googling the person because they think it's invasive or weird. Google is free, so we should be using it."<br /><br />She also recommended showing a picture of your suspected catfish to at least five people, especially those from a younger age group, to see whether they recognize them.<br /><br /><h2><strong>Pay attention to green flags, too</strong></h2>"I think a green flag is when you're talking to someone who makes it very clear that they want to spend time with you and meet up with you in person," Crawford said. "You'll know when it's a green one because it will feel good."<br /><br />It might take a week or two, or even longer, but there should be a plan to move your conversations offline. If you or your love interest can't commit to spending a couple of hours together for coffee or drinks, Schulman suggested asking yourself: Are you in a position to pursue a relationship?<br /><br />For him, green flags are when someone doesn't take themselves too seriously.<br /><br />"Someone who's a little self-deprecating who's willing to make fun of themselves and be a little silly is just the kind of person I like," he said.<br /><br />The "Catfish" hosts had a little fun talking about the difference between red and green flags, with Crawford saying that a green flag was having "Catfish" in your liked TV shows or favorites. Conversely, it's wise to avoid dating profiles where someone is "holding a fish or a dead animal carcass," Schulman said.<br /><br /><h2><strong>People need a common language to talk about dating</strong></h2>Schulman and Crawford are no strangers to the rapidly growing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/every-dating-term-youll-ever-need-to-know-2018-7"><u>dating lexicon</u></a>, such as cuffing, ghosting, and soft launching.<br /><br />"It's a lot cuter to say I got ghosted versus saying I was talking to this guy for seven months, I was in love, and then he just stopped talking to me," Crawford said.<br /><br />Another common term they use on the show is "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/sex-relationships/love-bomb">love bombing</a>." This manipulative dating tactic involves showering someone with compliments, gifts, or affection to make them feel indebted to the love bomber.<br /><br />"The person is texting them things like, 'I love you so much. I can't wait to spend my life with you,'" Crawford said. "But they've never actually taken any meaningful steps to make that a reality."<br /><br />Schulman said these dating terms were a response to people sharing their experiences publicly. Before the internet, people could tell only a few friends what they learned in their pursuit of love.<br /><br />Now when someone shares their story online, "millions of people can see it, and they can all collectively come up with their idea of what that should be called," he said.<br /><br /><h2><strong>You have to get a little vulnerable to make genuine connections</strong></h2>What surprises Schulman to this day is the overwhelming response he gets from people whenever he shares something he's concerned about or writes about a personal experience.<br /><br />"People really do want to share and connect and offer advice," he said.<br /><br />It takes a little bit of risk to put yourself out there.<br /><br />"Just don't share pictures of you naked with your face," he said, while Crawford echoed that you should leave your face out of these photos.<br /><br />Making authentic connections requires honesty and vulnerability.<br /><br />"While it can be scary, and unfortunately, people can come at you and be negative, the more open and vulnerable that you're willing to be typically attracts people to do the same," he said.<br /><br />This isn't limited to online dating.<br /><br />"Outside of romantic relationships, there are a lot of really great apps for meeting friends and meeting people," Crawford said.<br /><br />Her advice is to find people with similar interests and plan things that will get you offline, such as a yoga or pottery class.<br /><br />"The point of meeting people on dating apps is to quickly transition into an in-person physical date," Schulman said, "and if that's not happening, that should be your first red flag."<br /><br />

Everyone knows to ignore red flags — but green flags could matter more for your relationship, says the hosts of MTV's Catfish

