The awkwardness of the wrong Miss Universe being named by host Steve Harvey overshadowed what some say was another big gaffe: Miss Canada’s national costume.
Each of the pageant contestants are encouraged to show off their country’s culture during a pre-taped portion of the show.
Paola Nunez Valdez decided to show her patriotism by hanging a sparkly totem pole from her waist, letting the carving dangle between her legs. She paired it with a headdress.
Critics claimed the costume reeked of cultural appropriation.
“This ‘costume’ was a very poor choice,” wrote one person on Instagram, calling it “disrespectful.”
The costume’s Dominican designer said in November he was inspired by the totem poles of North America’s indigenous cultures.
The Miss Universe Canada organization, however, offered a different account this week.
It claimed the backlash was all just a big “misunderstanding,” and that the costume was actually inspired by the contestant’s Dominican heritage.
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The pageant queen, who’s remained mum on the matter, emigrated to Canada when she was 10.
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In a Miss Universe Canada video, she says she’s proud to be Canadian because “Canada is a melting pot.”
Unlike the melting pot of the U.S., Canada prides itself on being a cultural mosaic.
And ironically it’s what may have played a role in the controversial costume choice, according to Ashley Callingbull, who became the first First Nations Mrs. Universe this past summer.
She herself thought the costume was creative but didn’t like “the totem hanging from the crotch,” as she put it on Facebook.
She also felt the directors could use a bit of help in the cultural sensitivity department.
“I think they should have a cultural advisor when making outfits that represent a culture other than their own.”
READ MORE: Professor compares wearing a headdress to blackface
“The thing that people don’t understand,” Callingbull wrote, ” is the women representing these countries are usually born and raised there with the exception of Canada and the US.
“These girls know their culture and some still over-sexualize the outfits because of TWO things…. RATINGS and VOTES. The more extreme the better it is.”
BELOW: Gallery of outfits from the national costume show
Last year, Canada’s representative Chanel Beckenlehner got big buzz for her hockey-themed get-up.
SOUND OFF: What do you think of this year’s costume?
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