Gretchen Carlson in 2016. He is named Miss America Board Member. CreditBryan Anselm for The New York Times
Daniel Victor

Gretchen Carlson, who was Miss America in 1989 and in recent years has become an important voice for sexual harassment in the workplace, moves to chair the chairman of the leader, the organization announced on Monday.

Carlson, former Fox News anchor, whose lawsuit on harassment in the helm of Fox Chairman Roger Ailes left in July 2016, is expected to lead the challenge through his own harassment scandal. Three leaders resigned last month after reports reported that leadership had used a cruel language when winning former winners in emails.

Ms Carlson said on Twitter that she was "honored to move this iconic program forward with so many incredible volunteers."

"Everyone is amazed at the events of the past few days, and this has not been easy for everyone who likes this program," Carlson said in a statement. "Finally, we all want a strong and relevant Miss America company, and we appreciate the current government by taking the necessary steps to quickly begin organizational stability in the future."

The organization also added three more Miss America prize winners: Laura Kaeppeler Fleiss, who won the year 2012; Heather Frenchman who won in 2000; and Kate Shindle, who won in 1998.

On 21 December 1991, HuffPost published e-mails showing that Managing Director Sam Haskell had made incorrect comments about past winners and sometimes supported by other organizational leaders. Emails showed that he had noticed Mallory Haga, the former winner, his weight and sex life.

Two days later the organization approved Haskell's divorce; President Josh Randle; and chairman Lynn Weidner. Several other members of the Board have resigned.

Carlson, who previously served on the board, was one of the 49 winners who signed a letter on December 22, calling for separation and calling leaders' behavior to be "desperate."

"The Miss America women have decided to take the program back," Carlson and Ms. Shindle write in their statement after resignation. "This is not over yet."
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Carlson, Left, 1989 Miss America, First 1990, Virginia Cha of Maryland, Center and Carlson's successor Debbye Turner Missouri. CreditTom Patrick / Associated Press

After emails were featured, Dick Clark Productions, a competing production company, and a key partner for broadcasting, said they were "shocked by their inappropriate content" and broke their links.

In his trial against Ailes, Carlson accused him of forcing him out when he refused explicit sexual progress. He wrote in the Op-Ed essay of November 2016 that many women had come to her with harassment with her own stories.

He wrote that he experienced sexual harassment twice when he was appointed Miss America.

"Once a well-known TV director stuck his tongue down my throat in the car's back seat, which we shared," he wrote. "And a few weeks later, Los Angeles's famous publicist shook my head so hard that I could not breathe."

Carlson said in a statement on Monday that the new government "will continue a continuous and transparent process to identify new auxiliary board members and management".