Miss District of Columbia, Kara McCullough, was crowned the winner of the Miss USA pageant on Sunday night. It's the second year in a row that Miss D.C. has won the title, but some people are a little bit peeved at some of her answers during the question-and-answer portion of the competition. McCullough is the daughter of a Marine and works as a scientist for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
When asked whether she believed healthcare to be a right or a privilege, McCullough explained that she believed it to be a privilege, and that people should have jobs. She said that she hoped that more people could get jobs.
"I'm definitely going to say it's a privilege." Listen to your new #MissUSA talk about healthcare in the USA. pic.twitter.com/CzPBeaTYHO
— Miss USA (@MissUSA) May 15, 2017
Later, when asked if she was a feminist, McCullough said that she was an "equalist" and that she believed that feminists were anti-male.
What's wrong with being a feminist Miss DC USA!?!? Who says feminists hate men? Gurl!!! #MissUSA pic.twitter.com/jr5Hc5p2DN
— Makho Ndlovu (@makhondlovu) May 15, 2017
"“As a woman scientist in the government, I'd like to transpose the word feminism to equalism. I try not to consider myself this diehard, like, I don't really care about men.”
Twitter, predictably, was not thrilled with her answers.
Do not take your political advice from this #MissUSA. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. https://t.co/O7nnQw8IqV
— deray mckesson (@deray) May 15, 2017
when the winner of Miss USA says she doesn't believe in feminism and that health care is a privilege (not a human right) pic.twitter.com/MTfDbeGz0H
— KG (@KayyGoode) May 15, 2017
So I'm glad the new miss USA is a black girl with natural hair buuuuuuut someone needs to educate her on feminism and healthcare because... pic.twitter.com/RV0KVd9yQL
— Amandalexander (@A_man_duh225) May 15, 2017
A reminder, the @MissUSA company who just crowned someone who said health care isn't a right is now owned by Fox (& previously by Trump).
— Trump's a Fascist (@williamlegate) May 15, 2017
For everyone that says well miss usa is rocket scientist, nuclear chemist I get it. Ben Carson is also a brain surgeon. See how that works?
— Dwight E. Williams (@DWill____) May 15, 2017
After Miss DC replied Healthcare is a privilege and not a right ?? #MissUSA pic.twitter.com/W6AeQzg01Y
— Courtney Blakely (@Court_Blakely) May 15, 2017
Miss USA now moves on to the Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Sydney, Australia. The Miss Universe system is formerly owned by Donald Trump.
Seriously, everyone needs to chill out. It wasn't all that long ago that a pageant contestant ruined her chances at becoming Miss USA because of a conservative answer to a question. It's a beauty pageant. The results don't exactly matter. Miss USA is beautiful and she seems like she'd be a fun person to hang out with, but it's not like she's becoming a national spokesperson as a result of her title. Her thoughts on feminism and health care aren't going to influence national policy.
Let's just all be glad her answer was a little more coherent than this pageant gem: