Drama around Miss America intensifies as reps call for board's resignation

Last month, the Miss America Organization may have nixed its controversial swimsuit competition while welcoming brand new leadership, but those changes haven't been without scandal behind the scenes, according to multiple new reports.

The Press of Atlantic City reports that reps from 22 state pageants have called for the organization’s entire board of trustees to resign, including new chair, former Fox News personality Gretchen Carlson, and President and CEO, Regina Hopper.

However, 30 former Miss Americas signed a letter in support of Carlson and the board.

Four women who left the board after only a few months shared a message in a private Facebook group detailing their version of their departures, Page Six reports.

See photos from the most recent Miss America pageant:

Valerie Crooker Clemens and Jennifer Vaden Barth, both state titleholders who were elected to the board in February, reportedly alleged that neither of them resigned voluntarily.

Another woman, Miss America 2012 champ Laura Kaeppeler Fleiss, reportedly wrote in the group that she felt the board had “become incredibly toxic."

Miss America 1998, Kate Shindle, reportedly added that she and others felt they were expected to be a “rubber-stamp board” and that their efforts were “characterized as destructive, hostile and/or unappreciative.”

However, the remaining board disputed the claims, as well as rumors that members thought the swimsuit move was made in consideration of the TV broadcast.

The board of Miss America noted that the decision was unanimous and that "any attempt to portray that decision as one made on an uninformed or misinformed basis is false."

Speaking to The Press of Atlantic City, CEO Hopper also noted, in part, “on behalf of the Miss America Organization, in any transition, there are are always those who disagree with or find it hard to accept change.”