Miss Asian America

Miss Asian Global Pageant
Formation	August 1, 1987
Type	Beauty Pageant
Headquarters	United States
Website	https://www.missasianglobal.com/

Last updated May 25, 2025

Miss Asian Global Pageant (founded August 1, 1987)^[1] was initiated as a part of the Asian Heritage Celebration for the County of Santa Clara in 1987, the pageant's top titleholders include the former First Lady of the State of Washington, Mona Lee Locke, wife of Gary Locke ^[2] and Fala Chen, the 2013 winner of the Huading Award for Best Female Drama Actress.

Background

A 2010 book by cultural anthropologist Afia A. Ofori-Mensa studied the relationships among race, gender, and U.S. national identity using the Miss Asian Global Pageant. She found that "panethnic pageants like Miss Asian Global" which came of age in the 1980s plays an important role in the constitution of national identity "through ideal femininity, in both embodied and rhetorical ways." For the Asian American community, the Miss Asian Global Pageant is the "only cultural institution annually endowing one woman and her racialized, gendered, and classed body, the power to represent an entire nation."^[3] The pageant remains one of the few national events that allow for a frontal display of non-mainstream ethnic culture for the American public where contestants wear cultural clothing and reinvigorate heritage ties through community-based projects, service learning, and presentations in their heritage language.^[4]

Cultural integration and the introduction of neoliberal values have also been examined through the prism of the Miss Asian Global Pageant extensively by women's studies scholars. Professor Nhi T. Lieu, in studying Miss Asian Global pointed to the pageant's role in promoting capitalism and neoliberal values presented within traditional contexts such as the utilization of the Vietnamese women's garment known as the ao dai. Lieu adds that the role of technology in beauty pageants also enabled the introduction of modernity and consumer goods to many Asian American households in attendance at pageant events.^[5]

In reviewing the Cold War legacy and its relationship with Asian American communities in the United States, Ofori-Mensa argues that the Asian American community was able to "utilize pageants strategically, by insisting on the centrality of people of color to U.S. national identity, and by re-imagining the nation as a transnational space where people of color are not systematically excluded."^[3]

