Several Miss USA pageant contestants will still walk the stage despite Donald Trump's presidential campaign announcement on June 16 in which he made racist comments about Mexican immigrants.
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump, who is part owner of the pageant, said. "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Hispanic Miss USA contestants and one who is an immigrant from Albania have spoken out about Trumps comments and why they have decided to stay in the pageant despite his stance.
"It was hard to hear because I am so compassionate towards immigrants because it is a part of my background," Miss California Natasha Martinez said.
"It's a free country. People can say whatever they like, and that's the beauty of our country," said Miss Massachusetts Polikseni Manxhari, who emigrated to the U.S. at age 5. "Although the comments were a little bit harsh [...] I wasn't really insulted. I just kept moving. I just took it with a grain of salt."