By: Joshua Robles, A&E Editor
Newman senior Michelle Tong already won one pageant crown. Now, she has another. On Saturday, Tong was named the winner of the Miss Wichita Asian Festival pageant, which happened at Century II.
Tong, who was crowned Miss Vietnam over the summer, competed on Saturday against other women representing different Asian countries.
“I had the opportunity to meet and get to know seven girls representing the countries of Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Philippines and Laos,” Tong said. “The experience was really positive, and I am very thankful for it. The whole experience was very organized thanks to pageant director Lily Wu and the Wichita Asian Association Committee.”
Tong says she is thankful for her supporters and that she made “irreplaceable” friendships with the other women competing in the pageant.
“When I was crowned, my heart was full of gratefulness as I knew a loving Vietnamese community was watching, and I couldn’t be more proud to be able to bring the crown home for them,” Tong said. “The pageant helped me grow in my confidence and assurrity of my strengths and weaknesses and how I can take this knowledge and experience to achieve my goal.”
Along with the crown and title, Tong also won a scholarship as well as a cash prize for the talent competition, which she won with a vocal performance. Tong now will now work alongside the Wichita Asian Association to build connections with the Asian-American communities in WIchita, she said.
The newly crowned Miss Wichita Asian Festival said she left the pageant stage filled with gratitude.
“Thank you to the Newman community, specifically my friends, classmates, professors and staff for their love and support of me,” Tong said. “I am forever blessed and grateful.”
PHOTO: Courtesy photo, Miss Wichita Asian Facebook
