Minister of Culture Sabeeda Thaised held an urgent press conference regarding the Miss Universe Cambodia pageant, whose VTR presentation used historical Thai photographs and presented them as Cambodian cultural heritage.

The original image shows a young woman from Thailand’s Kamphaeng Phet province during the reign of King Rama V and comes from a glass negative held by the National Archives of Thailand. The pageant's organizers cropped the photograph and removed its watermark. The Ministry views this as more than an oversight, since it risks misleading the public about the image's origin.

The Ministry urges the organizers to stop using the image and correct the information they have shared. The Ministry is preparing an official letter to Miss Universe Cambodia. Because this is a matter between private organizations, it will be handled diplomatically to avoid any strain on relations between the two countries. The Ministry welcomes the use of historical images as references when properly credited, but it cannot overlook misuse of national archives. If the issue is not resolved, it reserves the right to consider legal measures.

In the meantime, the Ministry will continue to share accurate, well-sourced knowledge about Thai heritage, and it thanks the Thai public for their care in safeguarding it.

Culture brings nations together, and its foundation must always be truth and mutual respect.