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Filipina beauty queen Angeline Flor Pua crowned Miss Belgium faces racism
Early into her reign as Miss Belgium 2018, Filipina beauty Angeline Flor Pua is already facing racism on social media.
Pua was born in Antwerp, Belgium to Filipino parents. Her father is Chinese-Filipino and her mother a Filipina, reports said.
Many reacted negatively when she was crowned the new Miss Belgium last January 13, besting 29 other women from all over the world.
In an interview with BBC, Pua addressed the issue and racist comments she's been getting.
"I've heard about negative comments. Of course it hurts a lot to read those things about myself because I know those things are not true," Pua said in the video. "I can show my ID, my birth certificate to prove that I am a Belgian."
Some of the racist comments about her read, "Hopefully it's not a Miss 'Ladyboy".
Although most of the comments were critical of her, there were a sprinkling of supportive comments as well. "Proud of Miss with the Asian roots," "The proof that Belgians are embracing diversity," "'Miss Belgium is not Belgian?' So what, she has to be a blonde white woman?"
When she was asked if she has experienced the racism she's been getting now growing up in Belgian, she said, "Never."
"That's why I'm shocked about the news happening these few days, because I've never been confronted with those topics. I've always been accepted by people at work, at school, everywhere," she said.
Pua has a piece of good advice for anyone who's going through the same racist abuse:
"To the people who are victims of it, you know the best of yourself, you should not feel sorry because, you should be proud of who you are. You should be proud of who you are or what you are or where you come from. You are still a human [being] with a good heart. Just remember that."
Kapuso actress Carla Abellana has also showed her support by reposting the interview video by BBC.
A post shared by Carla Abellana (@carlaangeline) on
— LA, GMA News