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"<keyword id="6537369" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="catfish">Catfish</keyword>" cohosts <keyword id="2500571" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nev-schulman">Nev Schulman</keyword> and <keyword id="11247591" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kamie-crawford">Kamie Crawford</keyword> say they're "very interested" in "<keyword id="185454" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="the-circle">The Circle</keyword>."</li><li>Schulman and Crawford said they'd love to cohost the <keyword id="128682" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword> competition show.</li><li>Both "Catfish" and "The Circle" feature people using fake identities to catfish others.</li></ul><p>"Catfish" cohosts Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford, who regularly expose people using fake identities and photos in romantic relationships online, told Insider that they are "very interested" in being part of another catfish-filled show - Netflix's "The Circle."</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/surprising-cool-facts-about-the-circle-on-netflix-2020-3">"The Circle," hosted by comedian Michelle Buteau</a>, is a reality show about people competing for the top "influencer" spot and a $100,000 prize based on the success of their social-media profiles and interactions. Some of the contestants choose to use fake pictures, names, and entire personalities to catfish (a term used to describe <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/catfishing-the-truth-about-deception-online/">someone with a deceptive online profile</a>) the rest.</p><p>Schulman, who has hosted "Catfish" on <keyword id="8959" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="MTV">MTV</keyword> since season 1, and Crawford, his new season 8 cohost, said they would love to appear on "The Circle," given the two shows' similar premises involving people who are not quite as they appear.</p><p>"I want to try and be the cohost," Schulman told Insider about the Netflix competition show, which finished airing its second season last week.</p><p>And Schulman appears to have the blessing of the current host of "The Circle." After he tweeted in April that he'd <a href="https://twitter.com/NevSchulman/status/1386026370959093763">be open to joining the next season</a> of the reality show (in response to <a href="https://screenrant.com/circle-catfish-expert-nev-schulman-season-3-contestant/">a ScreenRant story</a> calling for Schulman to be a contestant), Buteau responded <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleButeau/status/1386342550307545094">that it would be "funsies"</a> to have Schulman share some of her hosting responsibilities.</p><div type="image" title="Circle michelle buteau" height="1200" width="1599" msid="82592541" hostid="261"></div><p>Crawford agreed with Schulman that "it would be nice" to host "The Circle," adding that she initially "didn't want to like" the show but got hooked when she started watching the first season in January 2020. </p><p>"I don't want to help the catfishes do a better job at what they're doing because the characters on the show are already doing a pretty good job," Crawford told Insider, contemplating her options on "The Circle." </p><p>"I don't know how [Schulman and I] could be incorporated," she added. "But I think it would be fun either way to do it just 'cause it's such a fun show."</p><h2>Schulman said his personal experience getting <keyword id="2858899" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="catfished">catfished</keyword> makes it easier for him to relate to the people on 'Catfish'</h2><p>Schulman's <a href="https://www.insider.com/catfish-host-max-joseph-announces-that-hes-leaving-the-series-2018-8">"Catfish" journey</a> (now in its eighth season on MTV) started with a 2010 documentary of the same name. The film was about Schulman's experience entering a Facebook romance with a woman, Megan, before finding out that Megan wasn't real and that he was being catfished by someone else - a woman named Angela, who was using a professional model's pictures.</p><p>Schulman told Insider he believes his own experience with <keyword id="1545623" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Catfishing">catfishing</keyword> makes him "well-suited" to talk to the people appearing on the MTV reality show "who are going through what I went through."</p><p>"[It helps] to be able to relate to the feeling of finding out that this person and this relationship that you're invested in might not be what you think it is," he said.</p><p>Schulman also said that the pandemic, with its limited social interactions, has helped give viewers a "better understanding of the physical and emotional place that a lot of the people on our show find themselves in" when they embark on an online relationship.</p><p>"The idea that if you don't feel like you can go out or if you're not comfortable going out, " Schulman told Insider. "Any number of reasons why you might not be comfortable socializing - that's what these people feel."</p><p>"Now we all understand just how important human connection is and conversation is and how much we all crave that," he continued.</p><p>Schulman added: "I think that's been really beneficial for people to sort of better relate to the show and the experience of being in these relationships."</p><p>"Catfish" season 8 is currently airing new episodes Tuesdays on MTV at 9 p.m. ET.</p>

'Catfish' stars Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford would love to appear on Netflix's 'The Circle' - but as hosts, not contestants

