Regis University student Erika Tanaka is crowned the 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado May 30 at Teikyo Loretto Heights University Theater in Denver. (Photo by Joe Nguyen/AsiaXpress.com)

[Check out our photo gallery of the 2009 Miss AACO finale show]

Erika Tanaka wins Miss Asian American Colorado

20-year-old Regis student wins crown, pledges to help teenage suicide prevention

By Joe Nguyen, AsiaXpress.com

May 31, 2009 (Updated June 2, 2009)

DENVER – After two months of bonding and working together, a journey for 17 women is over.

But another is about to begin.

Erika Tanaka, a 20-year-old student at Regis University, was crowned the 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado during the program’s finale show on May 30 at Teikyo Loretto Heights University Theater.

“It still hasn’t quite sunken in,” Tanaka said after the show, “and I guess I’m a little bit nervous because (2008 Miss AACO Duacee Lor’s) shoes are big and hard to fill, but I feel like I can do a good job and I’m really excited for the year to come.”

For winning, Tanaka receives a $1,000 scholarship and will be featured in Asian Avenue magazine’s July issue. University of Denver student Abhi Ramaswami finished runner-up and was crowned Miss Unity, while 20-year-old CU-Boulder student Christine Thai was second runner-up and was named Miss Impact. Ramaswami and Thai will receive $700 and $500, respectively.

In addition to her winnings, Tanaka earns the task of organizing bi-monthly events with the other women over the next year, alternating between service events and bonding activities, according to Miss AACO Committee Director Annie Guo. But perhaps her biggest prize is heading a service project based on her essay about teenage suicide prevention.

“I’m going to organize a fundraiser that will educate the community about mental health and how to see the warning signs of someone’s who’s suicidal,” she said. “Really create a safety net within our community.”

It’s something that’s near to her heart, Guo said.

“What’s nice was that she didn’t just write this essay about something just to get her essay in, she wrote something she was already very passionate about,” she said.

Members of Miss Asian American Colorado observe the instructor during a self-defense class on May 2 at Denver Wing Chun. (Photo by Joe Nguyen/AsiaXpress.com)

[Check out our photo gallery of the 2009 Miss AACO self-defense class]

The beginning

The journey of these 17 women began in April and organizers knew they had a good group from the start.

“Back in the beginning when we were looking through their applications, we were so excited, Guo said. “ ... The committee was saying over and over again that this group of women was very strong and that there were so many great candidates who we would have loved to all be Miss Asian American Colorado.”

And strong women they had. Among them Nguyen Nguyen is co-chair of the Asian American Student Union at Colorado College, Christine Thai is co-president of Next Generation Voices and Stephanie Yoon will be the president of Asian Unity at CU-Boulder in the fall.

“All these women were already doing a lot of things when they came in this year,” Guo said. “ ... They came in with such strong credentials.”

In the coming weeks, they worked on various service projects from building a house with Habitat for Humanity to making gift baskets for Safehouse Denver, a shelter for battered women. They participated in a self-defense class and later broke into groups of four and five to create their own service opportunities.

“I’m so glad about all the opportunities I was presented,” University of Denver student Jessica Choe said. “Habitat for Humanity was something I always wanted to do.”

Katleen Luistro applies make-up before the start of the 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado finale show on May 30 at Teikyo Loretto Heights University Theater in Denver. (Joe Nguyen/AsiaXpress.com)

Rehearsal

Just half an hour before the start of the show, the women were downstairs in the dressing room, adding final touches to their cultural attire.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Choe said. “I’m a little anxious, a little nervous. But I’m really excited and looking forward to it.”

Some huddled together for group pictures while others practiced their moves for the Bollywood dance opening.

“It’s really fun watching all the girls freak out and we’re all freaking out together,” Stephanie Yoon said.

For some, this moment is a time to reflect on the other strong women they have met.

“I’ve met some amazing girls and they’re all so beautiful and wonderful and smart and intelligent,” Colorado Technical University student Giane Morris said. “And you don’t find girls like that all the time.”

But the one thing that’s shared by the contestants is the experience and bond they shared with one another.

“The past two months have been great,” Yoon said. “It’s been a lot of bonding and getting to know the girls and that we all really good candidates and if anyone won, I’d be so proud.

“And I know at the end, we’re all going to cry because it’s really emotional.”

Contestants hold hands waiting for the announcement of the winners during the 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado finale show on May 30 at Teikyo Loretto Heights University Theater in Denver. (Ashton Do/AsiaXpress.com)

The end of a chapter

After an energetic opening dance sequence, the women – adorned in vibrant cultural attire – introduced themselves to the crowd.

“I am not shy to share to the world my culture, my costume and my language,” University of Colorado Denver student Kaila Lee said. “This makes me who I am. I am proud to be an Asian American.”

Organizers cut out the evening gown competition this year because they wanted to distance themselves from the P-word and make this a true leadership and service program.

“We don’t want to keep looking like a pageant,” Guo said. “It’s exciting coming out of the event knowing that we did a good job sharing stories of all the activities that they had done.”

And with a smaller group than last year, the contestants were allowed more time to answer questions and showcase their wide array of talents on stage.

“Some of the performances were very traditional, like traditional instruments or songs in foreign languages. And you had everything up to the very Asian-American performances like spoken word or hip-hop dancing,” Guo said. “It was cool to see how diverse we are as Asian Americans because we are both (Asian and American).”

After the votes were tallied and the crowns and sashes were given out, the contestants and the committee take a moment to breathe. But everyone realizes that the next step is yet to come.

“There are days when it’s hard and there’s so much going on,” she said, “but I think at the end of the day, you just have to remember what that mission is and how you are making a difference in the community.”

For more information about the Miss Asian American Colorado program, go to www.missaaco.com.