Titleholders

Year	Miss Asian Global	Miss Asian America	Miss Asian Teen	Miss Asian of California	Miss Asian San Francisco	List of Miss Asian Global runners-up
Year	Miss Asian Global	Miss Asian America	Miss Asian Teen	Miss Asian of California	Miss Asian San Francisco	First Princess	Second Princess	Third Princess	Fourth Princess
2024	Raine Xiong ( Hmong · Sheboygan)	Not awarded	Jackie Tang ( Indonesia & China · San Francisco)	Tong Yu ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Sona Seunga Kim ( Korean · Los Altos)	Tong Yu ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Qian Liu ( Chinese · Boston)	Yashi Gondwal ( Indian · Lakeland)	Sona Seunga Kim ( Korean · Los Altos)
2023	Kylie Chang ( Chinese · Cupertino)	Erin Kwon ( Korean · Irvine)	Not awarded	Felicia Tang ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Vanessa Mai ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Felicia Tang ( Chinese · San Francisco)	My Tien Angela Van ( Vietnamese · Orlando)	Skye Yasuda ( Japanese · Waipahu)	Not awarded
2022	Lisa Yan ( China · San Francisco)	Angella Lee ( Korean · Los Angeles)	Makenna Ma ( Chinese · San Jose)	Jackie Teer ( Filipino · San Francisco)	Claire Ong ( Chinese & Vietnamese · Seattle)	Emily Smith ( Japanese & British · Mililani)	Jade Lun ( Chinese · Honolulu)	Not awarded
2021	No Pageant Held
2020	Olivia Wong ( Chinese · Vancouver)	Vy Vo ( Vietnamese · Anaheim)	Not awarded	Daisy Chung ( Chinese · Los Angeles)	Tara Nash ( Hong Konger & Irish · San Mateo)	Lan Ho ( Vietnamese · Chicago)	Daisy Chung ( Chinese · Los Angeles)	Tara Nash ( Hong Kong & Irish · San Mateo)	Not awarded
2019	Stephanie Kim ( South Korean · San Francisco)	Melanie Wardhana ( Indonesian & Chinese · San Francisco)	Not awarded	Rachel Xu ( Chinese · Fremont)	Josie Li ( Taiwanese · San Francisco)	Rachel Xu ( Chinese · Fremont)	Josie Li ( Taiwanese · San Francisco)	Sidney Siu ( Chinese · Hercules)	Not awarded
2018	Uchka Jimsee ( Mongolian · San Francisco)	Sophia Ng (Dethroned) ( Chinese · San Francisco) Darae Jun (Assumed) ( Korean · Berkeley)	Not awarded	Darae Jun ( Korean · Berkeley)	Kimberly Tom ( Chinese · Foster City)	Darae Jun (Assumed) ( Korean · Berkeley)	Aileen Bui ( Vietnamese · Nha Trang)	Kimberly Tom ( Chinese · Foster City)	Not awarded
2017	Trisha Bantigue ( Filipino & Chinese · San Francisco)	Savannah Pham ( Vietnam & Cambodian · Murrieta)	Not awarded	Kate Melanie Lam ( Chinese · San Bruno)	Alexis Yup ( Taiwanese · San Francisco)	Kate Melanie Lam ( Chinese · San Bruno)	Alexis Yup ( Taiwanese · San Francisco)	Ernestine Siu ( Chinese · Oakland)	Not awarded
2016	Gina Su ( Hong Konger & Taiwanese · Rolling Hills)	Jessica Lim ( Hong Konger · San Francisco)	Ally Gong ( China · Palo Alto)	Angela Huang ( Chinese · San Ramon)	Kristine Hara ( Japanese · San Francisco)	Joanne Leung ( Hong Konger · Montreal)	Angela Huang ( Chinese · San Ramon)	Kristine Hara ( Japanese · San Francisco)	Not awarded
2015	Pamela Lagera ( Filipino · Fresno)	Stephanie Lin ( Taiwanese · Silicon Valley)	Not awarded	Malia Kurashima Carlson ( Japanese · Oakland)	Jennie Li ( Chinese · San Jose)	Malia Kurashima Carlson ( Japanese · Oakland)	Jennie Li ( Chinese · San Jose)	Puja Oza ( Indian · Los Angeles)	Not awarded
2014	Emma Marriott ( China & Wales · Stanford)	Jennifer Chung ( Vietnamese, Chinese & German · San Jose)	Maggie Schoenholtz ( Thai · Palo Alto)	Arienne Calingo ( Filipino · Los Angeles)	May Ling Phyu ( Burmese & Chinese · Fremont)	Catherine Ho ( Chinese & Taiwanese · Las Vegas)	Jeni Nguyen ( Vietnamese · Greenville)	Sunaina Singh ( Indian · Chicago)	Not awarded
2013	No Pageant Held
2012	Susie Lee ( Korea · San Francisco)	Emily Tang ( Chinese · Davis)	Not awarded	April Kim ( Korean · Irvine)	Not awarded	Emily Tang ( Chinese · Davis)	April Kim ( Korean · Irvine)	Jasmine Lee ( Chinese & Taiwanese · San Francisco)	Not awarded
2011	No Pageant Held
Year	Miss Asian America	Miss Asian Teen	Miss Asian of California	Miss Asian San Francisco	List of Miss Asian America runners-up
Year	Miss Asian America	Miss Asian Teen	Miss Asian of California	Miss Asian San Francisco	First Princess	Second Princess	Third Princess
2010	Sarah Liu ( Chinese · Fremont	Not awarded	Amanda Lee ( Chinese · Davis)	Not awarded	Amanda Lee ( Chinese · Davis)	Nancy Kwong ( Chinese · Los Angeles)	Brijal Vadgama ( Indian · Lincoln)
2009	Amy Chanthaphavong ( Laotian & Vietnamese · New York)	Not awarded	Victoria Pham ( Vietnamese · Fremont)	Kristine Law ( Chinese · Fremont)	Victoria Pham ( Vietnamese · Fremont)	Kristine Law ( Chinese · Fremont)	Carolyn Fung ( Chinese · San Jose)
2008	Louisa Liu ( Chinese · Sunnyvale)	Not awarded	Mary Saleh ( Afghan, Turkish & Persian · Cupertino)	Lisa Ma ( Vietnamese & Chinese · San Francisco)	Mary Saleh ( Afghan, Turkish & Persian · Cupertino)	Nina Kasuga ( Japanese · Gilbert)	Stephanie Karlik ( Taiwanese, Portuguese, Scotch & Irish · Las Vegas)
2007	Louise Wu ( Chinese · Fremont)	Not awarded	Tiffani Frances Mah ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Amy Chu ( Chinese · Oakland)	Tiffani Frances Mah ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Ayushka Sing Gharib ( Indian · Artesia	Amy Chu ( Chinese · Oakland)
