International pageant crowns winners
Two different cultures took the crown in the Mr. and Miss International Pageant on Friday night.
The winners of the pageant were Sandra Molina, Miss Mexico, and Hironori Saeki, Mr. Japan.
International and domestic students alike crowded the TSC auditorium on Friday night to watch the annual pageant, the concluding event of Diversity Week.
The event was judged by Paula Alger, the director of global enrichment in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Doug Fiefia, the incumbent Mr. USU, Mary Hubbard, the vice provost of global engagement, Carlos Munoz, the coordinator of international student recruitment and Michelle Bogdan, the director of the Access and Diversity Center.
Both contestants said they were shocked to hear they had won the competition.
“Everybody did great. I think everybody won today,” Saeki said. “They had a really amazing stuff that I don’t have. We share together to watch together and enjoy it.”
Together, the contestants showed the audience different pieces of culture from around the world. Some sang cultural songs and some performed dances from their countries.
Molina performed a Spanish court dance to the traditional song “La Negra.”
Bogdan asked Molina what she would change about her country if she had the chance.
“I would improve the educational quality that they have,” Molina said. “Hispanics in Mexico have a lot of poverty, and they have to find their own way to pay for school. I would give them some way to support and raise funds to improve their educational equality.”
Molina said being Miss International is important to her because she can represent her country in a way most students don’t get a chance to see.
“You let other people recognize what your heritage is,” she said. “They might have just heard the name, but not what it actually represented.”
When asked why he should be Mr. International, Saeki expressed his sociability and his love for interacting with students at USU.
The pageant contained 11 contestants from Japan, China, Somolia, Mexico, Qatar, India and Taiwan, according to Geraldine De La Mota, the cultural chair of the International Student Council.
De La Mota said an email with details about the pageant was sent out in advance, inviting the international community to participate in the pageant. Each contestant performed a routine of cultural importance, such as a song or a dance. Many contestants spoke of the friendly culture of USU.
“I come from Taiwan. My country taught me everyone should come from Taiwan should have hospitality,” said Chiao Hung, Miss Taiwan. “Everyone wants to show compassion to everybody. People here are just as friendly as in my country.”
Others spoke of their home, sharing their culture and worlds with other people.
“I think what knowledge people lack is the beauty,” said Tawahir Ahmed, Miss Somolia. “People think they are poor. In reality, Somalia is a country that prospers not just in money but food and tradition. Everything about Somalia is beautiful. It’s in the Horn of Africa, so it’s by the Red Sea and a lot of Arab countries. It shares a mix of cultures.”
Contestants applauded USU for its range of cultural classes and its international community. Second-runner up Jason Zhang said USU gets students involved in international clubs and offers a range of international classes.
“You can get the same thing traveling around a country that you can get here,” Zhang said. “USU is a world.”
This pageant was De La Mota’s first time planning the annual event. Last year the pageant was planned by Angie Batista, the vice president of the International Student Council.
“We like to not only celebrate, but teach what is in the world besides here,” De La Mota said. “You can get involved with different countries without leaving your home. You can get to know more people and live different experiences.”
– marissa.shields@aggiemail.usu.edu