how do you y'all feel about the bathing suit part of the competition? >> actually, this is one of my favorite parts. >> there are some women like myself who have a problem with the bathing suit part of any kind of beauty pageant. i've always perceived it to be objectifying. what do you think about it? >> i'm okay with it, you know. this is not exploiting our bodies, this is where we get to show our confidence, our body, how disciplined we are. >> when you were growing up, did you ever think that you could look like this? >> obviously, no. >> you can't even imagine. >> for me it was a difficult transition because my family, my parents, are not skinny, so it took a lot of hard work for me. hormone therapy and exercise and eating the right kind of foods.