My father always said, "You don't know who you are until you know where you came from." That's one thing I always remembered. The other thing that my family always taught me was respect and reputation. You always respect yourself.

I'm Miss USA, not Miss Religion USA.

I do like to have fun. I don't need alcohol to have fun.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 13 and it was something we weren't really aware of as a family.

I believe that birth control is just like every other medication even though it's a controlled substance.

America is the land of opportunity, and people can live in America and be who they want to be. Don't deny your faith. Don't deny your ethnicity. Don't stereotype Muslim women, because as you can see with me, or in Lebanon, for example, beauty is appreciated.

I understand there are a lot of people looking up to me.