[ Golden Gater Online - February 20, 1997 ]
Marifi Esteves
Staff writer
The Chinese community came out in full force Saturday night to see the crowning of the new 1997 Miss Chinatown USA.
Lori Chiu Ngin Young, 25, from Honolulu, won the coveted title in front of a crowd of almost 2,000 at the Nob Hill Masonic Center.
The Chinese New Year Parade is the most anticipated and well-known event of the lunar new year's celebration, the highlight being the massive and ornate float of Miss Chinatown and her royal court.
"Miss Chinatown is very important to the Chinese community because she is a symbol of the Chinese culture," said Ringo Wong, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Grace Maa, 19, the former Miss Chinatown USA, said, "Miss Chinatown is a focal point for the Chinese community, something they can point out and be proud of. Also, she brings attention to the Chinese community and their needs."
The 1996 Miss San Francisco Chinatown, Ghet Tran, said that the pageants break the stereotype of Asian women being shy and demure, showcasing the wide variety of qualities such as intelligence, strength, ambition and charisma needed to win.
The pageant was a celebration of old and new ideals of Chinese women. Talents ranged from women warriors sword fighting to singing Mandarin love songs to modeling and news-reporting skits.
"I'm happy to be the new representative for the Chinese community," Young said. "Because not only can I promote the Chinese culture, but I can reach out to young Chinese women and tell them to dream BIG! -- that they can aspire to be more than a housewife."
The 14 contestants came from all over the United States to compete, among them were Stacey Chinn, 26, and Diana Wong, 25, both SF State alumni.
Though Chinn and Wong didn't garner a seat in the royal court, they both voiced the same idea of pride to have been a part of the pageant.
"It was a learning experience," Chinn said. "I learned about being proud of my Chinese culture and to be a strong and dignified woman."
Wong, who faltered in the question and answer category, was equally enthusiastic about her experience.
"Speaking in front of a large crowd isn't my strong point, so I froze," Wong said, " But the Chinese community was so supportive, that I'm happy I even thought of an answer."
The audience, full of family and friends, was boisterous all through the competition. Men screamed "I love you" to the contestants and traded quips with the emcee Mario Machado, an Emmy Award winning news anchor from Los Angeles.
"I always thought the Chinese community was conservative, but this crowd sounds like they're at a World Wrestling Federation match," Machado said.
With sponsors like Harrah's, AT&T, Coors Brewing Company and Bank of America, Miss Chinatown USA wins a $10,000 scholarship and an all-expense paid trip through the Orient. The royal court gains scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Miss Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Miss San Francisco Chinatown also get an all-expense paid trip to Asia.
"It's going to be a year of extremes for them," Maa said. "One day they'll be going through their daily routine of school or whatever, and the next day flying across the world to be interviewed."
1997 Miss San Francisco Chinatown Louisa Luk, 17, a senior at Lowell High School isn't afraid of all the travel.
"It's definitely a good thing because it will teach me self-discipline and independence," Luk said. "And as a role model for young people, I can show them that there are better ways to input energy than just partying and having fun."
With the Chinese New Year Parade only a few days away, Miss Chinatown USA and her royal court are ready to be seen by the whole world.
"I think my court and I are great representatives for the Chinese community because we represent a wide spectrum of our heritage," Young said. "I'm from Hawaii, Linda is Mandarin and Louisa is Cantonese."
Young also recommends the pageant experience to other young women because she says, "The spirit of competition pushes everyone to play at their highest level and that makes all of us winners."
Miss Chinatown and her royal court can be seen at the Chinese New Year's Parade this Saturday at 6 p.m.
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[ Golden Gater - February 20, 1997 ]