2006	Jennifer Field ( Korean, English, Irish & German · San Jose)	Not awarded	Jessica Feng ( Chinese · Los Angeles)	Claire Yuan ( Chinese · Daly City)	Jessica Feng ( Chinese · Los Angeles)	Katie N. Au ( Chinese & Hawaiian · Seattle)	Monica You ( Cambodian & Khmer · Mira Loma)
2005	Kollyn Muangmaithong ( Thai & Chinese · Walnut Creek)	Michele Chen ( Taiwan · San Jose)	Carolyn Michaelis ( Indonesian, German, & Dutch · San Jose)	Shana Dhillon ( Indian · Fremont)	Carolyn Michaelis ( Indonesian, German, & Dutch · San Jose)	Shana Dhillon ( Indian · Fremont)	Kara Birkenstock ( Thai & Filipino · Culver City)
2004	Buachampoo "Sai" Varee ( Thai · Los Angeles)	Not awarded	Kim Choy ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Jennifer Lee ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Kim Choy ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Annie Tang ( Chinese · Garden Grove)	Virginia Nguyen ( Vietnamese · Newark)
2003	Charlene M. Wang ( Chinese · Hercules)	Not awarded	Anu Gill ( Indian · Davis)	Annie Chang ( Taiwanese · Foster City)	Anu Gill ( Indian · Davis)	Annie Chang ( Taiwanese · Foster City)	Sue Yang ( Hmong · West Sacramento)
2002	Fala Chen ( Chinese · Duluth)	Not awarded	Pooja Jain ( Indian · Fremont)	Violet Nguyen ( Vietnamese · San Jose)	Chun Hui Chen ( Chinese · Honolulu)	Joy Thao Phuong Nguyen ( Vietnamese · Fort Worth)	Pooja Jain ( Indian · Fremont)
2001	Caroline Nguyen ( Unknown )	Not awarded	Wilma Morales ( Unknown )	Andra Cheung ( Unknown )	Jamie Choi ( Unknown )	Wilma Morales ( Unknown )	Meeyoung Kim ( Unknown )
2000	No Pageant Held
1999	Amy Truong ( Vietnamese · Oakland)	Not awarded	Not awarded	Not awarded	Amrapali Ambegaokar ( East India · Walnut)	Shelene Atanacio (Los Angeles)	Ha Thai ( China & Vietnamese · San Francisco)
1998	Quyen Hoang Tran ( Unknown · Sunnyvale)	Not awarded	Minita J. Gandhi ( Unknown · Danville)	Laura S. Ngo ( Unknown · San Jose)	Minita J. Gandhi ( Unknown · Danville)	Denby Annette Kwai Foong Dung ( Unknown · Honolulu)	Laura S. Ngo ( Unknown · San Jose)
1997	Erin Jung ( Unknown · Sacramento)	Not awarded	Not awarded	Not awarded	Elyzabeth Pham ( Unknown · La Jolla)	Stacey Chinn ( Unknown · San Francisco)	Tammy Nguyen ( Unknown · Chicago)
1996	Esther Hwang ( Korean · Emeryville)	Not awarded	Cheryl Nunes ( Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, & Filipino · Beverly Hills)	Ying Hu ( Chinese · Los Altos Hills)	Cheryl Nunes ( Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, & Filipino · Beverly Hills)	Mimi Jung ( Chinese · Puyallup)	Debra Ichimura ( Japanese · Honolulu)
1995	Gwendoline Yeo ( Singaporean · San Francisco)	Not awarded	Not awarded	Elizabeth Wong ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Jennifer Chin ( Chinese · Woodside)	Amanda Quan ( Vietnamese · Sunnyvale)	Shung-Yan Ng ( Chinese · Bellevue)
1994	Jane Park ( Korean · Granada Hills)	Not awarded	Zarin Maneck Dastur ( Indian · Los Angeles)	Marie Villatuya ( Filipino · So. San Francisco)	Zarin Maneck Dastur ( Indian · Los Angeles)	Marie Villatuya ( Filipino · So. San Francisco)	Liang Ni ( Chinese · Honolulu)
1993	No Pageant Held
1992	Ashley Yamada ( Japan · Honolulu)	Not awarded	Julie Esguerra ( Filipino & Chinese · Laguna Hills)	Not awarded	Shiyena Chun ( Korean · Honolulu)	Julie Esguerra ( Filipino & Chinese · Laguna Hills)	Sylvia Gee ( Chinese· Sacramento)
1991	Christie Hirota ( Filipino & Japan · San Francisco)	Not awarded	Annie Deng ( Chinese · Cerritos)	Thao Diep ( Vietnamese & Chinese · Santa Clara)	Annie Deng ( Chinese · Cerritos)	Thao Diep ( Vietnamese & Chinese · Santa Clara)	Wendy Tagomori ( Japanese · Pearl City)
Year	Miss Asian of California	Miss Asian San Francisco	List of Miss Asian of California runners-up
Year	Miss Asian of California	Miss Asian San Francisco	First Princess	Second Princess	Third Princess	Fourth Princess
1990	Cindy Chung ( Korean · Santa Clara)	Ellen Chu ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Sandy Wang ( Chinese · Los Angeles)	Jamie Chou ( Chinese · Sacramento)	Pia Rius Vitalis ( Filipino · Danville)	Not awarded
1989	Theresa Park ( Korean · Sausalito)	Angela Chang ( Korean · San Francisco)	Leah Sarmiento ( Filipino · Union City	Joyce Chang ( Chinese · Long Beach)	Mika Tomoyo Yee ( Japanese · San Diego)	Not awarded
1988	Stacy Yamashita ( Japanese · So. San Francisco)	Not awarded	Cindy Tsao ( Chinese · Sunnyvale)	Cheryl Lee ( Chinese · Foster City)	Rachelle Gaspar ( Filipino · Daly City) Lisa Chen ( Chinese · Montebello	Karin Co ( Chinese · Burbank
1987	Delia Ma ( Unknown )	Not awarded	Jennifer Deperio ( Unknown )	Unknown ( Unknown )	Unknown ( Unknown )	Not awarded
1986	Mona Lee Locke ( Chinese · Lafayette)	Not awarded	Nancy Yong ( Chinese · San Francisco)	Jane Matsumoto Holybee ( Japanese · Davis	Donna Morrill ( Filipino, Irish & Scotch · Union City	Not awarded
1985	Jeanette Chan ( Unknown )	Not awarded	Michelle Knolle ( Unknown )	Aleili Orzal ( Unknown )	Lisa Johnson ( Unknown )	Not awarded

