| Event Title | MISS FLORIDA ASIA 2008 PAGEANT: ASIAN CULTURE COMBINED WITH BEAUTY AND TALENT |
| Event Date | 7/12/2008 |
| Event State | North Miami Beach Performing Arts Theater |
| Event Description | Heart-pounding and inspiring Ronin Taiko Drummers opened the well-attended Miss Florida Asia 2008 pageant on July 12, 2008 at the North Miami Beach Performing Arts Theater. The pageant, in its second year, was organized by OCA-South Florida Chapter (pageant producer Winnie Tang) and United Chinese Association of Florida (pageant production director Johnson Ng and graphic designer Eileen Liu). Before and during the production as well as after, over thirty volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to build and decorate the stages, coordinate the lighting and sound systems, choreograph the perforances, apply make-up and style hair for each competition the young ladies participated in, as well as setting up, taking down, and cleaning up the auditorium after the pageant.
Miss Florida Asia is to celebrate Asian culture with beauty, talent and intelligence as well as to boost and inspire self-confidence and friendship among the contestants and encourage future participation by Asian women.
Eight lovely young ladies represented the countries of China, Iran, Japan-Israel, the Phillipines and Vietnam: Kayla Chin Nuke, Gloria Chow, Mimi Goon, Nancy Nguyen, Kimia Mavon, May Igawa, Marie Onia and Tia Vo, competing for the crown of Miss Florida Asia 2008 and first and second princesses along with cash prizes sponsored by State Farm Insurance (Dean Chung).
Interspersed with the competitions for national costume, swimsuit, talent, evening gown and on-stage question and answer, were rousing, spectaculor entertainment, in which the audience participated, performed by talented Indian vocalists, the 15-person Havana Carnival: Afro-Cuban Dancing and Music, and Chinese vocalist Pablo Kee.
Six accomplished and well-recognized professionals served as judges: Dr. Antonio Wong, Dr. John Chang, Mr. Quan Anh Cao, Honorable Dottie Johnson, Mr. Al Otero, and Mr. Edmond Tse. Accountants Tony Mok and Susan Xu tallied the scoring by the judges.
At the culmination of the pageant and to the sounds of cheering and wild applause from the audience, May Igawa (Japan-Israel) was crowned Miss Florida Asia 2008, Tia Vo (Vietnam) was named First Princess and Kayla Chin Nuke (China) was named Second Princess and all were awarded cash prizes.
The mistress and master of ceremonies were Lisa Hu Barquist, Indra Bosko, Anly Liu and Andrew Sussman.
Please come to enjoy and support next year's Miss Florida Asia 2009!
Lisa Hu Barquist, Esq.
Hu Barquist & Associates, P.A.
Rivergate Plaza
444 Brickell Avenue
Suite 700
Miami, FL 33131
Tel: 305-371-5588
Fax: 305-371-2941
Cell: 786-351-4810
Lisa@hulegal.com
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