Over the last couple of years, the state of Utah has seen an emergence of Asian cultural pageants. We have Miss Vietnam Utah, Miss Philippines Utah (which is discontinued until further notice), Miss Laos New Year, Miss Thai Songkhan, and Miss Asia Utah. There's still a lot of countries that go unrepresented in Utah. This is the reason why I am so excited to find out that there will be a Miss Cambodia Utah in 2014! The committee hosted their orientation meeting at Red Maple restaurant. I was pleased to see that there were 8 girls who attend and showed interest in the pageant. They were so gracious to buy dimsum for everyone too, including all of the guests.
From left to right: Agnes (my pageant director), Vibol (one of the directors for Miss Cambodia Utah), me, Ray (a helping friend of the commitee), Janna (the other director for Miss Cambodia Utah), Boneet (Miss Asia Utah, my pageant sister), Chanda (the wardrobe specialist), and Natalie (experienced pageant guru who taught the girls how to walk on stage).
Group pictures with the contestants and pageant commitee.
So happy to see my friend there, who will be helping the girls with their makeup!
I shared my experiences as a person who has been on all sides of the field. I've competed in pageants where I didn't win anything, I've been a runner-up a couple of times, and I've won the crown before. I explained that pageants are not about competing with your fellow contestants, but it's about competing with yourself. The one time that I actually won a title, I refused to wait backstage before it was my turn to perform. I waited in the dressing room until I was up and the reason I did that...was because I didn't want to see how the other girls did. I knew it would mess with my mind and I would re-evaluate everything if I saw how they did. I went out on that stage, with the mindset that I must do MY very best...because I knew that as long as I gave all I could, I wouldn't have any regrets.
The main reason that someone does a pageant should be to give themselves an opportunity to grow. After every single pageant, I've always looked back and identified the things that I could improve. Because of that, I come back each time stronger and more ready. I also mentioned that people need to look at pageantry as a sisterhood, instead of a competition. Some of the dearest friends I've made are ones that I met through pageants. We need to grow TOGETHER, learn TOGETHER, and succeed TOGETHER. Whatever you put into the pageant, that's what you'll get out of it. If you become a cautious, serious, and mean person...at the end of the pageant, you'll look back at it as a horrible experience. But if you are fun, relaxed, and optimistic, you will walk away as a winner no matter what.
I told the girls that they are welcome to contact me at any time for advice and suggestions. Since I am co-directing the Miss Vietnam Utah pageant right now, I am very used to having girls text or call me to brainstorm ideas for their talent selection or wardrobe decision. It always gives you more confident to get more opinions because remember that sometimes you don't see what other people can.
Big thanks to the Miss Cambodia Utah pageant committee for inviting me, Agnes, Boneet, and Natalie to come speak at their orientation. I hope that what I said was convincing enough for the girls to join the pageant. I'll be continuing to help out with their preparation for the competition until April 12, 2014! Stay tuned!
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