A contestant in the Miss America pageant has described President Trump as the “biggest issue facing our country today”.
Madeline Collins made the critical comment onstage on Friday when she was asked to explain what she thought was the most pressing issue facing Americans right now as part of the competition.
“Unfortunately, he has caused a lot of divide in our country,” Collins can be heard saying in a video captured by local reporter Lauren Carroll, who was in the audience at the pageant.
“Until we can trust in him and the choices that he makes for our country, we cannot become united,” Collins concludes.
Carroll posted a clip of the interview on Twitter, which has since garnered more than 65,000 views and 890 likes.
Many people responded by commending Collins, who was representing West Virginia, for using her public platform to make such a bold statement at an event that doesn’t typically address political issues.
“Amazing! She has more courage than all of the Republican congressmen,” wrote one person.
“Thank you for standing up for your beliefs and not being afraid to express them,” commended another.
“The world needs more young people like you.”
Despite online acclaim, Collins did not make it through the interview round and onto the next stage, losing out to fellow contestant Gabriela Taveras (Miss Massachusetts), who was asked to explain how Americans should go about interacting with foreigners when travelling abroad.
According to the Boston Herald, Taveras responded by suggesting letting them know that: “We as Americans are supporting them and that we are there to help them."
Each contestant is given just 20 seconds to respond to questions asked in the interview round, which famously replaced the pageant’s controversial swimsuit competition.
When Miss America organisers announced the change in June, they described the interviews as an opportunity for contestants to highlight their achievements and illustrate how they would use their talents to “perform the job of Miss America” should they win.
The next Miss America will be revealed on Sunday 16 September in a live finale recorded in Atlantic City.
