Ten girls will compete in the Miss Asia Pageant and Cultural Show
Ten girls will compete in the Miss Asia Pageant and Cultural Show 2010 today at Purdue University.
The show is hosted by the Purdue Asian Student Union Board. Dudley Tyen, president of the Purdue Asian Student Union Board, developed the idea and organized the show. Tyen, a junior in the School of Management, said the purpose of this show is to unify Asians and Asian-Americans at Purdue, as well as to raise awareness of Asian-American culture in the Purdue community. Tyen stressed the importance of the pageant.
“Well, to be realistic, (Asian–Americans are) a minority at Purdue,” Tyen said. “I think it’s important to show Purdue Asian-American culture because not that many people know about it.”
According to the Purdue Data Digest for fall 2009-2010, Asian-Americans make up a mere 6 percent of the Purdue population. Within that 6 percent, there are many distinct cultural differences that make it difficult for students to relate to each other. Seven different ethnic-based organizations will be represented by the contestants in the Miss Asia Pageant.
The pageant has found success in unifying the contestants. Thanh Pham, a contestant representing the Vietnamese Student Association, said bonding with other contestants has been very important to her.
“There are different organizations and we’re all very secluded in our own cultures and clubs,” Pham said. “It’s really exciting to see all the girls share this together and making friends with girls I never really talked to on campus.”
The contestants of the pageant will be judged according to introductory videos, talent performances and a Q&A session, as well as in overall impression and communication. Katherine Agathon, an instructor in the Asian-American studies department, will serve as a judge for the pageant and says she knows what she will look for in the pageant.
“I will be looking for someone who I think epitomizes contemporary Asian America,” Agathon said.
Agathon shared Tyen’s belief that unification among the many groups of Asians and Asian-Americans on campus is important. She said that because Purdue lacks an Asian-American cultural center and the Asian-American studies program is still young, there is a lack of visibility of Asian-Americans on campus.
“Because so many organizations are involved, the Miss Asia Pageant is huge,” Agathon said. “It demonstrates that the organizations can come together and put together an amazing event. Having events such as this demonstrates the power of unity and the amazing things that can happen as a result.”
Contestants:
Miss AAA: Amy Chen
Miss AIF: Lavanya Shukla
Miss AKDPHI: Kate Kim
Miss HKSA: Vivian Lui
Miss PFA: Krisette Kho
Miss PSSA: Ashley Ang
Miss PUTSA: Lynn Tanattanawin
Miss TSA Annie Kuo
Miss UCA: Fanny Fang
Miss VSA: Thanh Pham
Featured Performances:
Purdue aKDphi
Boiler Breakers
Purdue DPhiL
Purdue Raas
Vietnamese Student Association & Filipino Student Association
Magic Show
Mr. Asia 2009- Hans Duong
DJ Ascension
by Norah Kish