The Donald Trump-owned Miss Universe Pageant is distancing itself from another beauty contest with a similar name and threatening to take legal action over the improper use of its trademark.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the organization that operates the pageant said that it is in “no way affiliated” with the Mrs. Universe pageant or its Canadian winner Ashley Callingbull-Burnham
The statement then noted that the organization will take all legal action deemed necessary to protect its trademark.
“The Miss Universe Organization considers this unauthorized use of the name or title Mrs. Universe to be a violation of its globally recognized MISS UNIVERSE trademarks.,” the statement read. “The Miss Universe Organization will continue to take all actions it deems necessary to protect its world famous trademarks and to protect the consumers from likely confusion.”
Callingbull-Burnham, who is from Alberta's Enoch Cree Nation, won the Mrs. Universe contest on Aug. 29 and has attracted considerable media attention for comments she has made criticizing the Harper government’s handling of First Nation issues.
In one interview with CBC’s Power and Politics last week, Callingbull-Burnham said that she believes the Harper government “was created to work against us and not for us” and chooses to treat First Nations people like “terrorists” when they fight for adequate housing and clean water.
The comments, which came right in the middle of a federal election campaign, subsequently caused stir on social media and were reprinted by a variety of different newspapers from coast to coast.
The Mrs. Universe pageant has only operated since 2007 and is open to married women between the ages of 25 and 45.
Meanwhile, the Miss Universe Pageant has been operating since 1952 and is only open to women ages 18 to 27 who are not married or pregnant.
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