Miss America contestant wears pants in evening wear segment

She’s the kick-ass Miss America contestant who works in the automotive industry and battled racism on her beauty pageant quest, and now we’ve got another reason to love Arianna Quan after hit the stage wearing a white lace jumpsuit for the evening wear segment.

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Standing out from the gown-clad crowd in the preliminary competition, the Miss Michigan contestant caused shockwaves, because although pants have technically been allowed since 1993 (yes, this was a legit ruling), hardly any contestants have made the bold fashion move.

But for Arianna, who is the first ever Asian-American and naturalised citizen to become Miss Michigan, it was a no brainer.

“I knew from the moment I started competing in the Miss America Organization that I wanted to wear pants for the Evening Wear portion of competition,” she wrote on Instagram.

“It is symbolic of my role as a woman in the automotive industry, it is symbolic of the courage needed to champion my platform regarding immigration & diversity, it is symbolic of overcoming hardship throughout life and to stare into the face of judgement to say that you were still brave enough to be yourself. Although polarizing, I want my style to be brave.”

Arianna, 23, is a transportation design student who moved from Beijing to the US when she was six.

And she’s been on the receiving end of criticism in both the US and China, with some Chinese commenters on social media claiming: “She’s ruining the reputation of Chinese people,” and “She’s ugly AND she isn’t Chinese.”

That hasn’t done anything to stop Arianna trying her best to take out the Miss America crown.

“I am truly humbled to have the opportunity to share my genuine self with everyone on the Miss America stage,” she posted on Instagram. “Be REVOLUTIONARY, not evolutionary.

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