5 immigrant women vie for Miss USA pageant title

In this May 11, 2017, photo, Miss New Jersey USA Chhavi Verg, right, competes during a preliminary competition for Miss USA in Las Vegas. Very emigrated from India with her parents. Five of the contestants vying for the Miss USA title this year were born in other countries and now U.S. citizens. (AP Photo/John Locher) (The Associated Press)

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In this May 11, 2017, photo, People including Miss North Dakota USA Raquel Wellentin, center right, compete during a preliminary competition for Miss USA in Las Vegas. Wellentin emigrated from the Philippines. Five of the contestants vying for the Miss USA title this year were born in other countries and now U.S. citizens. (AP Photo/John Locher) (The Associated Press)

In this May 11, 2017, photo, Miss Hawaii USA Julie Kuo competes during a preliminary competition for Miss USA in Las Vegas. Kuo was born in Tainan, Taiwan, and moved to Hawaii with her family. Five of the contestants vying for the Miss USA title this year were born in other countries and now U.S. citizens. (AP Photo/John Locher) (The Associated Press)

Five of the contestants vying for the Miss USA title have a message to immigrant girls and women watching the pageant Sunday: Set goals, work hard and don't stay in the shadows.

They each immigrated to the U.S. at young ages as their families. The women, who are representing Florida, North Dakota, Hawaii, Connecticut and New Jersey in the pageant, are all U.S. citizens.

They tell The Associated Press that they faced both challenges and opportunities as immigrants.

Their stories stand in stark contrast to the scandal that enveloped the pageant in 2015, when its then co-owner and now president Donald Trump offended Hispanics when he made anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his bid for the White House.

The pageant will be Sunday in Las Vegas.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/5-immigrant-women-vie-for-miss-usa-pageant-title