Palestinian-Latina-American Sofia Hanan vows to continue on her quest to become Miss California, despite what some see as America's growing focus on "white nationalism."

"I am a Palestinian-Latina-American running for Miss California and am as deserving of this title as any contestant," she said.

The recent Paris attacks, which left at least 129 people dead and hundreds more injured, have raised tension for immigrants and their children in America. All the incendiary rhetoric being voiced by the likes of 2016 Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has only served to exacerbate the situation.

"Americans cannot think of each other as different," Hanan said. "Our country was founded by people of varied cultures, coming together to find a better life. This made America great, and is who we are as a nation. We cannot allow political bullies and fear to change our fundamental identity, and I will certainly not allow them interfere with my run for Miss California."

Hanan also took exception with assertions made by Trump in which he hinted he's convinced many Hispanics are criminals and drug dealers. She insisted segregation is not the answer, adding that identifying as an American isn't just about skin color, religion, or sexual orientation.

Current Miss California Natasha Martinez, also of Hispanic decent, has also been taken aback by some of Trump's digs, but steadfastly refused to vacate her title in the face of a once simmering international boycott of the entire Miss Universe Organization.

Hanan said she plans to follow Martinez's example and plans to stand her ground no matter what.

"Representing California is a way to help people see that being ethnic can still mean being American," she said.

The 23-year-old Arab-Latina was born and raised in northern California. She received her degree in broadcast journalism and is also formally trained in French cuisine by Le Cordon Bleu Los Angeles. She said she dreams of working in Culinary Broadcasting.

"My dreams are not so different than most Americans'," she said.