Several Twitter users quickly alleged that Hay used offensive language on Twitter, including the N-word, in a number of tweets that have since been deleted. Refinery29 could not independently verify these tweets.
Users shared screenshots that they claim are from Hay's account and several media outlets shared the screengrabs on their sites. By Sunday afternoon, Twitter was calling Hay "racist" and some users were even asking for her crown to be removed.
Hay took to Twitter to apologize for what she calls language that she's "not proud of and that there is no excuse for."
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Karlie Hay @RealMissTXteen
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...
8:14 AM - 31 Jul 2016
17 17 Retweets 66 66 likes
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Karlie Hay @RealMissTXteen
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...
8:16 AM - 31 Jul 2016
13 13 Retweets 38 38 likes
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Karlie Hay @RealMissTXteen
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...
8:18 AM - 31 Jul 2016
11 11 Retweets 31 31 likes
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Karlie Hay @RealMissTXteen
I am today a better person. I am honored to hold this title and I will use this platform to promote the values of...
8:19 AM - 31 Jul 2016
12 12 Retweets 37 37 likes
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Karlie Hay @RealMissTXteen
The Miss Universe Organization, and my own, that recognize the confidence, beauty and perseverance of all women.
8:20 AM - 31 Jul 2016
8 8 Retweets 31 31 likes
The Miss Teen USA pageant has not yet responded to Refinery29's request for comment on the controversy.
Even before Hay's big win, Twitter was unhappy with the pageant.
After the list of competitors was narrowed down from 51 young women to five finalists — which included Miss North Carolina Emily Wakeman, Miss South Carolina Marley Stokes, Miss Alabama Erin Snow, and Miss Nevada Carissa Morrow — the Miss Teen USA Twitter account announced the five finalists with photos of the young women.
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
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Karlie Hay ✔ @MissTeenUSA
These are your TOP 5 #MissTeenUSA contestants!
2:29 AM - 31 Jul 2016
1,362 1,362 Retweets 4,587 4,587 likes
Many noticed one striking similarity: All five finalists were white women with blonde hair. Model Chrissy Teigen called out Miss Teen USA in a tweet, saying, "Wow how can we choose from such a diverse bunch."
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christine teigen ✔ @chrissyteigen
Wow how can we choose from such a diverse bunch https://twitter.com/missteenusa/status/759561553423142914 …
9:04 AM - 31 Jul 2016
84,599 84,599 Retweets 145,091 145,091 likes
She wasn't the only person who noticed how similar the five finalists all looked. Fans quickly chimed in, as well. One tweeted, "Thought it was the same girl in 5 different poses," while another added, "Do they know it's the same girl five times."
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Snap: tleifert ✔ @TiagoLeifert
@chrissyteigen thought it was the same girl in 5 different poses
1:13 PM - 31 Jul 2016
1 1 Retweet 16 16 likes
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Lady Gaga @CantReadMyJudas
@chrissyteigen @MissTeenUSA are they going to post the other 4 tomorrow?
9:06 AM - 31 Jul 2016
18 18 Retweets 263 263 likes
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mia yeun @ImActuallyMia
@chrissyteigen @MissTeenUSA 🤔🤔 they all the same girl I swear
9:05 AM - 31 Jul 2016
47 47 Retweets 792 792 likes
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Ryan Miller @RMiller_20
@ldrumhiller @chrissyteigen @MissTeenUSA Obviously the diversity comes in the different shades of tan.
2:04 PM - 31 Jul 2016 · Oviedo, FL, United States
1 1 Retweet 3 3 likes
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Jamie Smallwood @jamiesmallwood
@chrissyteigen I think the blonde one with blue eyes and perfect eyebrows will win 😂
9:13 AM - 31 Jul 2016
2 2 Retweets 30 30 likes
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Connor Hutyler @ConnorHutyler
@chrissyteigen goodness. You can't convince me that's not multiple pictures of the same person.
9:54 AM - 31 Jul 2016
2 2 Retweets 40 40 likes
This stands in marked difference to the Miss USA pageant, which featured multiple women of color as finalists.
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