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This year's Miss Asia USA represented Vietnam. She's already got a busy schedule planned.
By Fred Ortega and Vince Lovato, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE -- Traffic around the Alex Theatre was so congested for the sold-out 18th Annual Miss Asia USA pageant that co-emcee Rob Fukuzaki had trouble getting to Saturday's event on time.
Almost 1,500 watched 28 contestants representing countries from Asia and Asia Minor compete. In the end, the crown went to Jennifer Pham, 20, of Orange County, who represented Vietnam in the pageant.
"I look forward to bridging the multitudes of cultures that surround us and are now rooted and woven in America," said Pham, who also holds the titles of Miss Vietnam USA and Miss Vietnam Model of the World. "I am excited to fulfill my year-long reign as the ambassador of culture and goodwill for the Asian communities in America."
And it won't be a slow year. As the new Miss Asia USA, Pham will have to attend scores of ribbon cuttings, fundraisers, parades and even make a 10-day cultural visit to Dubai, said Miss Asia USA producer Virgelia Venegas.
"She has already had about seven communities invite her to do press conferences," said Venegas. "We have a big job ahead of us managing the queen. She becomes our boss after the event."
Following Pham, the first runner-up was Miss India, Ayuska Singh Garib; Miss Ukraine, Tetyana Melnyk, second runner-up; Tantri Setiono, Miss Indonesia, as third runner-up; and Miss Korea, Mina Kim, the fourth runner-up.
Unlike in previous Miss Asia USA contests, the judges were unanimous in their selection of Pham for the crown, Venegas said.
"They all said she really stood out from the delegates, which was unusual because they were all beautiful girls with wonderful traits."
Miss Armenia Marina Hovhannisyan, the only Glendale resident in the pageant, impressed the judges but did not make it to the top five, Venegas said.
"She did a fabulous job, but she did not have as much support from the community as Miss Vietnam did, who was well supported by community groups and organizations," Venegas said. "Many of the communities from the Middle East are just discovering Miss Asia USA, and the Armenian television stations have said they will step up their support for their delegates even more next year."
The event was broadcast via Charter Video on-demand and on the ImagineAsian TV network to an estimated six million viewers around the world, event organizers said.
Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver, who is on the pageant's executive committee, said the event is good for Glendale's image."When the announcer comes on and says, 'Live from the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, California ... ' that brings a lot of prestige here," he said.Glendale is also the perfect place to host the pageant, he said."Half the population [of Glendale] comes from Asia or Asia Minor," Weaver said.
The pageant will showcase the contestants' beauty, poise, national dress and authenticity, said 2006 Mrs. Asia USA runner-up Solly Manato, who served as a judge Saturday.
"I think it's a big accomplishment to get here," said Manato, who is 34, has three children and lives in San Diego. "I think America is populated by so many cultures that these pageants allow the contestants to become united and showcase their talents."
Fukuzaki, KABC-TV Channel 7 sports anchor, has hosted the event for three consecutive years. The crowd was so large valets had trouble finding a place for him to park before the show.
Showbiz India TV anchorwoman Reshma Dordi was the co-emcee. It was the first time the event was telecast live in the United States.
The celebrity judges included Bai Ling ("Anna & The King" and VH1's "But Can They Sing?"), and Benjamin Salisbury ("The Nanny").
The contest was open to single women ages 18 to 28 whose ancestry is at least 25% descended from one of the 58 countries of Asia and Asia Minor including Armenia.
The celebrity judges included Bai Ling ("Anna & The King" and VH1's "But Can They Sing?"), and Benjamin Salisbury ("The Nanny").
The contest was open to single women ages 18 to 28 whose ancestry is at least 25% descended from one of the 58 countries of Asia and Asia Minor including Armenia.
By Fred Ortega and Vince Lovato, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE -- Traffic around the Alex Theatre was so congested for the sold-out 18th Annual Miss Asia USA pageant that co-emcee Rob Fukuzaki had trouble getting to Saturday's event on time.
Almost 1,500 watched 28 contestants representing countries from Asia and Asia Minor compete. In the end, the crown went to Jennifer Pham, 20, of Orange County, who represented Vietnam in the pageant.
"I look forward to bridging the multitudes of cultures that surround us and are now rooted and woven in America," said Pham, who also holds the titles of Miss Vietnam USA and Miss Vietnam Model of the World. "I am excited to fulfill my year-long reign as the ambassador of culture and goodwill for the Asian communities in America."
And it won't be a slow year. As the new Miss Asia USA, Pham will have to attend scores of ribbon cuttings, fundraisers, parades and even make a 10-day cultural visit to Dubai, said Miss Asia USA producer Virgelia Venegas.
"She has already had about seven communities invite her to do press conferences," said Venegas. "We have a big job ahead of us managing the queen. She becomes our boss after the event."
Following Pham, the first runner-up was Miss India, Ayuska Singh Garib; Miss Ukraine, Tetyana Melnyk, second runner-up; Tantri Setiono, Miss Indonesia, as third runner-up; and Miss Korea, Mina Kim, the fourth runner-up.
Unlike in previous Miss Asia USA contests, the judges were unanimous in their selection of Pham for the crown, Venegas said.
"They all said she really stood out from the delegates, which was unusual because they were all beautiful girls with wonderful traits."
Miss Armenia Marina Hovhannisyan, the only Glendale resident in the pageant, impressed the judges but did not make it to the top five, Venegas said.
"She did a fabulous job, but she did not have as much support from the community as Miss Vietnam did, who was well supported by community groups and organizations," Venegas said. "Many of the communities from the Middle East are just discovering Miss Asia USA, and the Armenian television stations have said they will step up their support for their delegates even more next year."
The event was broadcast via Charter Video on-demand and on the ImagineAsian TV network to an estimated six million viewers around the world, event organizers said.
Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver, who is on the pageant's executive committee, said the event is good for Glendale's image."When the announcer comes on and says, 'Live from the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, California ... ' that brings a lot of prestige here," he said.Glendale is also the perfect place to host the pageant, he said."Half the population [of Glendale] comes from Asia or Asia Minor," Weaver said.
The pageant will showcase the contestants' beauty, poise, national dress and authenticity, said 2006 Mrs. Asia USA runner-up Solly Manato, who served as a judge Saturday.
"I think it's a big accomplishment to get here," said Manato, who is 34, has three children and lives in San Diego. "I think America is populated by so many cultures that these pageants allow the contestants to become united and showcase their talents."
Fukuzaki, KABC-TV Channel 7 sports anchor, has hosted the event for three consecutive years. The crowd was so large valets had trouble finding a place for him to park before the show.
Showbiz India TV anchorwoman Reshma Dordi was the co-emcee. It was the first time the event was telecast live in the United States.
The celebrity judges included Bai Ling ("Anna & The King" and VH1's "But Can They Sing?"), and Benjamin Salisbury ("The Nanny").
The contest was open to single women ages 18 to 28 whose ancestry is at least 25% descended from one of the 58 countries of Asia and Asia Minor including Armenia.
The celebrity judges included Bai Ling ("Anna & The King" and VH1's "But Can They Sing?"), and Benjamin Salisbury ("The Nanny").
The contest was open to single women ages 18 to 28 whose ancestry is at least 25% descended from one of the 58 countries of Asia and Asia Minor including Armenia.
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