Fil-Dutch-American model wins Miss New York 2014

Source: ABS-CBNnew

NEW YORK - Filipino-Dutch-American Candace Kendall was crowned the 2014 Miss New York on Sunday night at the Performing Arts Center in Purchase, New York. The Rochester, New York native will represent New York in Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant this summer. If she wins the Miss USA pageant, she will go on to represent the United States at the 2014 Miss Universe competition.

Kendall, whose father is Filipino-Dutch, was also crowned Miss Teen New York in 2006. The 25-year-old Kendall was a student accounting assistant at the St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York.
After graduating in 2011, she has been working as a professional model. In a previous ABS-CBN News interview, Kendall talked about her Filipino-Dutch roots. "My father is Dutch and Filipino, my last name Kuykendall is Dutch, but my grandparents were from the Philippines, and I heard a little bit of Tagalog from them but I don't now how to speak it myself," Kendall said.

She said she dreams of being crowned Miss USA and then Miss Universe eventually. Proud of her Filipino roots, Kendall said her unique mixed ethnicity is an advantage as a beauty queen and fashion model. It paved the way for a modeling gig in Singapore. "I'm fortunate to have a Filipino background. It really helped me in Singapore... It kinda gives a look where a lot more people can relate to it. It helps me in being in Asia to model there," she said. Kendall said if given the chance she would like to visit and possibly model in the Philippines in the near future. "I would definitely consider that. I just wanna pursue my dream first of becoming Miss USA. In the future i think that would be a great opportunity," she said.

Legally blind, Kristina Blum wins Miss California USA Congeniality title

BY MARILYN BLAKE PHILLIP/CORRESPONDENT


Step back Sandra Bullock – Bishop’s Kristina Blum is the new Miss Congeniality, after winning the title in the Miss California USA 2014 pageant.

Representing the Eastern Sierra, 22-year-old Blum competed in the Miss California USA 2014 Pageant Jan. 2-4 in Long Beach. She is the first blind contestant to compete in that pageant and “hopes to challenge others to be all they can be no matter what challenges they face,” said Micah Williams, Blum’s acting public relations person and significant other.

No stranger to beating the odds or the pageant competition, Blum, who was born with the genetic condition of albinism and is legally blind, was crowned Miss City of Bishop in the city’s inaugural pageant in November 2013. During her one-year reign, Blum represented Bishop at myriad events, facilitated a customer service skills workshop and embarked on a career in tourism. Since May 2013, as a visitor center host, Blum has been greeting locals and travelers alike at the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.