THE Miss Universe contest has been thrown into controversy after three of the contestants were accused of racism and bullying.

Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers, Miss Australia Francesca Hung and Miss Colombia Valeria Morales have been accused of mocking Asian beauty queens for speaking poor English in an Instagram livestream.

12 Both Miss Australia, left, and Miss USA have come under fire Credit: Instagram/Francesca Hung

Miss Summers said: “Miss Cambodia is here and doesn't speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language.”

Miss Morales then agreed with the claim.

The American contestant continued: “Could you imagine? Like Francesca said, that would be so isolating and I said yes, and I mean, just confusing all the time.”

Miss Hung then added: “It would be really hard.”

12 Valeria Morales also took part in the livestream on Instagram Credit: EPA

12 Commentators took to social media to slam the comments

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12 Commentators mainly slammed the comments on social media Credit: Twitter

Then in another video Miss Summers said: “Miss Vietnam... she's so cute, and she pretends to know so much English and then you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her and she goes (nods).”

The comment drew a laugh from Miss Australia.

Commentators on social media were quick to respond.

One wrote on Twitter: “Miss USA, Colombia and Australia are so toxic. They’re super disrespectful with the other girls, and what they said about Brazil, Cambodia and Vietnam is a huge prove of it.”

12 Miss USA during the National Costume show Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 Miss Vietnam Hen Nie arriving last month for a press conference Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 Miss Cambodia was one of the contestants who was targeted Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Valeria Morales nodded in agreement with the comments in the livestream Credit: EPA

12 Francesca Hung appeared with Miss USA and Miss Columbia in the livestream Credit: Instagram/Francesca Hung

12 Miss Cambodia, centre, came under fire Credit: Instagram

Another said: “Shame on you. This xenophobic individual @sarah_summers represents hate and should be disqualified immediately for her comments about Miss Cambodia. Racism shouldn’t be tolerated.

A third commented: “Miss USA is sooo cancelled. Thank u, next. #racist”

Troy Barbagallo, Director of Pink Tank Events, who run the Miss Universe Australia pageant, has defended Miss Hung.

He told 9Honey: “She is publicly against (bullying), she grew up in Australia as half-Chinese, achieved great things and has since been using her new role as an advocate for acceptance of cultural diversity.

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“Regarding the incident, we have spoken the girls involved and MUO management. The bullying accusations are unfounded and almost bullying against the accused.”

Mr Barbagallo added: “The comments were taken completely out of context with the girls merely chatting sympathetically re the difficulty facing Miss Cambodia as the only participant who has no one else in the competition who speaks her language.”

This year’s Miss Universe will be crowned on December 16 in Thailand.