A beauty pageant contest has won praise for her speech criticising Donald Trump for not condemning the Charlottesville attack as a terrorism.

Margana Wood, 22, was competing in the Miss America 2018 pageant when a judge asked her about Mr Trump’s statement in hours after James Fields allegedly drove his car into a crowd of anti-fascist protesters at a far right rally in Virginia last month – killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

The President was widely condemned for his response where he blamed violence “from many sides” and refusing to openly condemned the far right who form a key part of his political base.

Pageant judge Jess Cagle asked Ms Woods if Mr Trump was right to say there were more than one group at fault.

But Ms Wood did not waste a second condemning the Republican for not condemning white supremacism.

She said: “I think that the white supremacist issue, it was very obvious, that it was a terrorist attack.

“I think Donald Trump should have made a statement earlier addressing that fact and making sure all Americans feel safe in this country. And that is the number one issue right now.”

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

The comment won her huge cheers from the audience but it was not enough to win the competition – she eventually came 5th overall.

The Miss America competition, now in its 96th year, is not the same as the Miss USA pageant which was formerly owned by Mr Trump.

In days following Mr Trump’s comments, his approval ratings reached a new low with just 39 per cent of those polled thinking he was doing a good job in the Oval Office – down five points in just one week.