New York, Aug 1 (IANS): All was going good for the newly-crowned Miss Teen USA Karlie Hay until she came under fire for her racist tweets that she posted a few years ago.

Soon after Hay was named the winner of the beauty pageant in Las Vegas last weekend, commentators began referencing her old tweets from 2013 to 2014 featuring the N-word from Hay's now-private personal account, USA Today reported on Monday.

Hay wrote in posts to her friends, "I know I'm a comedian n****r,""don't threaten me I will wrap your house n****r," and "I don't have your number, n****."

Later, she apologised on twitter, blaming her racist language on "personal struggles": "I admit that I have used language publicly in the past which I am not proud of and that there is no excuse for."

She said she has now become a "better person" through education.

The pageant, already under fire for its lack of diversity among its finalists, defended their winner arguing that it was a learning experience.

"The language Karlie Hay used is unacceptable at any age and in no way reflects the values of The Miss Universe Organization. As Karlie stated, she was in a different place in her life and made a serious mistake she regrets and for which she sincerely apologises," the organisers were quoted as saying.

In the meantime, the five finalists of the peagant -- all being blond and white women -- were mocked on social media for its lack of diversity.