Miss Australia apologizes for saying Miss Universe top 3 'weren't nice'

MANILA, Philippines — The Miss Universe drama continues.

Miss Australia Monika Radulovic took to social media to apologize after saying on a radio show that the top three finalists of the 64th Miss Universe pageant "weren't very nice."

READ: Miss Australia says teleprompter flashed 'Philippines' as winner

In an interview with Australian radio program "The Grill Team," Monika was asked to describe her relationship with the Miss Universe top three.

Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines, Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia and Olivia Jordan of the United States were the top three finalists of the pageant, with the 26-year-old Pinay beauty queen emerging as Miss Universe.

"They were okay," referring to the three.

She also said, "I tried to be friends with everyone and I wanted to have a good time—those three were the only ones that weren't that nice to the other girls."

"But I think that is because they were under a lot of pressure from their countries."

This prompted fans to defend their countries' respective beauty queens.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Monika said sorry for statement, saying, "What I said yesterday came out completely the wrong way."

She added, "I didn't mean they weren't nice girls, just that they were very focused on what they were doing. I just didn't get a chance to get to know them as much as you would have liked, and that is all that that I meant by it."

Her complete statement reads:

I always strive to be the best, kindest person I can be. But what I said yesterday came out completely the wrong way and I want to sincerely apologise for that.
I didn't mean they weren't nice girls, just that they were very focused on what they were doing. I just didn't get a chance to get to know them as much as you would have liked, and that is all that that I meant by it. I'm truly sorry if I've offended or upset anyone, that is the last thing I'd ever want to do. I will choose my words much more carefully from now on.
Thank you to all of the beautiful people that have been defending and supporting me- I read and appreciate all of your comments and you all truly brighten my day

Pia herself took to Twitter to ask fans not to bash Monika.

Mga kababayan, please stop attacking Monika on her social media. Or anybody for that matter. No to cyber bullying!

— Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) January 19, 2016

Nakakahiya na po. Wag na po tayo ng mag comment ng masama at pumatol. Hindi po natin ugali yan. Wag po tayo maging masamang halimbawa

— Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@PiaWurtzbach) January 19, 2016

This isn't the first time Monika spoke up about Pia and the Miss Universe pageant.

In a TV interview, Monika talked about the pageant's results mix-up and said, "My heart goes out to both girls. For Colombia... that feeling of winning. You could see she was crying of joy and then getting that taken away. At the same time,  for the Philippines because she didn’t really have that amazing victory."