Miss Universe

Miss Kyrgyzstan, Altynai Botoyarova walks onstage during the 71st Miss Universe Competition National Costume show at New Orleans Morial Convention Center on January 11, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Image by Josh Brasted/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Josh Brasted / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

‘Disrespect!’: Miss Universe dragged for country mix-up [watch]

Steve Harvey may no longer be a part of the Miss Universe competition, but that hasn’t stopped the pageant from another epic blunder…

Miss Universe

Miss Kyrgyzstan, Altynai Botoyarova walks onstage during the 71st Miss Universe Competition National Costume show at New Orleans Morial Convention Center on January 11, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Image by Josh Brasted/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Josh Brasted / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Steve Harvey may no longer be the host of the Miss Universe competition, but that hasn’t stopped the international pageant from making another epic blunder – this time, completely getting the name of Kyrgyzstan wrong.

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MISS UNIVERSE APOLOGISES

This week, the organisation shared a look at their preliminary stages, including introducing contestants in their national costumes, evening gowns, and swimsuits.

But for Kyrgyzstan’s title holder – Altynai Botoyarova –  her moment to shine was spoilt after the current Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu got her country’s name all wrong.

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Instead of “Kyrgyzstan,” Harnaaz said the country’s neighbour “Kazakhstan.”

Take a look at the viral moment…

Following backlash from the central Asian country, the pageant issued an apology via their social media platforms.

Their statement read: “Miss Universe prides itself in being an organization that gives women a platform to expose their culture to the world. In this spirit, our team is offering an apology to Kyrgyzstan for failing to say the country’s name during Prelims correctly. Our team promises to do better.”

But tweeps were not convinced.

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@Kanfashion: “How is this possible on such a serious stage to confuse the name of a COUNTRY?! This is the height of disrespect! It’s like they’re going to confuse countries at the Olympics! This is unacceptable!”

@Juanpa_Garces_: “She didn’t even take the time to learn the names of the contestants. She’s absolutely horrible as a presenter! Miss Universe, do better.”

@FreedomInMyVein: “It’s called white racism  and supremacism, when you don’t give a f**k about saying correctly even  country name, in such a big contest.”

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TWEEPS CALL OUT RUSSIA’S INVOLVEMENT

Meanwhile, social media users also demanded Miss Universe issue another apology – for allowing Russia to participate in the competition despite its ongoing war against Ukraine.

@planetEML: “Will you also apologise for giving Russia a platform to promote themselves while they rape and pillage through Ukraine?”

@seoriy: “You pride yourself on supporting genocide? Which culture are you exposing? Culture of friendship with murders of civilians?”

@unapologetic_08: “You also pronounced Russia wrong. Terrorussia is the correct one.”

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