Earlier this month, Genesis Davis was stripped of her Miss Florida 2017 crown because she used professional hair and makeup artists in her private room.
That move violated company guidelines, so the pageant had no choice but to relieve Davis of her duties.
Fair enough, we suppose, but now contrast that decision with the one arrived at by Miss Teen USA officials this morning.
On Saturday night, Karlie Hay won this crown in a contest mostly comprised of white women with blonde hair and blue eyes.
The composition of the field, of course, was not the fault of the contestants themselves… but the same excuse can’t be used when it comes to Hay’s Twitter account.
Within hours of Hay’s victory, past Tweets in which Hay used the N-Word on multiple occasions went viral.
They all appear to have been from 2013 and they all seem to feature Hay throwing around that racial epithet in casual conversation.
To wit:
The Miss Universe Organization, which owns the Miss Teen USA pageant, condemned the messages, but has said Hay will keep her sash and the organization will support “her continued growth.”
“The language Karlie Hay used is unacceptable at any age and in no way reflects the values of the Miss Universe Organization,” higher-ups said in a statement obtained by KTRK.
On Instagram, meanwhile, Hay issued a lengthy statement of her own.
In it, she cites “personal struggles” as the basis for her N-Word usage back in the day.
“Several years ago, I had many personal struggles and found myself in a place that is not representative of who I am as a person,” wrote Hay, along with the photo featured below.
She continued:
“I admit that I have used language publicly in the past which I am not proud of and that there is no excuse for. Through hard work, education and thanks in large part to the sisterhood that I have come to know through pageants, I am proud to say that I am today a better person.
“I am honored to hold this title and I will use this platform to promote the values of The Miss Universe Organization, and my own, that recognize the confidence, beauty and perseverance of all women.”
Meanwhile, aside from Hay’s scandal, social media users criticized the organization after the top five finalists introduced at the Venetian in Las Vegas all turned out to be white.
And blonde-haired.
And blue-eyed.
“Wow how can we choose from such a diverse bunch,” Chrissy Teigen wrote in jest of the finalists in a tweet, adding:
“It’s fiiiiiine. Not their fault. I’m sure they are delightful women. Just funny. I’m not gonna write a think-piece on a damn pageant.”
No, neither are we.
But look at all the scandals that have befallen these pageants in the past (below) and then remind yourself that the year is 2016 and wonder:
How can these ridiculous things still exist?!?
