CB Loves MAKENZIE DIVINA - Miss South Carolina USA 2019!

GIVE THREE ADJECTIVES THAT YOUR FRIENDS WOULD DESCRIBE YOU.

Funny, Outgoing, Loud.

IF THERE WERE NO RULES IN YOUR LIFE FOR ONE DAY AND YOU COULD BE OUTRAGEOUS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I would go to the San Diego Zoo and get to spend behind the scenes time with all of the animals for free! I love animals more than anything and the zoo is one of my favorite places on earth!

IF YOU COULD BE GREAT AT ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I would love to be great at singing. I think music is such an amazing way to express yourself and to be able to do that beautifully and connect with people on another level would be so special.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE?

My life philosophy is to love and follow Jesus and He will take care of the rest!

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON COSMETIC SURGERY? DO YOU THINK PAGEANT GIRLS WHO HAVE HAD COSMETIC ENHANCEMENT HAVE MORE ADVANTAGE OVER THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD ANY?

I believe that your body is your body and whatever you want to do with it is your business. If getting plastic surgery makes you feel better about yourself then that is what you should do! I do not think that you have an advantage over other pageant girls because pageants are all about being your best self not comparing yourself to others.

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BE IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE ALL CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE?

I do believe the government should be in charge of making sure all people have healthcare. They are the voice for the people which means they have to have the peoples best interest in mind and most would agree that that is universal healthcare.

WHERE DO YOU SEE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT IN OUR COUNTRY AS A WHOLE?

I think if our country as a whole would stop worrying about what they lack and instead look at all we have to give back, a lot of our problems would be solved. We need to be more generous as a society. If we give more than we take maybe hunger and homelessness would disappear.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?

I am a homebody so I love to spend time with my family and friends at home just watching a movie or TV show. I feel like I can really be myself and anytime spent with my family and friends is time I cherish.

IF YOU WERE A SUPERHERO, WHAT ONE PARTICULAR POWER WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE AND WHAT WOULD YOU CALL YOURSELF?

I would love to have the possibility to fly. I know that is so cliché but I never feel more free than when I’m in an airplane and to have the ability to do that myself would be a dream. I would call myself Mad Woman because my initials spell MAD! :)

IF YOU WON MISS USA AND ONE OF THE CANDIDATES TOLD YOU THAT YOU DIDN'T DESERVE THE CROWN, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HER?

I would tell her that if she got to know me, hopefully she would change her mind. I would also say that everyone has an opinion but I know my worth and it is not determined by her or anyone else.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF ABOUT THE U.S.A.?

As a products of immigrants I am most proud that the USA is a melting pot. I am very proud of all of the amazing cultures I have to represent (I am Filipino, Black, Polish, Native American, and Irish!) and I’m thankful that so many other Americans can share this with me.

DESCRIBE AN IDEAL DATE. AND PLEASE DON'T RESPOND "APRIL 25." LOL

My ideal date would be to go to a relaxing restaurant and then to go and walk on a trail that overlooks the lake with my dog and have a fun, meaningful conversation.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF BEAUTY?

My definition of beauty is on the inside. When I was a girl I remember a picture of a bedazzled banana that was beautiful on the inside and rotten on the inside. This is what society see as beautiful but this should not be the standard. Beauty depends on your heart because from that everything else will flow.

WHAT WOULD YOU NEVER POST ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHY?

I would never post a picture to bring someone else down on my social media. As a strong confident woman, it is my job to empower other people and not to bring them down.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FLAW?

My biggest flaw is that I am very overcritical of myself. I never give myself a break and this causes me to not take part in the things that I love sometimes. This lead to my anxiety and eventually depression but I have now overcome that and have turned that negative into a positive my sharing my story with others.

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF TRANSGENDER WOMEN (MALE-TO-FEMALE) ATHLETES COMPETING WITH NATURAL-BORN WOMEN?

I believe that if you feel and believe you are a women or a man, then you are. It is no one's business but your own on how you want to live your life. Some people might think that these specific people might have an advantage in sporting events, but I disagree. As someone who has gone through adversities, it makes it a lot harder to compete when everyone is against you.

SHOULD THE WALL BE BUILT ON THE U.S./MEXICAN BORDER?

I do not believe that the wall should be built. I do understand what it is standing for but I believe there is a better solution to the problem of illegal immigrants and I don’t think we should stop until we find the proper solution.

DO YOU THINK THAT SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS LIKE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER HAVE THE RIGHT TO BAN OR CENSOR USERS WHO ALLEGEDLY PROMOTE "HATE SPEECH?"

When you agree to partake in Facebook and Instagram you agree to there terms and conditions. So, if they want to monitor and censor what they have on their feed then that is their right. I also believe that you shouldn’t use social media as a medium for hate speech, but you should use it to promote positivity.

DO YOU THINK THAT PAGEANTS SHOULD DO AWAY WITH THE SWIMSUIT COMPETITION? WHY OR WHY NOT?

I do not think that pageants should do away with the swimsuit competition. I feel so confident and beautiful when I know all of my hard work has paid off and I can stand on that stage and be proud of all that I have done. I think that it promotes a healthy lifestyle when done the right way.

IF YOU HAD $1 MILLION TO BEGIN YOUR OWN CHARITY IN ANY LOCATION ACROSS THE GLOBE, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I would start a charity in areas of the United States with high suicide and depression rates. I would open a free therapist clinic with doctors and access to medicine and group activities to just let people know that they are not alone and that they are more than there mental illness.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAKENZIE DIVINA

Thank you, MaKenzie, for granting us this interview

and we wish you the best of luck in Miss USA 2019!