Reigning Miss Universe rebukes Trump for his migrant remarks
Jul 2, 2015, 6:06 PM
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2015, file photo, reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler, right, crowns the new Miss Universe, Paulina Vega of Colombia, left, during the Miss Universe pageant in Miami, Sunday. Vega said on Thursday, July 2, 2015, that Donald Trump's recent comments against Mexican immigrants where hurtful and unfair, but she added that if the Miss Universe organization had any anti-latino or racist sentiments, she would not be in the position she is today. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The reigning Miss Universe says Donald Trump, the beauty pageant’s owner, was “hurtful and unfair” in his comments about Mexican migrants. But Paulina Vega of Colombia says she isn’t giving up her crown.
Vega has been under pressure at home and from abroad to renounce her title over Trump accusing Mexico of sending rapists and drug traffickers into the U.S.
In her first public comments, Vega said Thursday that she wanted to join in the chorus of rebukes to Trump. However, she said she didn’t plan to resign her crown because the Miss Universe organization does meaningful social work in communities around the world.
Many Colombians were outraged by Trump’s remarks, and the city government of Bogota withdrew its support for a bid to host the Miss Universe pageant.
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