Just days after Asya Branch's crowning as Miss USA 2020, she was engulfed in a social media controversy over a past homophobic tweet she made when she was 13-years-old.

I know you're probably rolling your eyes because she was just 13, but you know the internet has no chill.

Once you're a titleholder for a major pageant people become invested in digging up the good, the bad and the ugly.

Basically, if you said it they will find it.

And while we all pray that nothing from our social media can come back to haunt us, it's always best to be prepared for the worst.

As a titleholder, you are expected to be the bigger person and take responsibility for your actions (even if they did happen when you were a kid.)

So let's take a look at Asya's statement and examine the 6 things to learn from this apology.

1. "Thank you all so much for your love and support these past few days.

2. As I begin this incredible new chapter in my life, I first want to take moment to sincerely apologize for the language I used in a tweet eight years ago.

3. As a 13-year-old, I did not fully understand the meaning of the word or the pain it can cause, and I am deeply sorry.

4. As someone who has experienced hate and prejudice firsthand, I would never want my words or actions to hurt anyone.

5. Thankfully, we are not defined by the words of our 13-year-old-selves. I am, and always will be, an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community.” 

She continued,

6. "Miss USA 2020, I look forward to representing my country with love, positivity, and kindness, and working with everyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or political party, to make this country a better place for everyone who lives here. I thank every single one of you who has shown me that grace over the last few days."

1. A Little Gratitude Goes a Long Way

   This is opening statement is strong because it shows gratitude and appreciation for the support she's received from her fans thus far. It also shows us that she doesn't take this support for granted.

2. Just Say You’re Sorry

   She jumps straight into the apology, which shows she is remorseful. She also specifically states what she's apologizing for. This shows her willingness to take responsibility for her actions and her maturity.

3. Skip The Excuses

   Now here’s where things could go either way. When you apologize people don’t like to here excuses. While telling us how old she was does provide context, it could also be seen as an excuse, depending on how you look at it. However, I do think that given her age it provides us with an understanding of her frame of mind. And it also humanizes her. Many of us can relate to saying and doing things in our teen years that we would never repeat now because we have grown and we understand how hurtful words can be.

4. Put Yourself In Their Shoes

   At this moment she is showing empathy. She's demonstrating that she knows what it's like to be discriminated against and it's not something she wants to perpetuate. 

5. Show You’re Willing To Make Things Right

   With this section, she's reassuring us that she does not stand by the words of her 13-year-old self and that we should not hold it against her. She also uses the pronouns 'we' and 'our' to remind us that we all make mistakes and that we all have the potential to learn from them. Asya wants us to know that she has grown so much since this post was made that she is now an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is indicative that she has taken steps to make amends for the comment she made.

6. Make a Commitment

   In her closing paragraph, she makes a commitment to work with all people regardless of their differences. This shows that Asya can see the bigger picture and understands that as a Miss USA she needs to be open to working with people from all walks of life.

Final Thoughts

While I believe Asya's apology is sincere, I also believe in 'show me don't tell me'.

She says that she is an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community.

This makes me curious to see if she will incorporate any anti-homophobic messaging on her social media.

Or if she'll be aligning herself with any charities that work with the LGBTQIA+ community.

If you've ever had to apologize to someone you know how difficult it can be.

It's uncomfortable because it means acknowledging you were wrong.

And who really likes to admit when they're wrong?

Most importantly an apology takes humility.

Asya's apology really highlights most of the appropriate steps in making an apology.

She was remorseful, she took responsibility, took steps to make amends and she committed to doing better.

Comment down below with your thoughts on Asya’s apology. Was it necessary or nah?