# Miss Asian America

Miss Asian Global Pageant (founded August 1, 1987) 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 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." 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.
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.
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."

## 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 | List of Miss Asian Global runners-up | List of Miss Asian Global runners-up | 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) | Ada Jin ( Chinese-Manchuria · Sunnyvale) | 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 | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | 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 | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | 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 | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | 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 | List of Miss Asian America runners-up | 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 | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | 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 | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | No Pageant Held | 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 | List of Miss Asian of California runners-up | List of Miss Asian of California runners-up | 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 |