MANILA, Philippines - Candace Kendall (left), 25, a Fil-Dutch-American crowned Miss New York-USA 2014 who will represent the Empire State at the 2014 Miss USA Pageant, said that she is very proud of her Pinoy roots. Her father is half-Filipino-half Dutch. She said that she often heard her grandparents speak the local dialect while growing up and plans to learn the language. If ever Candace wins Miss USA, she will compete at the 2014 Miss Universe Pageant against the woman who will be crowned Miss Universe-Philippines on March 30.
Charista Santos Mroczek (right, with Funfare’s ‘beauty expert’ Felix Manuel), 13 and 5’7†tall, was crowned Miss Richmond County Outstanding Teen recently at the CUNY College of Staten Island in Staten Island, New York.
The recipient of the ‘Future Leader Scholarship Award,’ she consistently impressed the crowd during the three segments of the four-in-one pageant. During the interview segment she was asked what her greatest fear was and she stated that she fears to find out if any loved one or relative died in the devastating Yolanda typhoon in the Philippines.
Charista is the daughter of Gracelyn Santos (Miss Staten Island 1990) and Michael Mroczek who are both dentists.
The three other winners in the pageant were Jamie Lynn Macchia, Miss Staten Island; Stephanie Accardo, Miss Richmond County; and Alexa Nicole Moley, Miss Staten Island Outstanding Teen.
It is interesting to note that Macchia and Accardo won the same titles in 2012. The Miss America Organization allows local winners to re-enter the pageant in order to compete at the state level and eventually have a shot at the Miss America crown. — Reported by Felix Manuel