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Chinese-Born Miss America Contestant Was Called Ugly After Winning State Crown: 'It's Been a Very Polarizing Response'

People 22 hours ago

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Arianna Quan made history when she became the first Asian-American and naturalized citizen to be named Miss Michigan – but not everyone was happy about it.

“A lot of people have reached out to me, both extremely negatively and positively,” Quan, 23, tells PEOPLE. “It’s been a very polarizing response. It’s been really interesting to see the discussions that have been erupting from just me being crowned, and it’s been an extremely humbling experience to be a part of those conversations.”

Quan’s crowning received media attention domestically as well as abroad in her native China.

“All this negativity came out, especially about my appearance and how I’m apparently unfit to represent the Chinese population because I’m ‘ugly,’ ” she says.

But she isn’t letting the harsh criticism bring her down.

“I see it as a part of my job as a state title-holder and potential Miss America,” says Quan. “My goal is to just drive the conversation in an important direction, because there are so many things we have to discuss about immigration and diversity in this country right now.”

RELATED VIDEO: Miss America Host Chris Harrison Takes People Behind the Scenes of the Surprising Vanessa Williams Apology

To that end, Quan’s platform issue is “Being American: Immigration & Citizenship Education.”

“It’s something that started this past year when I started competing because of what I saw throughout the selection year,” she says. “Immigrants and first-generation Americans are deeply underrepresented. My platform is about engaging minorities in this country, and about prompting Americans that have been here for generations to celebrate their culture.”

The automotive design student hopes to bring pride to underrepresented groups as she competes for the Miss America crown.

“[Winning] would mean being able to represent a population of people in this country that are underrepresented right now: the immigrant population, the first-generation American population, Asian-Americans,” she says. “I think it would mean exponentially more to them than it would to me.”

The 2017 Miss America competition airs Sunday, September 11 at 9/8c on ABC.

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George 2 minutes ago

I have seen thousands of very attractive asian women and particularly chinese american women in the SoCal area and also while in the US military serving in the SE Asia area.

That being said I don't think that the current Miss Michigan is spectacularly beautiful but then we are all spoiled by the entertainment industry, TV and movies, the fashion world and even the national media.

The beauty bar in the US has been set extremely high for everyone, male and female.

I would wait to see Miss Michigan in the Miss USA contest and then I would compare her against her peers. Only then can you really judge her as far as looks.

Still, you can get rid of 49 of the contestants and I would gladly take the remaining one out for dinner and a movie.

Go Miss Michigan! Best of luck in the coming contest!

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  • LugusLuna 26 minutes ago

    Physical beauty is subjective, so whether people think she's beautiful or not isn't even the point. Clearly someone did, because she won the state title. Beyond that, she's absolutely right--and good for her for having the maturity to take this view--that the resulting conversation , and raising awareness of immigration and diversity, are what matter. This country is supposed to stand for equality and diversity, and we have a statue in NY harbour proclaiming our openness to immigrants--who most of us are descended from. It's easy to lay claim to high ideals. It's harder to live by them. ... Keep reading

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  • Wonda 50 minutes ago

    You have to put the world's involvement in your life in context and in terms of who has the most power in that instance.
    Think of it this way......"Knowing that the world does not love me, then I give the world, maybe 5% involvement in my life, and I give myself 95% of the power I have to deal with the world. Therefore, I have the controlling force in the equation.
    And please stop wearing your emotions on your sleeve. When you leave your safe place, hang your feelings on a nail inside the door, and when you go back inside put them back in their good place. Protect your heart FIRST by loving yourself....it is indeed a tender thing. ... Keep reading

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  • O 25 minutes ago

    This is just vile. When did it become okay for people to behave like this? Every day I read or hear a story of another seriously rude and judgemental person who has given an unsolicited opinion about another person's looks, dress, or behavior. Now that I have friends and acquaintances who have experienced this is some manner, it astounds me. To attempt to understand it is almost impossible for me. I am hearing things I never would have even thought of. Whatever happened to mind your own business and if you can't say something nice, don't say anything? When did your opinion become the only one that matters, and expressing it loudly and publicly become acceptable?

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  • J 44 minutes ago

    I'm White and female, and I think she's gorgeous. :-) And congratulations on the win!

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  • John 59 minutes ago

    First of all, nothing on the entire planet could possibly be less important than pageantry. Such a waste of peoples' time and money. That said, this lady looks good to me. Not sure what the story is even about.

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  • NK 2 hours ago

    I've said it once before (actually, yesterday when there was an article about Kate Upton having been told she is fat): there is not a woman on this planet who has not at one time been called ugly, fat, or both, and that includes supermodels. We all move on and ignore those people though, and you should do the same. Stop dwelling on them, and their words. Your happiness should not depend on what others think of you, but on what YOU think of yourself.

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• • Tiger Lily In Usa 55 minutes ago

    Arianna don't pay attention to the haters. You will find that most of those doing the hating are no perfect specimens themselves, so consider the source. They do it sometimes because they are jealous, or mean, or because they hate everyone, or because they are a troll. But who cares what someone that embodies those type qualities thinks anyways.

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  • Mick 23 minutes ago

    Another stupid poorly written article. She is obviously not ugly, she's gorgeous, I am glad to have her represent my state. So who is calling her ugly? You can't put that in a headline and not put facts in the article.

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  • Who Are You? 30 minutes ago

    America is turning into 12 year old whiners.