Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Mary Tablante
Elizabeth “Liz” Thaihuong Nguyen first got started competing in pageants because of a dare from her little brother.
“I wanted to see what would happen,” she said. “I feel that pageantry has given people a voice to do great things. You become a face and voice for an organization and have a lot of freedom to talk about things you care about.”
Nguyen, 26, started pageantry in 2010 and entered Miss Eden, a pageant for Vietnamese American women that is now known as Miss Vietnam DC. Last month on July 6, she competed on the national stage in the Miss United States pageant as Miss. Wyoming and was the only Asian American in her division. Because there was no Wyoming representative, Nguyen was nominated by the pageant director. As Miss. Wyoming, she cracked the top 15 in the competition and earned the Runway Award.
Giving back
Nguyen describes herself as low key. She is an IT security analyst by day, wishes she had more time to watch Netflix and enjoys rock climbing. But what’s not so low key is her strong presence in the Vietnamese American community and as a voice for women.
As Ms. Wyoming, she chose the social platform of breaking all ceilings, including the glass and bamboo ceilings, and focuses on women and minorities.
“We tend to have unequal opportunities. We also have unequal mindsets,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like when you take away all the walls and regulations on equal opportunities, we are left behind with self doubts from even the most qualified women.”
Coming from refugee parents, Nguyen thinks it is important to give back to the Vietnamese American community. Next year, she plans to organize a workshop about tax basics and tax preparation.
What is it like representing a state that is not her own home state and with such a small Asian American population? “It is an absolute honor to represent a state with a small Asian minority. It is an even bigger honor to be the only Asian in the Ms. Division of the Miss United States competition and to make it to the top 15. I hope I made the Asian American community proud and inspired other Asian American women to take a risk in their dreams and goals,” said Nguyen.
As a board member of the National Organization of Vietnamese American Leaders of Greater Washington (NOVAL-DC), Nguyen oversees logistics, marketing, entertainment, layout design and more as pageant director for Miss VietFest, a scholarship pageant that aims to empower young Vietnamese women.
The annual two-day VietFest celebration highlights Vietnamese culture and takes place Aug. 16 and 17 at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Va.
During Miss VietFest, contestants compete in an evening gown, traditional ao dai and Vietnamese proverb section. Contestants choose a proverb and discuss it with family and friends. On stage, they discuss the proverb to educate and connect with the audience.
Another initiative Nguyen works on is a charity that provides aid to disadvantaged children in Vietnam. Every February, she helps organize the Children Vietnam Charity Date Auction. Last year, they raised more than $10,000 at the event.
Personal growth
Being called into the top 15 of the Miss United States pageant was Nguyen’s proudest moment.
“I didn’t expect that. In my mind I visualized I would, but I couldn’t believe it was happening … I felt proud of myself,” she said. “It’s great because it showed growth. I knew my mental mindset changed as I continued to keep on.”
Nguyen doesn’t see being in a pageant as competing against other people, but rather competing against her own self.
“What surprised me is how much I’ve changed as a person from the first time I competed, to who I am today. I feel like there are a lot of struggles and it can be very difficult emotionally. It is really a competition about yourself. There’s no point in comparing yourself to others,” she said.
Nguyen said she didn’t expect to meet such amazing women during her pageant journey. She is collaborating with two of the women during Miss VietFest. Ms. Maryland United States will be giving the participants a modeling workshop and Ms. Fairfax County United States will be providing a public speaking workshop.
She added that there is no jealousy in the competition and it is more about being inspired by others.
“You will meet people who will change your life and sometimes change you in a different direction,” Nguyen said. “All the women are incredible. Some are authors, some own multiple business. We all want each other succeed. It’s amazing when you meet really amazing inspiring people it just makes you want to be better.”
Another one of Nguyen’s most memorable moments came during last year’s Miss VietFest.
“After the pageant concluded, I saw all the winners in front of the stage … They all lined up taking pictures and I felt so satisfied. I could not believe I pulled off putting together this pageant.”
She continued, “My contestants were so beautiful. I wanted all of them to win. I started to cry. All of them huddled around me and I was so proud. We all started to cry on stage. It was a genuinely beautiful moment to see the contestants do so well and to be such handle everything with grace.”
Humble beginnings
Nguyen said her father moved to the U.S. as a result of the Vietnam War and spent 12 years building a foundation for her family. Because of the hard work her family put into living in the U.S., initially, her parents didn’t understand why Nguyen would invest money in pageants when they payback was not always monetary.
But for Nguyen, personal development has been well worth it.
“I’ve become more confident in myself and stand strong in a lot of situations when it’s not easy,” she said. She added that overtime her parents have been more supportive of her decision to compete and are proud of her.
In the coming months, Nguyen will continue promoting her social platform and plans to take everything one day at a time.
Though she’s not yet sure if she will compete in Miss United States again, Nguyen is grateful that she entered the pageant as Ms. Wyoming, offering this advice:
“You miss 100 percent of the shot you don’t take. I nearly passed up the opportunity to be Ms. Wyoming because I didn’t think I would have time (and) I didn’t think I could do it. Take all the chances you’re given, be yourself and have fun.”
VietFest is Aug. 16 to 17 and more information about the festival can be found at vietfest.org . Elizabeth Nguyen is available for appearances as Ms. Wyoming.
