Ashley Callingbull says her decision to go off-script during the 2026 Miss Universe Canada pageant has come with a disturbing personal cost. Callingbull, who made history in 2024 as the first First Nations woman to win Miss Universe Canada, says she has received death threats, racist slurs and messages telling her to take her own life after publicly addressing cultural appropriation during this year's competition.
The 36-year-old Plains Cree woman from the Enoch Cree Nation was co-hosting the Miss Universe Canada final on Aug. 8 when she departed from the planned program to address costumes worn by two contestants during the national costume competition.
Callingbull had seen video from the Aug. 4 costume portion of the pageant and said she was deeply troubled by what she saw. "It felt like a slap in the face to the Indigenous community," Callingbull told PEOPLE.
The controversy centered on national costumes worn by contestants Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily.
As HOLA! USA previously reported, Haverkamp appeared onstage wearing a turquoise, black and white feathered headdress along with a small red hand painted on her cheek. Kaily wore a fringed two-piece costume featuring braids, mukluks and a maple leaf on her back.
Callingbull was not present for that portion of the competition, but after seeing video of the costumes, she contacted Miss Universe Canada national director Sonny Borelli and other members of the organization.
She said the organization listened to her concerns and began discussing ways to prevent similar situations in the future. Callingbull suggested that cultural liaisons could play a role in reviewing costumes, while acknowledging that one Indigenous representative could not speak for every Indigenous nation or other culture.
Still, she felt an official statement and private conversations were not enough. "Words can go so far, but actions, they speak louder than words," Callingbull told PEOPLE.
Callingbull had not told pageant organizers that she planned to raise the controversy live onstage. Then an unexpected technical problem created an opening.
As Borelli prepared to announce the top 20 contestants, the teleprompter stopped working. Callingbull and Borelli began ad-libbing while the issue was being resolved. Callingbull decided that was the moment to speak.
She asked for the music to be turned down before telling the audience that cultural appropriation involving Indigenous peoples had occurred during the costume competition. "It's 2026, we should know better," Callingbull said, adding that reconciliation involves educating, learning and understanding so people can move forward "in a good way."
Callingbull later told the publication that speaking during the live broadcast was intentional because she wanted Indigenous viewers to hear the issue acknowledged publicly. "Accountability is everything," she said.
Miss Universe Canada subsequently addressed the controversy publicly. "If any costume caused offense, hurt, or misunderstanding, please know that it was never our intention," the organization said in a statement.
The organization said it was developing a comprehensive Costume Guide with standards for future pageant cycles, with the goal of ensuring presentations are handled thoughtfully and respectfully. It also thanked Callingbull for her guidance in addressing the controversy.
Both contestants involved also apologized. Haverkamp acknowledged that her national costume had caused "hurt and offence" within the Indigenous community and said she had learned from the experience.
Kaily said her intention had not been to disrespect or misrepresent Indigenous culture. She later told CBC Indigenous that contestants had not been given guidelines specifically addressing cultural appropriation.
While Callingbull has received significant support since taking the microphone, she told PEOPLE that the backlash has been severe. "I experienced so much racism and hate," she said.
Callingbull said she has received death threats, racist slurs targeting Indigenous people and messages telling her to kill herself. She described the continuing burden of educating people about the controversy as "exhausting."
Callingbull said she believes people should continue speaking up even when others attempt to silence them. She connected that conviction to advice she received from her grandfather after experiencing racism when she was 14. "If you never speak up... things will never change," she recalled him telling her.
That lesson appears to have shaped how Callingbull approached one of the most public moments of her pageant career. "I think it's best to use your voice," she said.
The backlash may have been emotionally difficult, but she says she does not regret using the unexpected opening on live television.