Miss. Deaf USA

Today I saw something new in Deaf America. This is what I will call the deaf in America--Deaf America. Because I can. So news today in Deaf America, is that there is Miss. Deaf USA---a new pageant to be hosted in Las Vegas Nevada in 2010.

I ofc am wondering what NAD thinks of this? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? We have Miss. Deaf America---hosted by the state pageants in each state, then you win the title Miss. Deaf America when all the states gather. But this is where it stops. There is no interational pageant.

The Miss. Deaf USA will be international. No state pageants to determine Miss. USA? Instead any girl/woman that fits the criteria can run? Then go to international?

I haven't decided yet what my thoughts are. I think its good in some ways. A nice chance to have an internatinal pageant. Except, who do they represent? If its not affilated with NAD, can they still represent all of us who are state members or national members? How does this work?

So I have alot to learn, as I reserach on this and gateher thoughts and opinions.
This will include bathing suit competition--since they said it on their site www.missdeafusa.com NAD does not have this. Thank goodness, because as a former Miss. Deaf Oklahoma, I don't think I would've been comfortable prancing around in my bathing suit.

But, to me it sounds like Miss. Deaf USA is almost equivelent to Miss. USA so this can be a good thing right?

So here I am, curiuos to find out what the thoughts of others, that are not affiliated.
More details later.