MISS ASIA SACRAMENTO

The Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant was founded with the ideals of encouraging young Asian women to develop a deeper understanding of their heritage, building self confidence and esteem, and polishing one’s personal appearance and presentation skills. All these skills and qualities are requisite for success in any lifetime endeavor. The Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant was developed to help Asian women achieve these goals, which will in turn help launch their other dreams. The Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant is also a forum for these women and the Sacramento community to celebrate Asian beauty, elegance and style.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It takes more than a rhinestone tiara to make someone a queen.” These words should inspire the contestants to always reach higher, while cultivating their skills and noble characteristics. This will help them succeed in education, relationships, careers, and life in general. It should also make one realize that success is not what appears on the outside, but what they possess inside. The efforts and enthusiasm invested in this experience will transform into an indomitable spirit always moving forward in life, overcoming obstacles, and embracing each achievement at a time.

The Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant is unique because it focuses on fostering positive traits and skills in young women in Sacramento’s Asian community. Miss Asia Sacramento will represent the epitome of Asian beauty and elegance, and will be responsible for representing and serving her community. The queen and her court will have a memorable and rewarding year. They will appear at local and state community events for charities, as well as cultural and educational events that benefit the community.

The Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant is the positive result of a lot of hard work and enthusiasm from many special people. Established sponsors, inspirational contestants, supportive family and friends, and volunteer staff, have all influenced this wonderful event in their own ways. They do this not just to support a beauty pageant, but because they, too, believe in celebrating Asian beauty, elegance and style.

