Paulina Vega, the winner of the 2014 Miss Universe pageant, is the latest person to stand up to Donald Trump. Trump called Vega a "hypocrite" for criticizing his recent racially insensitive comments against Mexican immigrants, the Associated Press reports, but Vega responded to his accusations and refused to give up her crown.
The 22-year-old reigning Columbian beauty queen posted a photo of her 2014 Miss Universe ribbon on July 2 to her Instagram, according to Us Weekly. She used the photo's caption as a platform to announce that she stands in solidarity with the Latin community and agrees with its reaction to Trump's comments against Mexican immigrants.
"I strongly believe that dividing and categorizing humankind only holds it back," she wrote. "Bending and embracing the differences that exist across humanity is the first step in actual and substantial development. We must strive together in order to improve the common good."
But Trump couldn't keep quiet on the matter and used his preferred social media platform to fire back at Vega, calling her a "hypocrite" on Twitter, USA Today reports.
Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, criticized me for telling the truth about illegal immigration, but then said she would keep the crown-Hypocrite
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2015
Vega responded quickly on Monday during an interview with a local radio station in Columbia, and explained that she won't relinquish her crown because she still plans on doing social work for the Miss Universe organization.
"The fact that I am not giving up my crown doesn't mean that I am changing my stance about everything I said," Vega said, according to the AP. "It doesn't make any sense that Donald Trump calls me a hypocrite because I'm not giving up my crown."
"I have kept doing my job as Miss Universe all these days," Vega continued. "The work continues as always despite all this craziness going on."
