Miss Universe Cambodia Admits Error Over Thai Historical Photos
Miss Universe Cambodia acknowledged using Thai historical photographs as Cambodian heritage in promotional materials and apologized for the error, pledging to strengthen fact-checking processes after public backlash and government complaint
Miss Universe Cambodia has acknowledged a mistake in presenting Thai historical photographs as Cambodian heritage. The pageant organizers said they did not intentionally mislead audiences and have accepted public criticism, promising to strengthen their fact-checking processes going forward.
During promotion for Miss Universe Cambodia 2026, a video was released presenting national costumes by using ancient Thai photographs and describing them as Cambodian heritage. The original images had watermarks from Thailand's Fine Arts Department deliberately removed to deceive viewers into thinking the images represented Cambodian culture. However, public backlash and verification confirmed the photographs were historical records of Thai women.
The key disputed image showed seven young women wearing traditional Thai dress including long-sleeved shirts, traditional wraps, and tubular skirts. The photographs were actually historical records of women from Kamphaengphet province. Thailand's Ministry of Culture released a statement confirming the historical facts and provided original glass film negatives as evidence. The ministry prepared to lodge a formal complaint with the Cambodian pageant to stop distributing distorted information.
In response, the Miss Universe Cambodia Facebook page issued a statement acknowledging that public feedback and interest had been received regarding the image presentation. The Miss Universe Cambodia 2026 team clarified that using certain images was unintentional and resulted from insufficient verification of photo sources. The pageant emphasized it had no intention to create misunderstanding, spark controversy, or cause offense domestically or internationally.
The pageant said its sole purpose was to celebrate the diversity and deep historical value reflected through the beauty and elegance of the traditional Cambodian garment, the sash, which is a precious cultural heritage of the Khmer nation. The Miss Universe Cambodia 2026 team accepted the criticism and constructive feedback respectfully. The pageant will treat this incident as a valuable lesson to improve and strengthen its fact-checking processes for verifying sources, images, and content to ensure greater clarity, accuracy, and responsibility in the future.
