Miss Arizona Maureen Montagne is moving ahead to compete in the Miss USA Pageant this Sunday in Louisiana despite controversial comments on Mexican immigrants made by Donald Trump who runs the contest, reports ABS CBN.
As AsAmNews previously reported, Filipino American Cheryl Burke of Dancing with the Stars fame recently pulled out as co-host of the pageant, as did Vietnamese-Chinese American fashion expert Jeannie Mai, according to Yahoo.
Montagne says the comments from Trump about Mexican immigrants, rapists and murderers shocked all the contestants, but says she has been treated well.
“My mother immigrated here 26 years ago and it’s frustrating that this happened. But they’ve been taking such great care of us. We do not promote hate. Thankfully, the Miss USA organization as well as the Miss Universe organization has been so accommodating.”
Montagne is the first Filipino American to represent her state. Prior to winning the title, she competed in numerous pageants in the Filipino community including Mutya ng Pilipinas and Miss Asia Arizona.
You can hear comments from her mother and the Filipino American community in Louisiana about Montagne in the clip below from ABS CBN.