	Debra Ichimura Executive Producer & Pageant Director Pageantry has always inspired Debra and she wants to share this with greater Sacramento. She loves producing this pageant because it fosters creativity and skills she aquired as a former model, instructor and coach, as well as Miss Asia Hawaii and Miss Islands of the World. Community service has always been important to her and she serves as a board member of the City of Sacramento Small Business Development and Employment Advisory Board. Having attained her B.A., M.S. and J.D., she is a practicing attorney in the state of California. info@missasiasacramento.com
	Karen Morris - Talent & Event Director Karen was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she discovered her passion for decorating and wedding planning. Karen started coordinating weddings and planning baby showers when she was around the age of 16, for family and friends. She discovered her talents for designing weddings in her early 20’s. Karen has now taken her dreams and turned them into a reality. Residing in Sacramento, Karen has made a name for herself as a well respected and knowledgeable Wedding Coordinator and Event Planner. Karen was featured in the Sacramento “Observer” Newspaper for Business of the Week in 2006 and 2008. She was also the Columnist for the “Ask the Wedding Planner” column highlighted in "Urban Magazine" in 2007 until early 2008. Karen states, “I am so very proud to be apart of such a wonderful event as the Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant. Nothing gives me more pleasure than being in the company of such great women of vision.” talent@missasiasacramento.com
	Elizabeth Chang - Talent & Event Assistant Elizabeth is a California native and has been singing and dancing since the tender age of 12. She has performed for the Hmong New Year and several other Hmong community events in Southern California. She is the manager and talent scout for both the Scrad Entertainment Group (SEG) a music production company located in Orange County, California as well as Krystal Klear Entertainment (KKE), a film production company based in Sacramento County. On top of that, she is the tour Manager for the local Hmong bands Advent Vibe and PC Inkorporated, and co-produces and designs for the popular Hmong drama series "3 Lub Tooj Npab (3 Bracelets)". She is in production on the suspense thriller “Shaman” that will be released in the near future. Elizabeth is also pursuing her degree in Sound Engineering at the Sacramento City College.
	Grace Ballesteros - Director of Photography and Media & Website Ballesteros credits her commercial/lifestyle work with Ed Fund, Poolmaster, Spoon Motor Sports and more. Her fashion show production background credits her work with Seventeen Magazine and also the fabulous Magnum Opus "Underground" Show which was produced in Spring/Summer 2006. She has also worked with the Hired Brush Model Management, Model Manager, Barbara McGee and has a background with the famous Susan Pages Modeling Agency, based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Currently she works in Northern California, especially in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose and on occasion she travels to Hawaiil and Pennsylvania. She is also a contributor to fashion magazines in Malaysia and within the Asia Pacific region. Recently, Grace has just participated as a proud sponsor for the First Annual Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant of 2008. She is now here on staff to provide media and photography support.
	Malinda Nguyen - Contestant Coordinator, Speech and Platform Malinda was born on an island off the coast of Vietnam. At the age of two, she and her family moved to the United States, where she grew up in San Jose, California. After graduating from Sacramento State University, she continued her education at Palmer Chiropractic College and now specializes in Upper Cervical Chiropractic. Her professional career has led her to opportunities to present various health talks within the greater Sacramento community. An active member with Toastmasters International, she has acquired skills in becoming a more effective communicator and presenter. Aside from her career, Malinda enjoys travelling and helping people. The combination of these two passions are the reasons she has travelled on mission trips to various parts of the world to provide chiropractic care to those in need. With this experience, she wants to inspire young women to achieve their goals and dreams, and to let them know that they can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. Speech@missasiasacramento.com
	Tiffany Tsui- Miss Asia Sacramento 2010 The reigning Miss Asia Sacramento 2010 is a Bay Area native and has had a passion for culinary arts since the tender age of 10. She has won numerous cake decorating awards and cooking competitions at city, regional, and state levels all before obtaining her culinary degree in 2007. She has also worked for some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in San Francisco such as the Ritz Carlton, Aziza, Spruce, and Epic Roasthouse. She is currently majoring in Hospitality Management at San Francisco State University and continues to hone her craft while working as an executive pastry consultant. Tiffany enjoys giving back to her community as she volunteers her time to the Asian Women’s Resource Center, ASPCA, and the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. You can find Tiffany at the local farmers market or the newest pastry shops looking for new inspirations!
	Deanna Nguyen - Miss Teen Asia Sacramento 2010
	Anna Le - Make Up Coordinator Anna has long been inspired by the Arts as a means of creativity and expression and for years has always been intrigued by the versatility of what makeup can create and bring into being. She began freelancing at a young age, and has won makeup contests over the years. She has always believed that regardless of any skill set, there is always room to grow and learn. Her passionate drive for knowledge has always helped her sustain an open mind in search for new and innovative techniques to strengthen what she already knows. Anna is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and is hopeful that she can someday pursue an education in Cosmetology specializing in high-fashion makeup as well. Her hobbies include arts-&-crafts, sewing, costume design, playing the guitar, piano, and reading. makeup@missasiasacramento.com
	Joann Sun - Executive Assistant/Business & Auditing Joann Sun was born in Taiwan and moved to Cupertino at the age of thirteen. She is currently a senior majoring in Managerial Economics and minor in Communication at the University of California, Davis. She enjoys the business aspect of the pageantry and and plans on becoming a CPA in the future. She loves traveling, eating good food, and watching TV series.
	Amy Vang - Promoter Amy Vang is an eighteen year old student originallly from Stockton, but raised in Oroville. She is currently a Business Management major at Sacramento Community College. Amy enjoys helping children by being an active volunteer at youth centers such as Our Children Our Treasures and The Live Spot. Aside from volunteering, Amy enjoys reading, cooking, dancing, and playing basketball. Amy is honored and grateful to be working along such great people as an intern and promoter for the Annual Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant, and would like to thank everyone, especially all the contestants, and staff for making it possible to celebrate the heritage and beauty of Sacramento's young Asian women. promoter@missasiasacramento.com
	Denise Gee - Graphic Design Denise Miuwun Gee is from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is currently in her third year studying design and studio art at the University of California, Davis. Her favorite class is Mandarin because this is her first time learning how to speak and write the language. When she is not studying, she enjoys training and playing with her house mate's new puppy. Denise is looking forward to studying and traveling abroad to Europe this summer. graphics@missasiasacramento.com
	Winifred Siu - Graphic Design
	Amethyst Wang- Graphic Design/Writer
	Matt Day - Executive Assistant/Business & Public Relations Matthew Martinez Day was born in Fremont, California but has been raised all over the United States-from San Francisco to Hawaii. He is currently a Junior at UC Davis majoring in Economics and minoring in Political Science. If he's not busy with his internship, volunteering in community service, or studying for exams, he can be found riding his '91 cherry red Suzuki motorcycle around town.
	Mee Yang - Fashion Coordinator Mee was born in Sacramento and lived the first 14 years in Marysville before returning to Sacramento. As a child, she was always creative but did not discover her love for fashion until attending Hiram Johnson Main High School. Thereafter, she attended the California State University of Sacramento and majored in Family Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Apparel Marketing and Design and a minor in Communications. There, she developed her first line composed of 6 pieces constructed from recycled men’s ties and custom-made 7 bridesmaids’ dresses. She just loves sewing. Her inspiration comes from her surroundings. From 2007- 08 she served as youth Secretary for Sacramento Hmong Alliance Church where she collaborated with other members of the youth council in planning events. In her free time she likes to relax with friends and family, shop, sew, and explore new things. She will be graduating in spring of 2010 and hopes to work in the fashion industry and eventually start a line and business of her own.
	HARMAIL CHATHA - CO-EMCEE Born in India and raised in California, Harmail Chatha is creator and host of the top rated Bhangra music video show DESI UNPLUGGED, seen on Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon FIOS and nationwide on the DISH Network. In addition to his hosting duties, Harmail has appeared in several films and music videos and is in constant demand on the Asian music scene. He is delighted host the Third Annual Miss Asia Sacramento Pageant. To find more info on Harmail, go to DESIUNPLUGGED.com.