Hispanic Miss USA contestants hit out at Donald Trump for anti-Mexican slurs

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Final rehearsals are underway for the Miss USA pageant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The show is set to air on July 12 on Reelz after being dropped by NBC
Some of the contestants with Hispanic parents hit out at the pageant's co-owner Donald Trump for his anti-Mexican slurs on Tuesday
Meanwhile, it was announced that daytime presenter Todd Newton and former Miss Wisconsin Alex Wehrley would take over as hosts

Published: 20:55 EST, 7 July 2015 | Updated: 06:32 EST, 8 July 2015

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Controversy continues to surround presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments painting Mexican immigrants as criminals, but the women taking part in the upcoming Miss USA pageant Trump co-owns say the show must go on.

Several Hispanic candidates and one immigrant from Albania taking part in the contest sat down with The Associated Press to discuss the pageant and Trump's comments as final rehearsals get underway for the show - despite a lack of hosts and the show being dropped by NBC.

The contestants said everyone has a right to their opinions but distanced themselves from his comments on immigrants, said they're proud of their roots and hoped the upcoming pageant would shed light on the contributions of immigrants.

Meanwhile, it was announced that daytime presenter Todd Newton and former Miss Wisconsin Alex Wehrley would take over for Cheryl Burke and Thomas Roberts as hosts for the pageant.

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It's time: Final rehearsals are underway for the Miss USA pageant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

New home: The show is set to air on July 12 on Reelz after being dropped by NBC

Speaking up: Some of the contestants with Hispanic parents hit out at the pageant's co-owner Donald Trump (above) for his anti-Mexican slurs on Tuesday

The new hosts may be good news for the ladies looking forward to competing, but for many Trump's comments are still causing problems for them as they hit too close to home.

'It was hard to hear,' said Miss California Natasha Martinez, whose mother emigrated to the United States as a young girl from Nicaragua.

'I think it's important to understand that immigrants come here looking for a better life, and they do make these hard sacrifices like leaving their kids and their countries for long periods of time in hopes that they will be reunited and that they will be able to have a better life here in America.'

Trump, a real estate developer, television personality and now-presidential candidate, co-owns Miss Universe which produces the Miss USA pageant.

The Miss USA pageant is scheduled to take place on July 12 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Trump slammed Mexican immigrants while announcing his presidential candidacy in June, blaming them for bringing drugs and crime to the U.S. and saying some are rapists.

The fallout was extensive.

Macy's dropped his line of business suits. The Spanish-language broadcaster Univision cut ties with Trump. NBC dropped its pageant telecast.

Trump has also been a fixture on NBC as host of The Apprentice and its celebrity offshoot, but an agreement that he would no longer be on the show predated the current controversy.

Many celebrities tapped as judges, performers or hosts pulled out of the pageant.

Miss USA contestants of immigrant parents hit back at Trump

Good sign: Meanwhile, it was announced that daytime presenter Todd Newton (left) and former Miss Wisconsin Alex Wehrley (right) would take over as hosts

Hard work: Contestants take a break during rehearsal for the upcoming Miss USA Pageant on Monday

Paying attention: Miss Indiana Gretchen Reece listens to instruction during rehearsal for the upcoming show

But the pageant will be broadcast. The cable and satellite channel Reelz, which reaches 70 million homes, said Thursday that they had acquired the rights to show the pageant because of a belief that the pageant and the women who compete in it 'are an integral part of American tradition.'

Miss Mexico pageant director Lupita Jones said Mexico would boycott Miss Universe. She said Trump damaged the pageant and its tradition of convening countries for an event that showcases 'friendship, unity and breaking down cultural barriers.'

But the women said they were determined to remain in the pageant and compete despite their personal feelings about Trump's comments.

The women arrived in Baton Rouge last week where they have been rehearsing for the Sunday presentation and taking part in a number of pageant related activities.

Anea Garcia, who represents Rhode Island, has a grandmother from the Dominican Republic.

'It's not fair, and it's not OK to generalize one group of people,' she said.

Smart woman: 'It's not fair, and it's not OK to generalize one group of people,' said Anea Garcia (above), who represents Rhode Island and has a grandmother from the Dominican Republic

Mapping it out: Lead stage manager Robert Sellers Jr. gives instruction to Miss Georgia Brooke Fletcher

Miss USA hispanic contestants speak out against Donald Trump

Miss Texas Ylianna Guerra said she was determined to stay in the pageant for herself and her supporters back in Texas.

She said she worked hard to get to this point and she 'wasn't going to let anybody down.'

Polikseni Manxhari emigrated to the U.S. at the young age of 5 from Albania and is now representing Massachusetts.

She said she's already brushed aside Trump's comments and is determined to stay focused on her mission - to live out her pageant dream and 'inspire all immigrants to know that they can come here and make something of themselves and live the American dream.'

The women also came out in support of fellow beauty pageant winner, Paulina Vega of Colombia who is the reigning Miss Universe.

Vega has condemned Trump's comments but says she won't give up her crown, sparking Trump to call her a hypocrite.

'She's worked extremely hard to get to the position where she is right now, and I think she's been a great Miss Universe. She's entitled to her own opinion, just as he's entitled to his own opinion,' said Guerra.