Soon after Hay was named the winner of the beauty pageant in Las Vegas last weekend, commentators began referencing her old tweets from 2013 to 2014 featuring the N-word from Hay's now-private personal account, USA Today reported on Monday.
Hay wrote in posts to her friends, "I know I'm a comedian n****r,""don't threaten me I will wrap your house n****r," and "I don't have your number, n****."
Later, she apologised on twitter, blaming her racist language on "personal struggles": "I admit that I have used language publicly in the past which I am not proud of and that there is no excuse for."
She said she has now become a "better person" through education.
The pageant, already under fire for its lack of diversity among its finalists, defended their winner arguing that it was a learning experience.
"The language Karlie Hay used is unacceptable at any age and in no way reflects the values of The Miss Universe Organization. As Karlie stated, she was in a different place in her life and made a serious mistake she regrets and for which she sincerely apologises," the organisers were quoted as saying.
In the meantime, the five finalists of the peagant -- all being blond and white women -- were mocked on social media for its lack of diversity.
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