Miss USA Apologizes after Mocking Miss Vietnam and Miss Cambodia

In the same week that Trump decided to deport Vietnam war refugees, Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers, surfaced in an Instagram live video mocking Miss Universe contestants who don’t speak English as a first language reports Elle.

According to E!News,  Summers, who is accompanied by Miss Colombia Valeria Morales and Miss Australia Francesca Hung, called out Miss Cambodia Rena Sinat and Miss Vietnam H’Hen Nie in their online broadcast. In the video Summers ask the two other contestants, “What do you think of MissVietnam Nie?”

Soon after asking, she says before laughing, “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 and smiles].”

How did this even happened, why ?? @valeriamoralesd @sarahrosesummers @francesca.hung @missuniverse #missuniverse #missusa #misscolombia #missaustralia

A post shared by Certified Queen? #GSBA (@grandslambeautyalliance) on Dec 12, 2018 at 7:51pm PST

Later in the video, Summers mentions Sinat and says, “”Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language.” Sheadds, “Can you imagine?”

Hung says that it must be isolating for the contestant to not speak English as this worldwide event, then Summers said, “Poor Cambodia.”

The video led to outrage online and criticized by fashion watchdogs like Diet Prada, who also repudiated fashion line Dolce & Gabbana for their racist video ad a few weeks ago. Diet Prada posted the controversial video alongside one of her thanking the Cambodian people for support reports Quartz. Part of the caption said: “@sarahrosesummers hopefully will prove that ignorance will not win you a @missuniverse title…whateverthat means these days. This is basically what normalized xenophobia looks like.”

Summers later posted an apology on Instagram, acknowledging her mistake.

@MissUniverse is an opportunity for women from around the world to learn about each other’s cultures, life experiences, and views. We all come from different backgrounds and can grow alongside one another. In a moment where I intended to admire the courage of a few of my sisters, I said something that I now realize can be perceived as not respectful, and I apologize. My life, friendships, and career revolve around me being a compassionate and empathetic woman. I would never intend to hurt another. I am grateful for opportunities to speak with Nat, Miss Cambodia, and H’Hen, Miss Vietnam, directly about this experience. These are the moments that matter most to me.

A post shared by Sarah Rose Summers (@sarahrosesummers) on Dec 13, 2018 at 9:41am PST

Summer mother spoke to TMZ saying her daughter meant no harm.

“[Summers] was just recreating how Miss Vietnam acts when she doesn’t understand what someone is saying. She wasn’t trying to mock her,” said Summers mom Desiree.

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