Fil-Am queen Maureen Montagne: I didn't choose to be born abroad, but I choose to represent PHL

What does Filipina beauty mean? A number of pageant fans have been raising concerns about biracial candidates dominating the stage and this diversity is quite evident in the new batch of Miss World Philippines queens.

Queens Katarina Rodriguez and Maureen Montagne are Filipino-Americans with European backgrounds, Kimi Mugford is part Canadian, while Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez has Spanish roots. 

L to R: Miss Eco Philippines 2018 Maureen Montagne, Miss World Philippines 2018 Katarina Rodriguez, Miss Multinational Philippines 2018 Kimi Mugford, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2018 Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez.

Maureen and Kimi in an interview with GMA News Online said that their "Filipina-ness" often gets questioned. Kimi said that she finds this ridiculous and said, "Why can't we just be proud of our roots?"

Maureen, meanwhile, said that it's their decision to be here in the Philippines and embrace the culture that matters.  "For me, I see it as a struggle and as an opportunity to show that I am (a Filipino)," she said. 

She added, "I didn't choose to be born abroad, I didn't choose to grow up abroad, but I choose to live here now. I choose to represent the Philippines and do my best."

"I think, at the end of the day, all we can do is show them that we are Filipinas. We do live here. We pay taxes! I love my culture, I am so proud, and I'm just going to continue spreading the Filipino culture where I go and leaving a good mark internationally." 

Kimi further asserted, "It's not (about) what we look like, it's (in) the values we carry along wherever we go in the world."

In a separate interview with GMA News' News To Go, Maureen stressed that even when she competed in Miss USA in 2015, she proudly waved the Philippine flag and highlighted her Filipino roots.

— GMA News