Miss Chinese International Pageant
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Miss Chinese International Pageant (Chinese: before 2007: 國際華裔小姐競選, 2007 onwards: 國際中華小姐競選) or MCI (Chinese: 華姐) for short, is an annual beauty pageant sponsored and aired by Television Broadcasts Limited (commonly known as "TVB"), a leading television station in Hong Kong.
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[edit] Miss Chinese International 2008
Miss Chinese International 2008, the 20th Miss Chinese International pageant will be held in Foshan, China on January 26, 2008. Outgoing titleholder, Sarah Song of Sydney, Australia will crown the new winner at the end of the two and a half hour show.
[edit] Format & name change
Starting in 2007, the pageant will allow mainland Chinese participants, and the Chinese name of the pageant changed from 國際華裔小姐競選 to 國際中華小姐競選, while the English name remains Miss Chinese International Pageant.
[edit] Composition
The pageant, generally held in January or February, typically features between 19 and 21 contestants (though as many as 27 in 1993 and as few as 16 in 2006 have competed), aged at least 17 and no more than 25 years. Contestants are women born in China or of Chinese descent living abroad; each contestant represents a city and/or nation of which she is a resident in the pageant.
Most participants hail from cities with large Chinese populations; more than one contestant has represented each of the following cities, arranged by continent:
- Africa: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Asia: Hong Kong; Singapore; Taipei, Taiwan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand; Nanning, Guangxi, China; Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, China (delegate come from Foshan for year 2007).
- Europe: London, England; Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Frankfurt, Germany
- North America: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, United States of America; Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal, Canada
- Oceania: Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Tahiti, French Polynesia
- South America: Lima, Peru
[edit] Results
Contestants representing Canadian cities have won 7 of the 20 iterations of the competition; notably, women representing Vancouver have won four titles (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005).
Contestants from Hong Kong have won the pageant twice, but women representing the administrative region have recorded the most top three finishes, 12 (two wins, eight runner-up finishes, two second-runner-up finishes).
[edit] List of winners
| Year | Winner | City and nation represented |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Michele Monique Reis 李嘉欣 |  Hong Kong |
| 1989 | Kit Wong 黄美潔 |  Sydney, Australia |
| 1991 | Leng Yen-Thean 凌緣庭 |  Singapore |
| 1992 | Rosemary Chan 陳曼莉 |  Toronto, Canada |
| 1993 | Christy Chung 鍾麗緹 | Montreal, Canada |
| 1994 | Saesim Pornapa Sui 沈玉翎 |  Bangkok, Thailand |
| 1995 | Ku Hsiang-Ling 谷祥鈴 |  Taipei, Republic of China |
| 1996 | Cheng Siew-Kee 鍾秀枝 | Singapore |
| 1997 | Monica Sharon Lo 盧淑儀 | Toronto, Canada |
| 1998 | Louisa Luk 陸依薩 |  San Francisco, United States |
| 1999 | Michelle Ye 葉璇 | New York, United States |
| 2000 | Sonija Kwok 郭羡妮 |  Hong Kong, China |
| 2001 | Bernice Liu 廖碧兒 | Vancouver, Canada |
| 2002 | Shirley Zhou 周雪 | Vancouver, Canada |
| 2003 | Rachel Tan 陳泳錦 |  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| 2004 | Linda Chung 鍾嘉欣 | Vancouver, Canada |
