Miss Chinatown

Who has the talent, the grace, and the intellect to become the 2003 Miss Chinatown USA? Each lunar new year, women from throughout the United States come to San Francisco to compete for prizes and scholarships in the annual Miss Chinatown USA Pageant. The winners become good will ambassadors for the Chinese community.

Since its inception in 1958, the Miss Chinatown USA events have been giving young Chinese women from across the country the opportunity to win scholarships and become goodwill ambassadors for the Chinese community. The San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce sponsors their 45th Annual Miss Chinatown, on February 8, 2003 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. All contestants will be staying at the official Miss Chinatown USA Pageant hotel in San Francisco during the two weeks, February 2, 2003 to February 16, 2003, when the rehearsals, pageant, and all other Chinese New Year festivities will be taking place. Deadline for your entry form and all other required enclosures is Thursday, October 31, 2002.

The winners receive cash prizes and various gifts including:

Miss Chinatown Applicant Information
Qualifications

1. You must be a citizen or a permanent resident of the USA
2. You must be of Chinese ancestry, meaning your father must be of Chinese descent
3. You must be single, never married, and never had a marriage annulled. You must have never been a parent.
4. You must be at least 17 years of age and not over 26 at the date of the pageant.
5. You can be a former contestant of Miss Chinatown USA Pageant, but not a title holder.
6. You must be available from February 2, 2003 to February 16, 2003 and participate in all pageant rehearsals, and all other required Chinese New Year activities.
7. You must have a talent presentation for the talent competition phase of the pageant. You must not be or have ever been a "professional" entertainer or model. You are deemed a "professional" if:
   a. Your federal income tax return states your occupation as an entertainer, a model, or singer, etc.
   b. More than half your working time is spent as a performer.
   c. More than half your income is derived from performing as an actress, dancer, or a singer, etc.
   
8. You must be duly sponsored. Sponsorship may be effecuated either before or after you have qualified as a contestant. (Note: Sponsorship Fee is $1,000 USD.)

Submission Information

1. Print of type information on entry form.
2. Sign your entry form. If you are under 18 years of age, signature of parent or guardian is required.
3. Enclose a copy of your birth certificate and/or proof of citizenship or residency.
4. Submit the following:
   a. One (1) 5"x7" Color (glamour headshot) portrait from shoulder-up with light color background. (Note: Pictures will appear in various promotional pieces. Please send photos that are very sharp and clear with no special effects or soft filters.
   b. One (1) full length photo.
   
5. Submit a 100 word autobiography.
6. Have a sponsorship contract completed by your sponsor.
7. The entry form must be received by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce by 5:00pm Thursday, October 31, 2002.
8. Mail your entry form and necessary enclosures to: Chinese Chamber of Commerce, 730 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94108.

Tell us about your experience at the Miss Chinatown Pageant
email us at info@sanfranciscochinatown.com