Miss Vietnam, H’Hen Nie, is standing behind Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers after she was caught on video mocking her fellow Miss Universe contestant for pretending “to know so much English.”
Viral Instagram footage shows Summers, 24, claiming that Vietnam’s representative and Miss Cambodia Rern Sinat have limited English proficiency.
But days after a backlash, Nie has come to Summers’ defense, telling CNN on Friday, “Everyone in this competition, myself included, loves and respects one another. “When she knew about my difficulties with (the English) language, she took an interest and showed me love. That’s why she knows about that. Thank you Miss USA for taking care of me, showing me love and helping me recently.”
In the clip, Summers is seen asking Miss Colombia, Valeria Morales Delgado, and Miss Australia, Francesca Hung: “What do you think of Miss Vietnam, Nie?” To which Delgado replied, “Fashion, that’s the word.” “She’s so cute,” Hung added.
“She’s so cute and she pretends to know so much English, and then you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her and she goes [nods and smiles],” laughed Summers. “She’s adorable.”
USA’s representative also ridiculed Miss Cambodia for her limited knowledge of the English language.
“Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language. Can you imagine?” Summers said. “Francesca said that would be so isolating and I said yes and just confusing all the time.”
“Poor Cambodia,” she went on.
Following the backlash from Instagram users, Summers issued an apology, saying: “[Miss Universe] is an opportunity for women from around the world to learn about each other’s cultures, life experiences, and views. We all come from different backgrounds and can grow alongside one another.”
Summers’ mother Desiree also supported her daughter explaining that she meant no ill intent.
Desiree told TMZ: “[She] was just recreating how Miss Vietnam acts when she doesn’t understand what someone is saying. She wasn’t trying to mock her.”
Featured Image via Instagram / hhennie.official (Left), sarahrosesummers (Right)
