Miss Universe Thailand winner Weluree "Fai" Ditsayabut on Monday apologised publicly for her "inappropriate" use of words on social media and promised to get in shape before going to the international pageant.
The 22-year-old actress and former host of teen television show "Strawberry Cheesecake" was crowned this year's Miss Universe Thailand on Saturday night at the Royal Paragon Hall.
The show was broadcast live on state-owned Channel 3, having been on Channel 7 on previous years.
The result came as a surprise to many viewers, as the favourites were second-placed Pimbongkod "Ellie" Chankaew and runner-up Sunnanipa "Namphet" Krissanasuwan. When Fai was crowned many members of the audience at the show repeatedly shouted "Ellie, Ellie" and "Keep on fighting Ellie", amid boos and jeers.
On social media, many netizens wrote messages expressing their shock and disappointment at the outcome of the national beauty pageant. Internet users posted photos of Fai and Ellie, comparing their looks, while others shared "inappropriate" comments made on Fai's Twitter account (@fyiiee) before she was crowned. Some of her comments:
"Hmmm, monitor lizard, ha ha ha."
"Actually I'm fat, you animal!"
"Animal! Women with big breasts are f*#%ing halfway to victory".
According to a Khaosod report, Fai posted on Facebook in November accusing pro-government red-shirt supporters of being anti-monarchist, and said that the country would be cleaner without them.
Consequently, her crowning as Miss Universe Thailand was not well-received by the red-shirt group, who questioned whether she was the appropriate choice to represent Thailand.
On Pantip, a popular Thai website, one of its members who went by the name 1436353 wrote, "What a disgrace to the world! The competition has sunk to a new low. I'm tired of the winner using connections when she has no potential whatsoever."
Pantip member maew-angle commented that this year's winner was too "short, fat and vulgar" to be in the contest.
On Miss Universe Thailand's Facebook account, criticism continued to mount. Many Facebook users criticised the event's organisers and judges for their controversial decision, saying the decision should be revoked or the winner should surrender her crown.
As of Monday morning, the homepage of Miss Universe Thailand (www.missuniversethailand.com) was still not up-to-date and there were no details about the contest result.
On Monday, Fai stepped up and told reporters that she would like to apologise to the public for her past actions.
"I want to say sorry to fellow pageants and Thai people nationwide. I will use your criticisms to improve myself and do my best to perform my duty as Miss Universe Thailand. I'm a little stressed about the things that are happening but I have support from people around me," Fai said.
As for the "inappropriate" comments on social media, she said she was talking with her close friends and the comments were made when she was young and rowdy and was not thinking thoroughly.
She said she had avoided using rude words since participating in the Miss Universe Thailand competition.
"I apologise to my fans across the country and I promise that this won't happen again. I also believe that the judges were carefully selected and they chose me because they saw what they wanted in me, so I'll do my best [to represent Miss Universe Thailand]," Fai said.
First runner-up Ellie told reporters that she cried on stage after the result was announced because she felt so happy so many people still supported her, not because she was disappointed that she did not win.
"I was overwhelmed that many people repeatedly called my name and gave their support because I have just came back to Thailand and cannot speak Thai clearly," Ellie said. "I was not angry at Fai because she's cute and a good person."
Third-placed Namphet, who also was caught in a controversy for taking part in questionable events in the past and for allegedly falsifying her age, said she was 21 years old and did not falsify her age, as shown in her birth certificate. However, she said, she changed her first name often because she believed it would improve her destiny.
"I'm sorry about the photos of me in past events that are shared online but I want to say that no one is born perfect. Everyone has to overcome different obstacles," Namphet said.