Two contestants at the Miss Universe Canada pageant have issued public apologies after wearing attire inspired by indigenous cultures during the national costume segment, an episode that has reignited a longstanding debate about cultural appropriation at the competition.
According to BBC, one contestant wore a feathered headdress paired with a red handprint painted across her face, while the other appeared in an all-fur dress and boots. Both outfits drew swift condemnation from former titleholder Ashley Callingbull, who interrupted the pageant's broadcast to address the issue directly.
What Happened on Stage
Karisa Haverkamp wore a costume featuring a feather headdress, an item traditionally worn by highly respected indigenous leaders in North America, along with a red handprint painted on her face. The handprint is a recognised symbol of solidarity with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement.
Haverkamp acknowledged the backlash in an Instagram post, writing: "I acknowledge and recognise that my outfit for the national costume caused hurt and offence to people in the indigenous community." She added that she appreciated what she had learned from the experience.
The second contestant, Jasleen Kaily, wore a costume themed "Arctic Beauty," which included an all-fur dress and boots known as mukluks, along with two braids. Hair braiding carries deep cultural significance for First Nations people.
Kaily said her intention was never to disrespect or misrepresent indigenous culture but rather to "recognise and celebrate one of the First Peoples of Canada."
A Former Winner Speaks Out
Ashley Callingbull, a Plains Cree woman from the Enoch Cree Nation and the first First Nations woman to win the Miss Universe Canada competition, was co-presenting Saturday's final when she interrupted the broadcast to address the controversy. Callingbull said she had not been present when the costumes appeared on stage but had later viewed a video of the segment.
"It's 2026, we should know better. There was cultural appropriation that was done toward indigenous people."
She told CBC Indigenous that she was stunned when she saw the outfits. "This cannot be real. I just couldn't get over that this was happening," she said. "Who allowed this on stage? Who approved this? Anything traditional or sacred should not be allowed. I was very, very upset."
Callingbull also noted that the organisation's initial statement lacked a direct apology and invited pageant director Sonny Borrelli, who was co-presenting with her, to address the matter on the spot.
Pageant Organisation Responds
The Miss Universe Canada pageant issued a statement addressing the incident. "If any costume caused offence, hurt, or misunderstanding, please know that it was never our intention," the organisation said.
Borrelli said the pageant takes "full responsibility" for the error. "We will learn from it, we will make it better, we will make it right," he said during the broadcast.
The organisation has committed to introducing a "comprehensive costume guide" that will "establish clear guidelines and standards for all future pageant cycles to ensure every presentation is thoughtful and respectful." Borrelli also invited Callingbull to serve as the costume segment's official liaison going forward.
Callingbull thanked the organisers for being receptive when she raised her concerns. "A part of reconciliation is that we educate and learn and understand and move on from these things in a good way," she said, adding: "We're going to make sure that everyone is going to be respected and honoured properly."
Not the First Cultural Appropriation Controversy
This is not the first time the Miss Universe Canada competition has faced criticism over cultural appropriation. In 2015, contestant Paola Nunuz Valdez wore a totem pole costume during the national costume segment, prompting complaints. Both she and the organisation said the costume had been intended to reflect her Dominican heritage and called the incident a "misunderstanding."
Callingbull said she had recommended at the time that Miss Universe Canada consider hiring a cultural consultant, advice that appears to have gone unheeded until now.
According to the Miss Universe Canada website, the national costume segment is described as "a celebration of Canadian culture and heritage, combined with creativity." The guidelines state that "each delegate must showcase a unique costume, dress, or outfit inspired by Canada's traditions, symbols, and history."
Why It Matters
The incident highlights an ongoing tension in Canadian pageantry and entertainment more broadly over the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation. Indigenous headdresses, mukluks, and traditional braiding styles hold specific cultural and sometimes sacred significance, and their use by non-indigenous performers has repeatedly drawn criticism from indigenous communities.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement, represented by the red handprint Haverkamp wore, is a particularly sensitive issue in Canada, where a national inquiry concluded in 2019 that the disproportionate violence faced by indigenous women and girls amounts to a form of genocide. For many indigenous advocates, the use of such symbols in a pageant setting without direct community involvement risks trivialising the cause.
Callingbull's intervention and the pageant's decision to bring her on as a liaison signal a potential shift in how the organisation handles cultural representation. Whether the promised costume guide proves effective, however, will likely be tested at the next competition cycle.