<ul class="summary-list"><li>YouTubers Ben and Kami Crawford entered their six-year-old son into a 26-mile <keyword id="11982315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="marathon" source="Orion">marathon</keyword>. </li><li>The couple faced backlash from Olympic athletes who said the child was too young to take part.</li></ul><p>Kentucky-based YouTubers Ben and Kami Crawford called out two Olympic athletes who criticized them for letting their six-year-old son run in a marathon, saying the comments prompted a "witch hunt" against them on social media and led to Child Protective Services visiting their home.</p><p>The couple, who have 47,000 subscribers on their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/FightforTogether/videos">YouTube channel</a>, faced backlash after a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdEc60HF6hH/">May 1 Instagram post</a> said their son Rainier, who <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc9YmhfMO1P/">ran the 26-mile marathon with them</a>, "was crying" during the event so they promised to buy him a box of Pringles if he kept moving. </p><p>A tweet posted on May 4 from an account appearing to belong to <a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/lee-troop">Australian Olympic marathon runner Lee Troop</a> did not name the Crawfords but appeared to reference them saying that the parents of the child were "bribing him to finish" with Pringles and adding, "Everything about this is wrong." </p><p>On the same day, American Olympic marathon runner Kara Goucher wrote a series of <a href="https://twitter.com/karagoucher/status/1521883265828675585">tweets</a> that appeared to reference the Crawford family, speculating that letting a six-year-old run a marathon is "not good" for their health. <a href="https://runningmagazine.ca/health-nutrition/how-young-is-too-young-for-marathon-training/">According to Running Magazine</a>, some experts do not encourage children aged 16 and below to train for marathons so as to avoid complications in bodily development during puberty.</p><p>On May 8, the Crawfords responded to the backlash in a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdQyLVCrOin/">statement on their Instagram account</a>, saying the athletes used "their large platforms to broadcast absolute moral imperatives without nuance" and called for them to "take responsibility."</p><p>They added that Child Protective Services (CPS) made an unannounced visit to their house on May 7, saying someone reported they had dragged Rainier across the finish line "against his will." The couple denied coercing their child into finishing the marathon. CPS did not respond to Insider's request for comment. </p><p>In a <a href="https://twitter.com/karagoucher/status/1522994163028926464">Twitter statement</a> addressed to Ben Crawford on May 7, Goucher said the pair had spoken via email, and that she did not question the couple's "motivation or parenting." Neither Goucher nor Troop responded to Insider's request for comment. </p><p>The website for the <a href="https://flyingpigmarathon.com/events/marathon/">Flying Pig Marathon</a>, which the Crawfords took part in, states the marathon is open to competitors aged 18 and above.</p><p><a href="https://flyingpigmarathon.com/an-open-letter-from-iris-simpson-bush%EF%BF%BC/">In a statement from May 4</a>, the executive director of Flying Pig Iris Simpson Bush said the organization took full responsibility for allowing a minor to take part in the event and said the Crawford family had previously run the marathon as "bandits," suggesting they did not pay the entry fee to take part. The couple <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTpmu2FXGw/">denied these claims</a> in an Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTpmu2FXGw/">statement</a>, saying, "Every member of our family has paid for and registered for every race that we have been allowed."</p><p>Ben and Kami Crawford post regular updates about their six children on YouTube, where the family can be seen running and trekking together. In 2020, Ben <a href="https://appalachiantrail.org/">released a book</a> in which he said his family set the record for being the largest family to hike the <a href="https://appalachiantrail.org/">Appalachian trail in Georgia in 2018,</a> although there is no official page for this record on Guinness World Records. </p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/culture"><strong>For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.</strong></a></p>

Family YouTubers said they faced a 'witch hunt' of backlash after posting about their 6-year-old son crying while running a marathon

