The 26-year-old Syanne Centeno was crowned Miss Intercontinental USA 2018 on 9th August 2018 and became the official representative of USA at Miss Intercontinental 2018. A true Island girl at heart, Syanne is of Puerto Rican descent and a native of the U.S Virgin Islands.
Syanne is the founder of nonprofit organization called Warrior Princess Initiative which aids children with life-threatening diseases. A mental health advocate, Syanne published a book in 2015 on Anorexia Nervosa and is currently studying drug and alcohol counseling. She is a true embodiment of a fighter and a real queen!
As the newly crowned queen prepares for her international competition, she finds time to talk about her dreams, advocacies, goals and guilty pleasures in an exclusive interview with Angelopedia.
Q. How does it feel to be crowned Miss Intercontinental USA 2018 and now a delegate of Miss Intercontinental2018?
It is honestly a dream come true. Not only am I representing the United States, but I am also representing my beautiful territories that are a part of the United States, such as the U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. I am ecstatic to represent the diversity of my country.
Q. What is the best lesson you’ve learned in your journey in the pageant industry?
The best lesson I have learned is to ALWAYS be yourself. Authenticity and transparency is something that the public can relate to, and you never know if your story will inspire someone else.
Q. What is the one thing that keeps you going and inspires you to be the best version of yourself?
My faith in God keeps me going and inspires me to be the best version of myself. I was created on purpose, with a purpose. I am determined to fulfill my divine purpose.
Q. You were a part of the Top 10 delegates at Miss World America 2015. Do you think the experience has taught you anything that you will use as a national crown holder now?
That experience has taught me how to be confident in who I am. Being on stage and feeling beautiful has really shown me that I can do anything that I set my mind to.
Q. How would you like to represent yourself at the international stage of Miss Intercontinental 2018?
I would like to represent myself authentically. I have been through difficult adversities. I have survived a suicide attempt. I have survived anorexia nervosa. I have survived bullying. And now here I am, representing the USA. Despite my many struggles, I am proof that you can reach your dreams no matter what you have been through. I would like to represent myself as a symbol of strength.
Q . We have also heard that you are a mental health advocate. Would you like to share your story with us?
When I was an 8 year-old little girl, I was bullied for being different. I came from the U.S Virgin Islands and moved to California (later moved to Maryland at 15 years-old). I had glasses and crooked teeth. I was seen as ugly, and strange. This caused me to develop Anorexia Nervosa at the young age of 8 years old, which lasted until I was about 19. When I was 16, I was hospitalized in an eating disorder clinic. After I was released I was bullied for being in psychiatric care. After this, I attempted suicide. I struggled for many years into my adulthood. Like any illness, you can go into remission and can relapse. I was doing great for several years, and in 2016 I was diagnosed with a very serious (and misunderstood) mental illness called Borderline Personality Disorder. Since then, I have been in partial hospitalization programs twice. They have helped me immensely and I am now in the best state of mind that I have ever been and am proud of who I am—even with my illness. I began advocating for mental health awareness in 2014 with the help of The BULLY Project organization, and later with the Emotions Matter organization—which specifically focuses on bringing awareness to Borderline Personality Disorder.
Q. Who is your ideal, if any and what values of theirs do you wish you could inculcate in your own life, and teach the next generation?
I would say my ideal is Jesus Christ. Jesus was someone in history who is known for His compassion and love for others’, despite their transgressions. I aspire to be as much like Him as possible—seeing past others’ wrongdoings and always acting with love. I would teach the next generation to act with a servant heart as He did.
Q . What or who empowers you to be yourself and work hard everyday?
In addition to God, I would say my mother empowers me to work hard and to be myself. She encourages me and builds me up every single day to be the best version of myself.
Q . What is the one thing you can label as your guilty pleasure?
I absolutely LOVE punk rock music. It is most definitely my guilty pleasure.
Q. We’re sure that this competition is another milestone in your life. What is that one thing that you ultimately want to achieve?
Ultimately, I would like to enact change in how those with mental illness are viewed. We can be anything. Pageant titleholders, counselors, doctors, lawyers, and anything else we set our minds to.
Q. If you could be invisible for a day, how would you like to spend it?
I would probably spend it going on adventures in hidden places in the wilderness.
Q. Would you like to share your most special childhood memory with us?
When I was a child, I would go around St. Croix (in the U.S Virgin Islands) and help stray animals with my grandfather. He was amazing. He would rescue dogs from the streets, and when I would visit him, we would take care of them together. He passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease but I will honor his memory by supporting the Alzheimer’s Association next month at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. I will never forget the incredible work that he did in his community.
Q. If you were granted 3 wishes right now, what would you ask for?
I would ask for mental and physical illness to disappear from the face of the Earth, for humans to act with love, and for suffering of children and animals to dissipate.
Q. Lastly, is there any message that you would like to give to your fans of Angelopedia?
My final message to those of Angelopedia is to always be YOU. Be who you were created to be, and act with love in everything you do. It may be difficult, but your life (and the lives around you) will change once you choose compassion and love over apathy and hate. I also want to thank you all for your love and support. It is appreciated more than you know.