| 2005 | Leanne Li 李亞男 | Vancouver, Canada |
| 2006 | Ina Lu 呂怡慧 |  Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 2007 | Sarah Song 宋熙年 | Sydney, Australia |
| 2008 | Oceane Zhu 朱璇 |  Paris, France |
[edit] Special Awards
1988:
- Miss Photogenic: Michelle Reis ( Hong Kong )
1989:
- Miss Oriental Charm: Kit Wong ( Sydney )
- Brightest Smile: Kit Wong ( Sydney )
1991:
- Miss Oriential Charm: Ann Ma ( Edmonton )
- Miss Charm: Ann Ma ( Edmonton )
1992:
- Miss Oriental Charm: Rosemary Chan ( Toronto )
- Best Ethnic Dress: Amy Kwok ( Hong Kong )
- Media's Favorite: Rosemary Chan ( Toronto )
1993:
- Miss Handsome Looking: Christy Chung ( Montréal )
1994:
- Miss Cool & Charming: Saesim Pornapa ( Bangkok )
1995:
- Best in Swimsuit: Ku Hsiang Lin ( Taipei )
1996:
- Miss Glamour: Pindogmai Kaimock ( Bangkok )
1997:
- Miss Oriental Charm: Hannah Toh ( Singapore )
1998:
- Miss Motherland: Louisa Luk ( San Francisco )
- Best Costume: Lisa Wong ( Bangkok )
1999:
- Miss Classic Beauty: Michelle Ye ( New York )
2000:
- Miss Internet Popularity: Sonija Kwok ( Hong Kong )
- Miss Vegas Gorgeous: Sonija Kwok ( Hong Kong )
2001:
- Miss Internet Popularity: Mandy Chen ( Brisbane )
- Miss Talent: Bernice Liu ( Vancouver )
- Miss Cosmopolitan: Bernice Liu { Vancouver }
2002:
- Miss Svelte Beauty: Christie Bartram ( Toronto )
- Miss Modern China: Shirley Yeung ( Hong Kong )
- Miss Beauty and The Beast: Shirley Zhou ( Vancouver )
2003:
- Miss Best Complexion: Kulaya Duangmanee ( Bangkok )
- Miss Vitality: Grace Li ( Manila )
2004:
- Miss Radiant Smile: Carlene Aguilar ( Manila )
2005:
- Miss Gorgeous: Kate Tsui ( Hong Kong )
2006:
- Miss Young: Ginney Kanchanawat ( Bangkok )
- Ceramic Culture Ambassador: Tracy Ip ( Hong Kong )
2007:
- Audience Favorite Award: Sirena Wang ( New York )
- International Charm Award: Carol Li ( Pearl River )
- Miss Chinese Culture: Sarah Song ( Sydney )
2008:
- Most Courageous: Lisa Li ( Auckland )
- Miss Young: Oceane Zhu ( Paris )
[edit] Miss Friendship Titleholders
1988: Tanya Lim ( Calgary )
1991: Deanna Leung ( Seattle )
1992: Sherine Seng ( Auckland )
1993: Chang Nien-Chien ( Seattle )
1994: Mui Lok-Sze ( Manilla )
1995: Gloria Hui ( Vancouver )
1996: Winnie Yeung ( Hong Kong )
1997: Wendy Giam ( Kuala Lumpur )
1998: Lai May-Ling ( Chicago )
1999: Mabel Wong ( Calgary )
2000: Jessie Cheng ( Melbourne )
2001: Chiang Hsing-Ting ( Taipei )
2002: Marjorie Wu ( Hawaii )
2003: Lola Gong ( Amsterdam )
2004: Mandy Cho ( Hong Kong )
2005: Jolene Chin ( Kuala Lumpur )
2006: Annabelle Kong ( Kuala Lumpur )
2007: Parichat Wisuthiphatt ( Bangkok )
2008: Delaine Lee ( Calgary )
[edit] Trivia/Records
- Hong Kong has the most contestants in the top 3. From 1988-2008, Hong Kong has had 2 winners, 8 first runner-ups, and 2 second runner-up finishes.
- Vancouver made history when they took 4 winner's crowns in the last 5 years including back-to-back wins in 2001 and 2002; as well as in 2004 and 2005; more interestingly, in 2001, 2004, and 2005, the three winners studied at the University of British Columbia. They are the only city to win back to back.
- Bangkok has one of the longest streak of semifinalists and finalists. The representatives from 1991-1998 all made it to the top 12. They also had 1 winner, 2 first runner-ups, and 1 second runner-up.
- Hong Kong has the longest streak of semifinalists and finalists. From 1988 to 2005, two made the top 10, four made the top 5, two 2nd runner ups, seven first runner ups, and two winners.
