Miss Universe Singapore Bernadette Belle Wu Ong Calls Out Asian Hate. What She Said

The reigning Miss Singapore, Bernadette Belle Wu Ong, walked the stage at the Miss Universe pageant in Florida on Thursday, May 13. But what made her walk different from all the other contestants was the dress by designer Arwin Meriales which read the message "Stop Asian Hate."

Posting her look on her Instagram profile, the model wrote that what is the platform for if she can't use it to send a strong message of resistance against violence and prejudice. In her post, she also thanked the Miss Universe platform.

Here are 10 things you should know about the Miss Universe Singapore calling out Asian hate.

1. Bernadette Belle Wu Ong is a model, emcee and actress from Singapore.

2. She was appointed as Miss Universe Singapore 2020, and will represent the country at Miss Universe 2020.

3. Ong who was born and raised in the Philippines to Chinese parents, moved to Singapore with her family when she was 10 and later studied in Australia.

4. She competed in the Miss Universe Singapore and also won the title of Miss Charm Singapore 2019.

5. The model represented Singapore in 2019 Miss Charm International.

6. For Miss Universe 2020, Ong was handpicked as a contestant. However, the contest is delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be held on May 16 2021.

7. Ong is trilingual as she can speak English, Tagalog, and conversational Mandarin.

8. Ong will be representing Singapore at the 69th Miss Universe competition which will be held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Florida on May 16, 2021.

9. When asked why she decided to travel to Hollywood for the contest amid the global crisis, she said that the Miss Universe is a platform that empowers people, inspires and spreads goodwill to communities around the world.

10. She also added that in difficult times like this, we need an anchor even more so they can provide a source of hope, and as ambassadors of our countries, we can exchange ideas to do good things and bring light where it is needed.