Former Toronto Sun winner Ashley Callingbull interrupted the 2026 pageant in Windsor, Ontario, to condemn contestants wearing Indigenous regalia, including a feathered headdress. The incident sparked swift apologies from organizers and commitments to establish a comprehensive costume guide for future competition cycles.
Ashley Callingbull Interrupts Pageant Stage Over Costumes
The 2026 Miss Universe Canada national costume competition took an unexpected turn when host and former titleholder Ashley Callingbull paused the proceedings in Windsor, Ontario. Just as pageant director Sonny Borrelli prepared to announce the top 20 contestants, Callingbull stepped forward to address the audience regarding multiple instances of cultural appropriation visible on stage, as reported by CBC.
During the national costume segment, 35 contestants competed for the crown. Among them, Karisa Haverkamp wore a turquoise, black, and white feathered headdress paired with a small red painted hand on her cheek. Another contestant, Jasleen Kaily, walked out in an Arctic Beauty
costume featuring brown thigh fringes, two braids, and a maple leaf cutout on the back.
“My jaw just dropped on the floor. This cannot be real. I just couldn’t get over that this was happening. Who allowed this on stage? Who approved this? Anything traditional or sacred should not be allowed. I was very, very upset.”
Ashley Callingbull, former Miss Universe Canada winner, via CBC
Callingbull, who is Plains Cree and from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, made history as the first Canadian and first Indigenous woman to win Mrs. Universe in 2015. She added that the experience weighed heavily on her heart.
Critiques from Past Winners and Public Backlash
The pageant’s website describes the costume portion as a celebration of Canadian culture and heritage,
asking contestants to display outfits inspired by national traditions, symbols, and history.
Miss World Canada 2022 Emma Morrison stated that the costumes were culturally inappropriate and sexualized Indigenous people. Morrison, who is Mushkegowuk Cree from Chapleau Cree First Nation in northern Ontario, also addressed the red hand print on Haverkamp’s cheek. She believed it represented Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), arguing that it was not the time or place
for such a statement while contestants smiled for judges on stage.
Callingbull noted that both the headdress and similar items are readily available on e-commerce platforms like Etsy and Fashion Nova, which market them for music festivals, Halloween, and themed parties. Unless you were living under a rock, we know that headdresses are not OK at Coachella, so they’re not OK on stage,
Callingbull told organizers when she called them immediately after seeing the outfits.
Organizer Response and Future Costume Guidelines
In response to the backlash, Miss Universe Canada issued a statement on social media addressing the controversy.
“If any costume caused offense, hurt, or misunderstanding, please know that it was never our intention. The national costume segment is intended to celebrate creativity, heritage, and identity. However, we recognize that every design requires deep care, respect, and continuous evaluation.”
Miss Universe Canada, via Toronto Sun
On stage in Windsor, pageant director Sonny Borrelli offered verbal apologies to the audience and the Indigenous community.
“On behalf of all of us at Miss Universe Canada, it was not our intent to offend anybody and if we did, we take full responsibility, we will learn from it.”
Sonny Borrelli, pageant director, via CBC
Borrelli announced that Callingbull will serve as a cultural liaison moving forward to ensure future events respect Indigenous communities. Organizers confirmed they are actively implementing a comprehensive costume guide to establish clear standards for upcoming pageant cycles.
Contestant Karisa Haverkamp also addressed the incident in an Instagram post, acknowledging that her outfit caused hurt and offense to the Indigenous community. Haverkamp wrote that she learned from the experience and remains committed to standing up for women affected by violence, trauma, and oppression.
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