Miss Teen USA condemned over finalists who 'all look the same'

All five are blonde with blue eyes, light skin and apparently similar facial features

Miss Teen USA has been condemned for its apparent lack of diversity after it was accused of selecting five finalists who "all look the same".

The last remaining candidates in the competition in Las Vegas on Sunday were Miss Texas Karlie Hay, Miss South Carolina Marley Stokes, Miss North Carolina Emily Wakeman, Miss Alabama Erin Snow and Miss Nevada Carissa Morrow.

All five are blonde with blue eyes, light skin and apparently similar facial features.

Chrissy Teigen was among those critical of the judges' decision, writing sarcastically on Twitter: “Wow how can we choose from such a diverse bunch.“

The model later clarified her comments, arguing the blame should not be placed on the finalists themselves.

“It's fiiiiiine. Not their fault. I'm sure they are delightful women,” she wrote. “Just funny. I'm not gonna write a think-piece on a damn pageant.”

“Yeah I just landed to 55,000 RT's on it. And articles saying I'm outraged. I really, really am not lol."

But many on social media criticised the seemingly similar appearances of the finalists, arguing the competition should have placed greater emphasis on diversity.

“They all look the same,” wrote on user. Another joked: ”Thought it was the same girl in 5 different poses.”

”I think the blonde one with blue eyes and perfect eyebrows will win,” quipped another user, while another said: “Miss teen USA, you should be disappointed in your pageant. Beauty is beyond blonde hair and blue eyes."

Miss Teen USA was recently applauded for scrapping the swimsuit competition, featuring an openly gay contestant Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty and crowning a black woman army officer as this year’s Miss USA.

Karlie Hay, the reigning Miss Texas, was announced winner of the competition.

The Independent has contacted Miss Teen USA for comment.