Spring Break
CSU alumnus wins Miss Asian America Pageant
Kelli Pryor
Issue date: 7/2/08 Section: News
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The Miss Asian America Colorado event was created this year by Asian Avenue magazine as more than a beauty pageant. The contestants had to possess more than physical attractiveness, they needed to demonstrate intelligence, compassion and the desire to serve.
"The girls and I want people to know this [The Miss Asian American Colorado pageant] is a leadership program and not a beauty pageant," the 24-year-old Igaki, who was the only CSU alumnus to compete in the pageant, said.
The night of the main event was the culmination of two months of preparation.
The contestants were required to do hands-on work, helping build a Colorado house for Habitat for Humanity and completing a leadership training program, said Annie Guo, director of the Miss Asian America Colorado pageant and an editor at Asian Avenue, a Denver-based publication that focuses on Asian-American issues in Colorado.
Guo created the pageant as a way to connect the Asian-American community of Colorado.
"Young Asian-Americans are often disconnected with their Asian heritage and this was also a way to pull these young folks together to learn from each other," Guo said.
Many of the women participated in the event because of the leadership and service opportunities the pageant offered, but also to break down social stereotypes that Guo said depict Asian-American women as no more than "exotic creatures inferior to men."
Igaki participated in the pageant because she wanted to set an example for others.
"For Asian Americans, we don't have many role models. This pageant would give me a chance to present myself as a role model," she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
where do i begin?
posted 7/06/08 @ 8:47 PM MST
A) she's an Alumna, not an Alumnus.
B) it appears from the article that she won Miss Asian American Colorado, not Miss Asian America. did the person who wrote the headline even read the article?
are you sure the Collegian wasn't bought out by the Coloradoan?
MissAsianAmericanCO
Amanda Igaki
posted 7/13/08 @ 11:41 AM MST
Nice article! Kelli, thanks so much for meeting with me. I had a great time and good coffee too:P Just need to mention for the Hawaiian community's sake that my co founders and I did not start the very first Hula school in Boulder. (Continued…)
sean
posted 9/12/08 @ 1:14 PM MST
WOW!
Way to go Igaki-san ;-)
Craig Hawley
posted 9/12/08 @ 7:52 PM MST
Congratulations Ms. Igaki. Thats a title you can be proud of.
You should have worked Cam the Ram into your outfit somehow though. Just kidding you. (Continued…)
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