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Miss Teen USA announced today that it would be <a href="http://www.thisisinsider.com/miss-teen-usa-getting-rid-of-swimsuit-competition-2016-6">eliminating the iconic swimsuit competition</a> from the beauty pageant going forward and replace it with an athletic wear competition. A past winner of the competition says <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealKamie/status/748196115414061060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">she hates</a> this decision.&#xa0;</p><p><a href="http://www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa/members/profile/461447">Kamie Crawford</a>, who won Miss Teen USA in 2010 while representing Maryland, spoke to <keyword id="79969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="insider">INSIDER</keyword> over the phone to explain why she thinks the change is a bad one.</p><p>"It's a part of tradition," she said.&#xa0;</p><p><div></div></p><p>After&#xa0;acknowledging&#xa0;that, yes, some competitors are&#xa0;as young as 14, Crawford said that ditching the event gives it a sexual stigma that isn't really there.</p><p>"Removing it is sending a message that something is wrong with it, and there's nothing wrong with it," the 23-year-old said.</p><p>Crawford, who stars in the BET series "F in Fabulous," said that the swimsuit competition is the best way for contestants to display their fitness. "We're proud of our bodies and getting to that point," she said.&#xa0;"I was in the best shape of my life."</p><p>An athletic wear&#xa0;competition will replace the swimsuit portion, but so far Miss Teen USA&#xa0;has been intentionally vague about what, exactly, athletic wear entails. Crawford says the change misses the point.</p><p>"It's a sport, but you don't have to be in active wear to participate," she said, adding that a fit physique "can't be seen in a full sweatsuit."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Crawford, who self-describes as "a very outspoken Miss Teen USA," said she supports the organization and it's attempt to modernize, but thinks this choice is misguided. She said she's been receiving texts from other past winners and contestants.&#xa0;</p><p>Katherine Haik, the reigning Miss Teen USA, released a statement supporting the change, according to <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/06/29/miss-teen-usa-to-eliminate-swimsuit-competition/86502942/">"USA Today."</a></p><p>"I have been an athlete my entire life. As a member of a softball team and a competitive dance team, I spend a lot of time in athletic wear," she said. "This new direction for Miss Teen USA is a great way to celebrate the active lives that so many young women lead and set a strong example for our peers."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/miss-usa-army-lessons-deshauna-barber-2016-6">The new Miss USA is unlike any other winner in history</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="k5aXExNDE6OXVrPTy9fU9DQgqqzF1EEf" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

A past Miss Teen USA winner hates that the pageant is eliminating the swimsuit competition

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TGT-Quote"></a></div><p></p></div></div>Target is keeping it real in its new body positive swimwear campaign, which is entirely photoshop free.&#xa0;<p><span><span>The retailer has partnered with creator and dancer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meganbatoon/" target="_blank" title="link opens in a new window">Megan Batoon</a><span>, pro skateboarder </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lizziearmanto/" target="_blank" title="link opens in a new window">Lizzie Armanto</a><span>, model and body activist </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/denisebidot/" target="_blank" title="link opens in a new window">Denise Bidot</a><span>, and TV host and model </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/therealkamie/" target="_blank" title="link opens in a new window">Kamie Crawford</a><span>. The women have posted unairbrushed images of themselves modeling the new collection on social media.&#xa0;</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span>"Target is committed to empowering women to feel confident in what they wear by offering a variety of style choices,"&#xa0;a Target spokesperson said&#xa0;in a press release. "It was important to us to use photography that represented their true beauty, without filters."&#xa0;</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/target-photoshops-teen-swimsuit-model-2014-3">Target was criticized</a><span>&#xa0;</span>for&#xa0;<span>its excessive photoshopping of models in 2014.</span></span></span></span></p><p>&#xa0;</p>

Target has come a long way since its Photoshop fail of 2014 with real photos of real women

