Miss Asian Chicago
Contestant Spotlight
Mary
garcines
Filipino
2024 Contestant #2
q
&
a
What's something memorable about you?
I had open heart surgery when I was in 4th grade! You can still see the scar on my chest when I wear certain clothes.
Why did you join MAC? / What is your goal with MAC?
I joined MAC with the intention of raising awareness of the impact of trauma in our adult lives and the importance of therapy and trauma work to heal those parts of ourselves. I want to be a voice for the voiceless. Inspire those who are afraid to develop their own voice and speak their truth. It took a long time for me to finally step into myself as a person and I’m hoping that through MAC I can learn how to be more comfortable in my own skin.
What is your spirit animal?
Lioness
What three things would you bring with you to a remote island?
A journal, a pen, and a lighter
What's your favorite quote?
“You can do hard things”
Kamusta po! My name is Marynels Garcines but everyone calls me Mary! I am contestant #2! As with many filipino children, my first name is a mix of both my mom and dad’s name. Their couple ship name, if you will.
I am currently a part-time caregiver and a full-time student. I hope to eventually get into a Physician Assistant program in the future and get into Cardiology. I had open heart surgery when I was young which spurred my interest in medicine and cardiology.
Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of family, selflessness, and God. I am forever grateful to them for their love and support. My mental health journey is one that I am very open about in an effort to destigmatize the topic of trauma and mental health. I talk about my experiences and my journey in my TikToks. It’s my way of speaking my truth and finding my voice. I also hope that by doing so, it inspires more to find their own voice.
That’s what I hope to find with MAC. I want to continue to find myself, amplify my voice, and amplify women’s voices.
Follow my pageant journey on Instagram! @delightfullymary
Mary's activities with us
