Miss Universe Australia has become embroiled in an ugly bullying scandal after a fellow contestant mocked an Asian beauty queen for not speaking English.
Eurasian model Francesca Hung, who is representing Australia in the international beauty pageant, appeared alongside contestants from USA and Colombia in a livestream on Instagram ahead of the final day of rehearsals in Bangkok, Thailand.
The trio were accused of being ‘racist’ and ‘bigoted’ after appearing to make fun of fellow contenders from Cambodia and Vietnam for speaking poor English.
‘Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language,’ Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers said in the livestream.
Miss Australia Francesca Hung (left) appeared alongside Miss USA (right) and Miss Colombia in an Instagram livestream on the final day of rehearsals, in Bangkok, Thailand
Miss Colombia, Valeria Morales, agreed with the claims.
‘Could you imagine? Like Francesca said, that would be so isolating and I said yes, and I mean, just confusing all the time,’ Miss USA continued.
Miss Australia added: ‘It would be really hard’.
The remarks continued in another part of the livestream when the contestants discussed Miss Vietnam’s limited English.
‘Miss Vietnam… she’s so cute, and she pretends to know so much English and then you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her and she goes (nods),’ Miss USA said.
Miss Australia laughed with Miss USA after the controversial comments.
The trio have been accused of being ‘racist’ after Miss USA said the contestants from Cambodia and Vietnam spoke poor English (pictured: Miss USA, left, and Miss Cambodia, right)
‘Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language,’ Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers said in the livestream (pictured)
Miss USA addressed Miss Colombia (pictured) and said she spoke ‘great English’ and was able to communicate with other contestants who speak Spanish
The contestants have been accused of racism and bullying with some arguing they should be booted from the competition.
‘Absolutely enraged that Miss USA, Miss Australia and Miss Colombia made fun of Miss Cambodia and Miss Vietnam for not being able to speak fluent English, TRASH,’ one person tweeted.
‘@MissUniverse i wonder if you will still allow Miss USA, Columbia, and Australia to continue in the competition after their racist/ bigoted remarks toward fellow contestant Miss Cambodia,’ wrote another.
‘I can’t believe these ladies will be representing their countries!’
Furious social media users called for the trio to be booted from the international beauty pageant
One Twitter user referred to the trio as Mean Girls amid the backlash (pictured)
Some were disappointed Miss Australia involved herself in the ‘Mean Girls’ behaviour.
‘I’m so disappointed with Miss Australia though!’ one woman tweeted.
‘I’m not even surprised with SRS (Sarah Rose Summers) but Francesca???? Girl, you just lost yourself a crown. You were literally a shoo-in until now. UGH. #MissUniverse2018’
Some were disappointed Miss Australia involved herself in the ‘Mean Girls’ behaviour
Director of Pink Tank Events Troy Barbagallo, who run the Miss Universe Australia Pageant, said Miss Australia (left) was ‘far from a bully’
Director of Pink Tank Events Troy Barbagallo, who run the Miss Universe Australia Pageant, said Miss Australia was ‘far from a bully’.
‘She is publicly against (bullying), she grew up in Australia as half-Chinese, achieved great things and has since been using her new role as an advocate for acceptance of cultural diversity,’ Barbagallo told 9Honey.
‘Regarding the incident, we have spoken the girls involved and MUO management. The bullying accusations are unfounded and almost bullying against the accused.’
Mr Barbagallo said he believed the comments had been taken out of context.
‘The comments were taken completely out of context with the girls merely chatting sympathetically re the difficulty facing Miss Cambodia as the only participant who has no one else in the competition who speaks her language,’ he said.
A video shared online showed a teary and smiley Miss Cambodia (centre) hug Miss Australia (right) and Miss USA (left) – indicating the contestants had worked through the comments
There appears to be no hard feelings between Miss Cambodia Rern Sinat and the other contestants as they have since appeared in photographs together.
A video shared online showed Miss Cambodia hugging Miss Australia and Miss USA – indicating the contestants had worked through the comments.
The preliminary competition airs in Australia on Thursday at 11pm AEST.
There are contestants competing from 94 countries this year and the 67th Miss Universe will be crowned on December 16.