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>T<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/body-positivity-is-changing-what-people-think-about-models-2016-8" target="_blank">he body positivity movement</a>&#xa0;has paved the way for&#xa0;curvy women like&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ashley-graham-model-profile-2015-8" target="_blank">Ashley Graham</a>&#xa0;and&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-iskra-lawrence-aerie-role-model-2015-8" target="_blank">Iskra Lawrence</a>&#xa0;to climb the ranks as models.&#xa0;But rarely are curvy models depicted next to "straight size models," save for the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/adore-me-behind-the-scenes-photo-2016-8" target="_blank">occasional campaign</a>.<p>Now, two models are starting a movement&#xa0;called the All Woman Project, which strives to mitigate that problem.</p><p>"<span>We couldn't understand why straight and plus-size models aren't featured together more in shoots and campaigns," one of the campaign's co-founders, model Charli Howard, told <a href="http://www.vogue.com/13471042/all-woman-project-body-diversity-in-fashion/" target="_blank">Vogue.</a></span></p><p><span>She founded the campaign along with curvy model <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/clementine-desseaux-talks-about-curvy-models-2016-3" target="_blank">Cl<span>é</span>mentine Desseaux</a>.</span></p><p><span><div>    </div></span></p><p><a href="http://www.allwomanproject.com/" target="_blank">The website</a> for the campaign makes its mission statement clear:</p><p>&#xa0;<div>    </div></p><p>The campaign features a roster of diverse&#xa0;women&#xa0;including&#xa0;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-plus-size-model-denise-bidot-2015-12" target="_blank">Denise Bidot</a>,&#xa0;Barbie Ferreira, Elliott Sailors,&#xa0;Victoria Brito, Leaf, and Kamie Crawford, who was formerly Miss Teen USA.</p><p>But most importantly, it can feature&#xa0;<em>any</em> woman: <span>the</span><span>&#xa0;campaign's goal, Vogue notes, is to dominate social media with the tag #IAmAllWoman with posts and photos from any woman.</span></p><p><span>A video for the campaign is below.</span></p><p><span><div></div></span></p><p>&#xa0;</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/not-airbrushing-models-turned-into-a-movement-2016-6">This lingerie company started a movement by nixing Photoshop  - hear its president say why</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Q0M3IyNDE6L3WYMRWeoiMtKLMd_EbL6E" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

