Miss USA 2018 Was Accused of Mocking Asian Miss Universe Contestant's Language Skills Remember t

Publish date: 2024-05-06

Miss USA 2018 Sarah Rose Summers once came under fire after footage that showed her mocking fellow Miss Universe contestants' English-speaking skills went viral on social media.

In December 2018, model Sarah Rose Summers took to her Instagram page to issue an apology for her remarks about Miss Vietnam H'Hen Nie and Miss Cambodia Rern Sinat.

Along with a picture of herself and fellow contestants embracing each other, Summers wrote that the Miss Universe beauty pageant is a great opportunity for women all over the world to find out about each other's cultures, life experiences, and perspectives.

Sarah Rose Summers visits the Build Series at Build Studio on May 23, 2018 in New York City. | Photo: Getty Images

NEVER MEANT TO HURT SOMEONE

"We all come from different backgrounds and can grow alongside one another," Summers added. She then explained that she had said something that was not worth saying and could be regarded as disrespectful.

Although Summers, who bears a striking resemblance to Ivanka Trump, said that she only intended to appreciate a few of her sisters' determination, she still apologized for what she said.

Summers reiterated that she never meant to hurt anybody, adding that her life, friendships, and career revolve around her being an empathetic woman.

Summers went on to explain that she is thankful for the chance to talk with Sinat and Nie directly about the experience. The model added those were the moments that mattered most to her.

THE CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO

As reported by PEOPLE, Summers was captured on video talking about Sinat and Nie. The footage shows her seeming to ridicule Nie's English-speaking skills.

Hung explained that the video had been "misconstrued."

Miss vietnam H'Hen Nie at Spring Studios on February 12, 2019 in New York City. | Photo: Getty Images

In the video, Summers said Nie is charming and that she pretends to know so much English, adding, "And then you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her and she goes —."

Before she laughed, Summers can be seen in the video nodding and smiling in a way that seemed to mimic Nie. She then said that Miss Vietnam was adorable. In the video, Summers, Miss Colombia Valeria Morales, and Miss Australia Francesca Hung also discussed Miss Cambodia.

A 'MISCONSTRUED' CLIP

Summers said that Sinat did not speak any English and that no one spoke her language there. The footage was reportedly part of an Instagram Live video shared on Morales' account. According to Daily Mail, Miss Australia responded to the controversy on her Instagram page.

Hung explained that the video had been "misconstrued." She said they were simply saying it must be even hard sometimes not to have a single other representatives to talk to because of the language barrier.

In fact, it made Miss Cambodia an even stronger contender to win the Miss Universe title, Hung, whose father is Chinese, added. The Miss Universe 2018 was held in Bangkok, Thailand. The eventual winner was Miss Philippines Catriona Gray.

Meanwhile, Summers ended her reign as Miss USA in May 2019. Summers became engaged to the love of her life, Conner Combs, in Bangkok in December 2018, soon after competing at Miss Universe. They exchanged their wedding vows in October 2019, in Anthem, Arizona.

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