Ashley Callingbull, the Miss Universe Canada titleholder who brought the pageant to a halt to condemn what she described as “cultural appropriation,” says the fallout has escalated into a wave of death threats.
Callingbull, 36, a member of the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta who was crowned Miss Universe Canada in 2024, was serving as host of the 2026 Miss Universe Canada final on Saturday.
Before revealing the competition’s top 20 contestants, she went off script to criticize the pageant for permitting participants to appear in costumes she said were painful and offensive to her as an Indigenous woman.
In a new interview with People, Callingbull said she has been met with “so much racism and hate” since speaking out, while also explaining what pushed her to address the issue publicly during the live event.
She did not hold back when addressing her critics, dismissing some of the online abuse as both “ignorant” and “stupid.”
Callingbull told the outlet that the intensity of the “backlash” caught her off guard, adding that several people on the internet have sent her death threats in the days since the Miss Universe Canada controversy unfolded.
“After I spoke up, I experienced so much racism and hate,” she said. “Obviously, I don’t respond to ignorance. You can’t argue with stupid.
“From what I’ve learned, I can’t control what life throws at me, but I can control how I react to it.”
Ashley Callingbull, 36, who won the Miss Universe Canada competition in 2024 (seen), was hosting the 2026 Miss Universe Canada final on Saturday when she stopped the pageant to slam the event for ‘cultural appropriation’
Karisa Haverkamp appeared in a multicolored feathered headdress with a small red handprint on her cheek during the Miss Universe Canada costume portion, which insulted former winner Ashley Callingbull, who is Indigenous
During the final, Callingbull said: ‘Me being the first Indigenous First Nations Miss Universe Canada, that was such a huge honor.
‘But sometimes there are mistakes that are made. During this week, during the national costume competition, there was cultural appropriation done toward Indigenous people.’
‘It’s 2026, we should know better. More importantly, a part of reconciliation is that we educate and learn and understand and move on from these things in a good way,’ she continued as she spoke to the crowd.
The costume portion of the competition is supposed to represent parts of Canada and its history.
Although she was not a judge for that portion of the competition, she did watch the video, where she saw contestants Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily appear in Indigenous-inspired outfits.
Haverkamp appeared in a multicolored feathered headdress with a small red handprint on her cheek, which is supposed to represent the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls movement.
Kaily wore an Arctic-inspired costume that included fringe and a fur-covered winter outfit that looked similar to what Canadian Inuits wear. She paired it with a maple leaf cutout.
While chatting with People, Callingbull said it ‘felt like a slap in the face to the Indigenous community’ when she saw the video.
Jasleen Kaily also appeared in traditional-style wear. When Callingbull saw the looks, she told CBC that ‘my jaw just dropped to the floor’
Now, she has claimed that she’s experienced ‘so much racism and hate’ since the incident, as she opened up about what led to her deciding to speak out during a chat with People
‘I wanted the Indigenous community to hear it,’ she added of her decision to speak out during the event.
She explained that after she saw the video she spoke with various members of the Miss Universe Canada team. But she did not tell them she was planning to address it during the final.
‘Accountability is everything. And how you respond in moments like that when they aren’t rehearsed or expected, that shows a lot,’ she added.
Director Sonny Borrelli addressed the crowd immediately after her speech that it wasn’t the pageant’s intention to ‘offend anybody.’
‘If we did, we take full responsibility, we will learn from it, we will make it better, we will make it right,’ he said.
In order to avoid future concerns, the organization said in a statement that it is now creating a ‘comprehensive costume guide’ to help future contestants.
‘This guide will establish clear guidelines and standards for all future pageant cycles to ensure every presentation is thoughtful and respectful,’ the statement added.
Callingbull, pictured during the costume portion of the 2024 Miss Universe competition, has been asked to become the cultural liaison for the Canadian competition. It is unclear if she has accepted the role
‘If any costume caused offense, hurt or misunderstanding, please know that it was never our intention.’
Callingbull stressed the importance of ‘using your voice.’
‘[If I didn’t speak up] it would’ve never been addressed,’ she told People. ‘And to me, that would’ve been heavy on me knowing that I never said anything. I felt like I had a responsibility to.’
‘Regardless if people try to silence you or you feel like the world is against you, use your voice and speak up because you have no idea the impact it can make,’ she urged.
‘I’m glad people are finally listening. It sucks that I’m taking so much heat from it. I’ll take it, but people need to learn.’
Haverkamp released an Instagram statement on Saturday, writing that she ‘acknowledged and recognized that my outfit for the national costume caused hurt and offense to the people in the Indigenous community.’
‘I appreciate what I have learned from this experience and continue my commitment to stand up and speak for all women who have lost their voice because of violence, trauma and oppression,’ she said.
Kaily also apologized on Instagram, saying: ‘My intention was never to disrespect or misrepresent Indigenous culture.’
She said her costume was to ‘recognize and celebrate one of the First Peoples of Canada.’