This campaign is a fierce reaction to a major problem in the retail industry

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Miss Teen USA Katherine Haik.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Miss Teen USA is no longer having a swimwear competition.</p><p>The news, first reported by <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/06/29/miss-teen-usa-to-eliminate-swimsuit-competition/86502942/?hootPostID=374ba4aff23a763f44679cce0a52fe62" target="_blank">USA Today</a>, marks an unprecedented move. <span>U</span><span>SA Today notes parent company Miss Universe is aiming to shift its brand image following </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-sells-miss-universe-img-2015-9" target="_blank">WME/IMG's purchase of the company from Donald Trump</a><span>.</span></p><p>But swimsuit competitions have long been a part of beauty pageants, and one contestant slammed the show's decision to nix it.</p><p>2010 Miss Teen USA winner Kamie Crawford told <a href="http://www.thisisinsider.com/past-miss-teen-usa-winner-kamie-crawford-hates-elimination-of-swimsuit-competition-2016-6" target="_blank">Insider</a> that she was upset because it was a "<span>part of tradition."</span></p><p><span>"<span>Removing it is sending a message that something is wrong with it, and there's nothing wrong with it," she said to Insider.</span></span></p><p>But it appears that a lot of consumers today might not agree with that statement. Aside from the fact grown adults judging the bodies of girls ages 14-19 in bikinis is downright weird and unnerving, the decision to eliminate swimwear is indicative of just how much Americans' values are shifting. Wellness is a much more important priority now.</p><p>As further proof, Miss Universe president Paula Shugart said that the reason to ditch the category was to "celebrate women's strength, confidence and beauty" in a better way, according to USA Today.</p><p>"This decision reflects an important cultural shift we're all celebrating that empowers women who lead active, purposeful lives and encourage those in their communities to do the same," USA Today notes she wrote. "Our hope is that this decision will help all of Miss Teen USA's fans recognize these young women for the strong, inspiring individuals they are."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Aerie</span></p><p class="caption">Aerie has sent waves of body positivity throughout the teen apparel industry.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>After all, teens today no longer feel the pressure to whittle their waists to get so-called "bikini bodies." Companies like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/american-eagles-aerie-sales-2016-5" target="_blank">Aerie with its unphotoshopped #AerieREAL</a> campaign have encouraged teens to celebrate their bodies as they are. There's an often-cited platitude nowadays that says that you can attain a bikini body in two steps: 1) have a body, 2) put on a bikini. The implied emphasis is twofold: beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and true beauty comes from within.</p><p>Of course, "what's inside" has never really been the heart of beauty pageants. Sure, there's a desire to focus on education and bolstering women (as <a href="http://missamericafoundation.org/education-mission/" target="_blank">Miss America</a> aims to do, for example) but at the end of the day, it's still called a "beauty pageant."  And if we wanted to <em>really</em> talk about groundbreaking shifts, we'd be seeing a bigger variety of body types on the pageant stage - which isn't what's happening here.</p><p>What <em>is</em> happening here is that rather than just eliminating this component of the competition, it's replacing it with an activewear section. After all, if Miss Teen USA isn't showing off women frolicking in bikinis, it can sell a different point of view that jibes with contemporary women's values: strength, power, and wellness.</p><p>As <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/acceptance-is-killing-the-diet-business-2016-2" target="_blank">I've written before</a>, the dieting industry has experienced a massive shift as consumers focus on <em>wellness</em> rather than <em>thinness</em>. As a result, many traditional "dieting" companies have seen sales suffer - people want healthy food (think: avocados, olive oil) and not processed snack replacements. But in turn, people are exercising more than ever, because the goal is to achieve health.</p><p>And along with that focus on wellness, we've seen activewear become <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/people-will-pay-more-for-athleisure-apparel-2016-6" target="_blank">one of the only sectors of the apparel </a>industry to thrive (even if that's not that much of a compliment given how poorly the apparel industry as a whole is doing).<a href="http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=757735" target="_blank"> Morningstar</a> analyst Bridget Weishaar recently wrote that one of the reasons activewear companies have convinced consumers to pay a premium for products is because in order to fulfill certain <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/changes-in-the-fitness-world-2016-6" target="_blank">experiential activities (like a workout class)</a>, they need the apparel to do so.</p><p><span>"</span><span>This fits with our belief that consumers now value experience over material goods, as performance-based apparel is used in activities," she wrote. </span></p><p>Activewear is so profitable, that Victoria's Secret has decided to<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-victorias-secret-dropped-swimwear-2016-4" target="_blank"> totally ax its swimwear sector</a>. In addition to turning the company into three core categories (lingerie, beauty, and its younger sister brand, Pink), it's planning to zero in on its activewear sector.</p><p>Analyst and founder of consulting firm A-Line Partners, Gabriella Santaniello, explained to Business Insider in April how eschewing swimwear for activewear was a smart marketing move.</p><p><span>"It's about not only being sexy, but being fit [and] strong .... Focusing on the athletic wear is a better fit for the total brand and their 360 vision of the brand than swim," Santaniello said at the time.</span></p><p><span>It appears that Miss Teen USA is trying to send a similar message.</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Victoria's Secret is focusing on activewear.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p>But make no mistake: it's also a savvy business move. Victoria's Secret's decision to switch gears means the company is betting on the fact that American consumers are putting their dollars into that market.</p><p>If American consumers <em>are</em> putting their money into activewear, then it makes sense for a pageant to show that, too. But perhaps more notably, it shows that activewear may very well be the new swimwear: though people will always need bikinis, it might be more attractive to show off one's health by exercising and taking action.</p><p>And it's a business move for Miss Teen USA, too.</p><p><span>"If they are looking to expand this is a very shrewd move. It's consistent with the overall brand and message the new owners are talking about," pagaent coach Valerie Hayes said to USA Today. "I think that it will cause more parents to be open to their daughters competing in a state or local Teen Miss USA pageant, because it's been a concern of parents in the past."</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/miss-usa-shares-her-secrets-to-success-2013-6">Miss USA Explains How Working As An Accountant Prepared Her For Beauty Pageants</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="poaDRzYzr8NmUPoZCXwaRFC5KEHfPrlQ" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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Everyone knows to ignore red flags — but green flags could matter more for your relationship, says the hosts of MTV's Catfish

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Family YouTubers said they faced a 'witch hunt' of backlash after posting about their 6-year-old son crying while running a marathon

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A past Miss Teen USA winner hates that the pageant is eliminating the swimsuit competition

James Grebey

Target has come a long way since its Photoshop fail of 2014 with real photos of real women

Mary Hanbury

This campaign is a fierce reaction to a major problem in the retail industry

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The Miss Teen USA pageant just proved how much American values are shifting

Mallory Schlossberg

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