A radiochemist who won Miss USA but polarised viewers by saying healthcare was "a privilege" has done a U-turn, saying she believes it should actually be a right.
Miss Washington DC Kara McCullough, who also drew criticism for transposing the word 'feminism' to 'equalism', took the tiara at the highly contested competition - but sent Twitter into a frenzy over her remarks.
During Sunday night's show (local time), McCullough seemed pretty sure of her assertion that healthcare was a privilege, not a right.
"As a government employee, I am granted healthcare, and I see first-hand that for one to have healthcare, you need to have jobs," she explained.
"So therefore, we need to continue to cultivate this environment where we're given the opportunities to have healthcare as well as jobs to all the American citizens worldwide."
McCullough said she was left unsurprised by the huge backlash to her comments on social media, because "that's what America's based on: having opinions and views".
However she did address the divisive remarks on ABC's Good Morning America, telling host Michael Strahan that she wanted to provide a fuller explanation of her comments.
"I'd like to take this moment to truly clarify, because I'm a woman and I'm gonna own what I said," McCullough explained.
"I am privileged to have healthcare and I do believe that it should be a right. I hope and pray moving forward that healthcare is a right for all worldwide."
When asked whether she would change anything she said, she said no - but did wish to clarify her views on the matter.
"I just want people to see where I was coming from - having a job, I have to look at healthcare like it is a privilege," she said.
McCullough, who was raised in Italy, South Korea, Japan and Hawaii before settling in Washington DC, was widely praised at this year's Miss USA pageant for competing with her natural hair.
Newshub.
