Ariana Miyamoto Responds To The Haters

Unfortunately, not being black, white, or "enough" of a certain race is still an issue in the beauty pageant world. Mixed-race Miss Universe Japan, Ariana Miyamoto, has some words for her critics, including the bonafide proof that she identifies as Japanese and fully embraces the culture that crowned her.

The 21-year-old and 5'8 stunner was born to a Japanese mother and a African American father. She was born and raised in Japan, speaks Japanese as a first language, and even bows when she answers the phone.

"I was prepared for the criticism. I'd be lying to say it didn't hurt at all," Miyamoto said, according to The Daily Mail. "I'm Japanese, and stand up and bow when I answer the phone. But that criticism did give me extra motivation."

She's certainly blowing critics out of the water. Ariana Miyamoto has shined a light on the issues and hatefulness surrounding women of mixed races. After the suicide of a mixed race friend, Miyamoto made the issue her platform.

"I didn't feel any added pressure because the reason I took part in the pageant was my friend's death," she said. "My goal was to raise awareness of racial discrimination. Now I have a great platform to deliver that message as the first black Miss Universe Japan. It's always hard to be the first, so in that respect what Naomi Campbell did was really amazing."

Naomi Campbell was the first to reach supermodel status as a black woman. We have a feeling Miyamoto is well on her way to Campbell's level of stardom. You go, girl.