If she wins, she will represent the USA in the Miss Universe pageant.
Before winning the Miss New York crown early this year, she was Miss New York-Teen in 2006.
Her paternal grandfather, George Kuykendall, was born and raised in Baguio.
He migrated to America toward the end of World War II.
“I’ve been fortunate to receive some gifts from him from the Philippines. I have a shirt, a belt and a sword. It’s actually passed down from my great grandfather,” she told The FilAm.
Her father, Marcus Kuykendall, a document specialist, was born in Queens.
Her mother, Valerie, is Dutch. The family surname was shortened to the more Anglo-sounding “Kendall.” The FilAm