Miss USA accused of mocking Asian contestants' English: 'Miss Universe should not be an ambassador of bullying'

A Miss Universe contestant is being called out for bullying after making fun of a fellow contestant’s language skills. The competition is underway in Thailand.

In a now-expired Instagram Live video, Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers can be heard joking to Miss Australia and Miss Colombia about how Miss Vietnam speaks.

“What do you think about Miss Vietnam?” she asks her friends, before laughing, “… and she pretends to know so much English, and you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her and she … [smiles and nods].”

Australia’s Miss Universe entry, Francesca Hung, with Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers. (Photo: Francesca Hung via Instagram)

Popular Instagram page Diet Prada posted the footage with another two videos of Miss USA, this time speaking about Miss Cambodia.

In the first she showers her fellow contestant with praise while thanking her own Cambodian fans for their support.

But in the second, she’s seen pitying Miss Cambodia to the same two friends.

“Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English, and not a single other person speaks her language,” she says, adding, “Poor Cambodia.”

The footage has gone viral on social media, with thousands condemning the behavior.

“The future Miss Universe should not be an ambassador of bullying,” read one comment.

“This is just a shameful display of meanness poorly masked as empathy,” another commenter wrote. “Clearly none of these women embody what being Miss Universe is all about … and in this day and age?”

“Shame on you ladies! Beautiful outside but not inside!!” wrote another critic.

Yet some are backing the Nebraska-born pageant queen, whose Instagram bio features the hashtag #ifyoudonthaveanythingnicetosaydontsayanythingatall.

“Sad to think that your sorrow towards Cambodia and thoughtfulness towards Vietnam is being perceived in the wrong manner … to add that these specific individuals have only seen snippets of the live video,” wrote one supporter on Instagram. “Don’t listen to ’em. A lot of people know you weren’t making fun of those two women, in fact you were telling everyone the wittiness and uniqueness that comes with competing with so many different women from around the world. People need to understand that you were telling everyone how isolating it is and that you felt sad for Cambodia … and that you were sharing a funny and happy experience with Vietnam. Love you!”

Others accused her critics of being jealous.