Samantha Katie James from Kuala Lumpur was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2017 on 23rd February 2017 in The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. She represented Malaysia at Miss Universe 2017 in Las Vegas. Samantha is of mixed ethnicity, Chinese and Brazilian international model and actress who hails from Klang, Selangor.
The diva has appeared into the spotlight because she posted a series of offensive comments about the Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the US. She used her social media account to post several stories commenting on African Americans who have been demonstrating against police brutality and racism in the US for six days straight.
James’ first post read, "I don’t live in America and it has nothing to do with me, but to me, it seems like the 'whites' won. If you’re angry, your response in rage and anguish and that means it has power over you. They have power over you. Foolish humans.” Then addressing black people, she wrote, "To the black people: Relax, take it as a challenge, makes you stronger. You chose to be born as a 'colored' person in America for a reason. To learn a certain lesson. Accept it as it is, till now hunger and poverty still exists. It is what it is. It’s inevitable. Best you can do is remain calm, protect heart, don't allow it to crumble. That’s your responsibility.”
James’ remarks have been met with anger, as many Malaysians have stood in solidarity with black Americans and their fight against systemic racism. The Miss Universe Malaysia Organization released a statement stating that “Miss Universe Malaysia Organization (MUMO) notes with dismay the recent social media posts made by Samantha Kate James, a past winner of Miss Universe Malaysia. We also note that these posts are inappropriate, offensive, unacceptable, and hurtful. The views expressed on Samantha’s personal Instagram account are her own personal views and are neither the view nor the position of MUMO. The organization noted that James was no longer tied to it since her contract expired in June 2018 and that her details would be removed from its website.”
The Black Lives Matter movement has been trending online ever since protests racism and police brutality spread in the U.S. following the death of a black man, George Floyd was killed by a white police officer as he kneeled on his neck. The entire world is standing up against the racial discrimination and beauty queens across the globe have been using their social media account to stand up against the same.
Beauty pageant director Elaine Daly was among those who told James off yesterday. Elaine told James that it was “not ok” for her to tell people to “suck it up and get over racism.” She said, “People of color in the USA deserve the space to express their outrage at not just the death of George Floyd, but centuries of slavery, racism, and oppression.”
Meanwhile, Miss World Malaysia 2019 winner Alexis Sue Ann had urged people online to refrain from directing anymore hate towards James. “What she did was unacceptable, but you would be just as guilty if you project the same hatred the same way the person did on her page.”
Samantha is yet to comment on the controversy and hasn’t contacted the Miss Universe Malaysia Organization to sought this out.