Differing from other pageants one might think of, Miss Chinese Chicago is an event made to showcase the next generation of female leaders within Chicago’s own Chinese community. This year’s pageant will take place from 6-8pm on Sunday Oct. 21 at Row 24, 2411 S. Michigan Ave.
There are six contestants competing for this year’s title, as well as the winner’s package. First place includes a $750 cash prize, as well as a round-trip flight to San Francisco and a $2,000 sponsorship to the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant as they represent Chicago.
The competition focuses on the personality, heritage, talent and personal style and poise of the individual contestants. The organization says, “Innovative thinking, collective and inclusive mindset, and kindness are all traits we hope to foster in the next generation of Chinese American female leaders.” It works to spotlight inclusiveness and leadership by not requiring the participants to pay a fee or find their own sponsors. Instead, the pageant runs off of its own sponsorship and ticket fees. Tickets will be available at $30 general admission and $20 for students. until midnight on Monday Oct. 15 and can be purchased here.
Among this year’s contestants, there is an actress, a preschool teacher, a martial artist, a comedian, an arts director and several college graduates. Brittany Lau, Harmony Zhang, Honey Tey, Jade Lun, Jamie Moy and Jen Chan are the women represented this year. Each have recorded a short introductory video and have written a short biography of their personal journey that can be found here.
Judging the competition are four professionals from Chicago. Grace Chan, Karen Hwang, Randall Tom and Yuri Tam all live in the city and work to celebrate their own Chinese and Korean heritages through their careers, volunteer efforts and board positions.
Even the competition itself was founded and produced by a young, passionate woman within Chicago’s Chinese community. Victoria Ng, of Victoria M. Ng Productions, LLC, is the director of Miss Chinese Chicago, as well as a fervent youth advocate within her community. “I’m doing this on my own,” she says, as she wants to create a space that young women and leaders can thrive in.