{"id":6413,"date":"2026-08-12T11:08:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T11:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6413"},"modified":"2026-08-12T11:08:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T11:08:33","slug":"miss-universe-canada-contestants-slammed-over-indigenous-pageant-costumes-cultural-appropriation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6413","title":{"rendered":"Miss Universe Canada contestants slammed over Indigenous pageant costumes: ‘Cultural appropriation’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

An Indigenous Sports Illustrated model-turned-beauty queen slammed two Miss Universe Canada contestants who wore Indigenous-inspired outfits during the pageant, describing the attire as \u201ccultural appropriation.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily donned the outfits during the national costume portion of the competition in Windsor, Ontario, on Aug. 4, according to APTN News.<\/p>\n

Haverkamp wore a feathered headdress traditionally associated with respected Indigenous leaders in North America, along with a red handprint painted on her face, a symbol of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement.<\/p>\n

Kaily wore a costume called \u201cArctic Beauty,\u201d featuring an all-fur dress, fur boots known as mukluks and two braids.<\/p>\n

Former Miss Universe Canada winner Ashley Callingbull, who was the first Indigenous woman to win the title in 2024 and represented the country at the Miss Universe pageant, interrupted her co-host, pageant director Sonny Borrelli, to address the issue while co-hosting the show\u2019s final Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes there are mistakes that are made. It\u2019s 2026. We should know better,\u201d she said on stage, <\/strong>according to CBC Indigenous.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut most importantly, a part of reconciliation is that we educate and learn and understand and move on from these things in a good way,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Callingbull, a Plains Cree woman from the Enoch Cree Nation, admitted that she was shocked when she saw the costumes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis cannot be real. I just couldn\u2019t get over that this was happening,\u201d she told the outlet. \u201cWho allowed this on stage? Who approved this?<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything traditional or sacred should not be allowed. I was very, very upset.\u201d<\/p>\n

Callingbull, the first Indigenous First Nations woman to grace the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in 2022, contacted pageant organizers to voice her anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like I was educating them and giving them hell at the same time because I needed them to understand how bad this was, and how much this affects other people,\u201d Callingbull told APTN News Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad I got the message across, but it was heavy on me. It was heavy on my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The pageant\u2019s website describes the national costume segment as \u201ca celebration of Canadian culture and heritage, combined with creativity,\u201d with contestants required to showcase \u201ca unique costume, dress, or outfit inspired by Canada\u2019s traditions, symbols, and history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Universe Canada apologized in a statement on Facebook Friday morning. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf any costume caused offense, hurt, or misunderstanding, please know that it was never our intention,\u201d the organization said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe national costume segment is intended to celebrate creativity, heritage, and identity. However, we recognize that every design requires deep care, respect, and continuous evaluation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pageant organizers thanked Callingbull for her \u201cguidance, advice, and assistance\u201d and said they would introduce a \u201ccomprehensive Costume Guide\u201d with standards for future competitions.<\/p>\n

Callingbull responded on Facebook hours later: \u201cCultural appropriation is NOT OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow there will be guidelines and liaisons to help with this process moving forward,\u201d she added. \u201cChange doesn\u2019t happen unless you speak up. Thank you MUC for acknowledging this and doing what needed to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borrelli has invited Callingbull to serve as the official liaison for the costume segment moving forward.<\/p>\n

Haverkamp apologized for her costume on Instagram.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI acknowledge and recognize that my outfit for the national costume caused hurt and offense to people in the Indigenous community,\u201d she wrote. \u201cI appreciate what I have learned from this experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kaily also apologized on social media, saying her \u201cintention was never to disrespect or misrepresent Indigenous culture\u201d and that she wanted to \u201crecognize and celebrate one of the First Peoples of Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aslihan Moral won the Miss Universe Canada title Saturday and will represent the country at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico on Nov. 26.<\/p>\n

Miss Universe Canada has faced similar criticism before.<\/p>\n

In 2015, contestant Paola Nunez Valdez sparked controversy after wearing a totem pole costume, with the pageant calling the incident a \u201cmisunderstanding\u201d and saying the outfit was intended to represent her Dominican heritage.<\/p>\n

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Miss Universe Canada apologized after contestants Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily faced backlash for wearing Indigenous-inspired costumes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\nMiss Universe Canada contestants slammed over Indigenous pageant costumes: 'Cultural appropriation' - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6413\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Miss Universe Canada contestants slammed over Indigenous pageant costumes: 'Cultural appropriation' - 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