Miss Universe 2023: Elon Musk's remarks fuel controversy and discussion
On Saturday, November 16, Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe at the prestigious event in Mexico.
While many congratulated her, some people have turned her win into a racial, sexist contest.
It started when Elon Musk posted a screen shot that stated how the internet was stunned after “an attractive biological female human of healthy weight” won Miss Universe.
That statement alone sounded problematic because it had negative connotations about the previous winners.
Others went as far as saying that they were happy that a blonde woman won, which proved that Donald Trump was back in power.
“Miss Denmark is the new Miss Universe. Probably the first blonde, blue-eyed white girl to win in ages. And she doesn’t have a dong. It’s the Trump Effect,” said @stillgray.
Another X user, @EvaVlaar, said: “Wow. An actual European, blonde, blue-eyed woman won Miss Universe. That’s legal again? The tides are truly turning.”
Many people called out such snide comments and condemned Trump supporters and Musk’s fans for being daft.
“Who cares about the colour of their hair, eyes, and skin? The whole point of a beauty pageant is to judge a person's beauty. Not their racial purity,” said @CdnPat2024.
What others could not ignore from Musk’s post - along with other negative comments - was that it was an attempt to discredit the previous winners but also undermined transgender women, who, by the way, are allowed to participate in such competitions.
“No transwoman has ever won, and only a handful have entered since last year so is he calling the previous winners unhealthy and ugly?
“The bulk of the winners in the last 10 years have also been white. What are we missing or is this a dig at his daughter?” said @LateefSaka.
Either way, South Africa remains proud because although Mia Le Roux pulled out of the competition at the last minute, Zozibini Tunzi, the first woman to win the title with short afro hair remains the longest-reigning Miss Universe until someone breaks that record.