Karlie Hay can keep the Miss Teen USA crown she won in Las Vegas on Saturday, pageant organizers decided after some racist posts were unearthed on the beauty queen's Twitter account.
Hay, the 18-year-old reigning Miss Texas, faced public backlash after her crowning when several Twitter users reported Hay's use of the N-word in several
tweets from 2013, according to "Entertainment Tonight." Hay has since changed her Twitter account to private.
Hay, a native of Tomball, Texas, issued an apology on social media Sunday.
"A few years ago, I used language that is inexcusable, and I sincerely apologize for my actions," she wrote. "At the time, due to a number of personal struggles, I was in a place that is not representative of who I am now."
"Through hard work, education, maturity and thanks in large part to the sisterhood that I have come to know through pageants, I am proud to say that I am today a better person. I am honored to hold this title and I will use the Miss Teen USA platform to promote messages of confidence, inclusion and perseverance," Hay continued.
The responses on social media leaned against Hay.
But the formerly Donald Trump-owned Miss Universe Organization, which runs the Miss Teen USA pageant, came out in support of Hay after the controversy broke.
"The language Karlie Hay used is unacceptable at any age and in no way reflects the values of The Miss Universe Organization," the pageant said in a statement. "As Karlie stated, she was in a different place in her life and made a serious mistake she regrets and for which she sincerely apologizes. Karlie learned many lessons through those personal struggles that reshaped her life and values. We as an organization are committed to supporting her continued growth."
Model Chrissy Teigen and former Miss Teen USA Kamie Crawford also took to Twitter to point out pageant's lack of diversity. All five finalists, they noted, were white and blonde.
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