As the Miss Cardinal pageant nears, the tension increases and eagerness rushes over the contestants. The wait is agonizing. The 18 Miss Cardinal contestants have more in common than being awash in excitement and nerves: hard work, dedication and courage are traits that all the Miss Cardinal contestants share.

As for Karyna, we got to see her vibrant personality when speaking to her and asking her a few questions.

One of Karyna’s passions is crafting and baking, especially to clear her mind. Her crafting is a visual of what she likes to do when she is creating it. With academic achievements that include earning SUMMA CUM LAUDE honors and winning the 2015 AVID Write-Off for SBHS, she makes sure to find time for her passions. 

Karyna values community involvement and giving back to others. She volunteers in the Big Brother Big Sister program at Riley College Prep Academy and at Juanita B. Jones Elementary, sets up for sporting events, and participates in community clean-ups.

Karyna says her ambition in life is to “develop a higher level of understanding on an individual scale to inspire others to realize and make use of their potential.” She also said that one reason she participated in Miss Cardinal was to create memories to remind her of what she is capable of – both mentally and spiritually.