- Only 4 winners have garnered 3 awards including the crown. They are: Kit Wong (1989), Rosemary Chan (1992), Sonija Kwok (2000), and Bernice Liu (2001). No titleholder has taken 4 or more awards.
- The city with the most Miss Friendship titles is Calgary and Kuala Lumpur with 3 wins. Oddly, Calgary's three titles have come roughly 10 years apart from each other. (Lim in 1988, Wong in 1999, Lee in 2008)
- It is also notable that no Miss Friendship has ever gone on to win the pageant. The closest was Mandy Cho of Hong Kong in 2004, finishing as the first runner-up.
- The city with the most awards and special awards is Hong Kong with 9 awards
- Two families of sisters have competed at the pageant. The first family were The Pedruco Sisters. Out of the four sisters, all competed at the Miss Macau pageant. All have won the Miss Macau pageant crown and represented the city of Macau at the international pageant. The oldest sister, Guilhermina Madeira da Silva Pedruco was 2nd runner up at the 1989 pageant. The second sister to compete in the competition was the third sister, Isabella Madeira da Silva Pedruco, who did not place. The second sister, Geraldina Madeira da Silva Pedruco competed in 1996 and was also unplaced. The last sister was Guiomar da Silva Pedruco, surprisingly was her sister's Miss Macau successor. She competed at Miss Chinese International 1997, where she made the top 5. They are the only family of 3 or more sisters to compete at Miss World and Miss Chinese International. This record has not been broken till this day.
- The second pair of sisters was the Lu family. Both came from Johannesburg, and both competed at the Miss Chinese South Africa 2005 pageant. The older sister, Ina Lu finished 1st and her sister, Ivy Lu finished second. Both got the chance to represent Johannesburg at the international pageant as Miss Chinese South Africa is held every two years. Ina went on to win the Miss Chinese International 2006 title, and her sister took 1st runner up at Miss Chinese International 2007. They are the highest placing pair of sisters at the pageant.
[edit] Post-pageant careers
Many pageant participants have parlayed their appearances into roles on programs produced by TVB. Winners who have appeared on the network include:-
- Michelle Ye ( New York, 1999 )
- Sonija Kwok ( Hong Kong, 2000 )
- Bernice Liu ( Vancouver, 2001 )
- Linda Chung ( Vancouver, 2004 )
- Leanne Li ( Vancouver, 2005 )
- Sarah Song (Sydney, 2007 )
Other delegates have also been signed to TVB as contract artists. Notable ones include:-
- Tracey Wong (Vancouver, 1995 )
- Angie Cheung ( Ipoh, 1993 semifinalist )
- Angela Tong ( Montreal, 1995 semifinalist ), winner of Best Supporting Actress at the TVB Anniversary Awards in 2005
- Melissa Ng ( San Francisco, 1996 First Runner-Up )
- Mandy Cho ( Hong Kong, 2004 First Runner-Up )
- Vivien Yeo ( Kuala Lumpur, 2004 Top 5 Finalist )
- Fala Chen ( New York, 2005 First Runner-Up )
Having gained wide public exposure through their pageant participation, two former winners have maintained modeling, filming, and acting careers in Hong Kong:
- Michelle Reis ( Hong Kong, 1988 )
- Christy Chung ( Montreal, 1993 )
[edit] Awards & acknowledgements
- TVB Anniversary Awards 2006 - Best Promotional Clip 最佳宣傳片
- ( Eternal Beauty Version 絕色篇 )
[edit] See also
- Miss Chinatown USA
- Miss Chinese (Vancouver) Pageant
- Miss Chinese New York Pageant
- Miss Chinese Toronto Pageant
- Miss Chinese Seattle Pageant
- Miss Hong Kong Pageant
- Category:Miss Chinese International contestants
[edit] External links
- Miss Chinese International Pageant 2007 Official Page
- Miss Chinese International Pageant 2006 Official Page
- Miss Chinese International Pageant 2005 Official Page
- Charmpress Miss Chinese International Coverage 2007
- Miss Hong Kong Beauties homepage
- Pageant Beauties 2007 MCI Coverage
- Year 2007 crowning moment
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