Full Breakdown
Miss Universe Canada Pageant Paused Over Indigenous Cultural Appropriation Concerns
8/14/2026, 5:49:35 AM
Core Event
During the live broadcast of the Miss Universe Canada final on August 8, titleholder Ashley Callingbull—who became the first Indigenous First Nations Miss Universe Canada in 2024—interrupted director Sonny Borrelli moments before the top-20 contestants were announced. Callingbull requested that the music be lowered so she could address the audience, stating that the national costume segment had featured cultural appropriation of Indigenous traditions. The interruption led the organization to pause the competition, review the contested costumes, and announce immediate corrective actions.
Background & Context
Miss Universe Canada’s national costume competition is intended to showcase “creativity, heritage, and identity” by having each delegate present an outfit inspired by Canadian symbols and history. In 2026, two contestants—Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily—presented costumes that incorporated Indigenous elements such as a feathered headdress, red hand-paint, mukluks and braids. Both contestants later explained that they aimed to celebrate Indigenous culture but lacked clear guidance on what constituted appropriation.
Timeline
- August 4 (scheduled) – National costume competition takes place (or is scheduled to take place) featuring the contested outfits.
- August 8 (occurred) – Ashley Callingbull halts the final to call out the appropriation; the pageant pauses while organizers consult with Callingbull.
- Following day – Contestants post apologies on Instagram; Miss Universe Canada issues a public statement and announces the creation of a comprehensive Costume Guide.
Official Statements & Responses
- Miss Universe Canada director Sonny Borrelli acknowledged the incident, stating that the organization “takes full responsibility” and will learn from the mistake.
- The Miss Universe Canada organization released a statement emphasizing that any offense was unintentional and that a new Costume Guide will set clear standards for future cycles.
- Contestant Karisa Haverkamp posted an Instagram apology, recognizing that her outfit caused hurt and affirming her commitment to advocate for women affected by violence and oppression.
- The organization thanked Callingbull for her “guidance, advice, and assistance” and confirmed that she will serve as a cultural liaison for upcoming pageants.
Data & Statistics
- August 8 – Date of the live final where the interruption occurred.
- August 4 – Scheduled date for the national costume segment that featured the disputed outfits.
Verbatim Quotes
- “So with Miss Universe Canada, me being the first Indigenous First Nations Miss Universe Canada, that was such a huge honor,” — Ashley Callingbull, national director
- “On behalf of all of us at Miss Universe Canada, it was not our intent to offend anybody and if we did, we take full responsibility, we will learn from it,” — Sonny Borrelli, interrupted director
- “We have recently received feedback regarding some of the national costumes featured in our competition. We want to address this directly and sincerely: if any costume caused offense, hurt, or misunderstanding, please know that it was never our intention.” — the Miss Universe Canada organization
- “It’s 2026. We should know better, but most importantly, a part of reconciliation is that we educate and learn and understand and move on from these things in a good way,” — Ashley Callingbull, national director
What’s Next
Ashley Callingbull has been appointed cultural liaison, tasked with advising on Indigenous representation and helping the organization develop culturally appropriate protocols for upcoming competitions.