References

↑ United States Patent and Trademark Office (February 2, 2011). "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)". USPTO . Retrieved December 29, 2013.
↑ McLaughlin, Kathleen (20 November 2013). "First Chinese-American ambassador to China, much liked, steps down early". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
1 2 Ofori-Mensa, Afia A. (2010). Beauty, Bodies, and Boundaries Pageants, Race and U.S. National Identity. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.
↑ Adams, William Lee (22 November 2004). "Pageants' New Look". Newsweek. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
↑ Lieu, Nhi T. (2013). "Beauty Queens Behaving Badly" . Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies. 34 (1): 25–57. doi:10.5250/fronjwomestud.34.1.0025. S2CID 142595184.

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[USPTO-1] United States Patent and Trademark Office (February 2, 2011). "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)". USPTO . Retrieved December 29, 2013.

[2] McLaughlin, Kathleen (20 November 2013). "First Chinese-American ambassador to China, much liked, steps down early". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 29 December 2013.

[Ofori-Mensa_2010-3] 1 2 Ofori-Mensa, Afia A. (2010). Beauty, Bodies, and Boundaries Pageants, Race and U.S. National Identity. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.

[4] Adams, William Lee (22 November 2004). "Pageants' New Look". Newsweek. Retrieved 29 December 2013.

[5] Lieu, Nhi T. (2013). "Beauty Queens Behaving Badly" . Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies. 34 (1): 25–57. doi:10.5250/fronjwomestud.34.1.0025. S2CID 142595184.

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Miss Asian America

Contents

Background

Titleholders

See also

References