Miss Chinese International Pageant

Template:Template other Miss Chinese International Pageant (Template:Lang-zh, formerly 國際華裔小姐競選), or MCI (Template:Lang-zh) for short, is an annual international beauty pageant, organized and broadcast by TVB, a network television station in Hong Kong. It was established in 1988 and the Chinese name of the pageant was rebranded in 2007.

The current Miss Chinese International is Miss Hong Kong 2018 winner Hera Chan, who was crowned at the Miss Chinese International Pageant 2019.

The 31st Miss Chinese International Pageant of 2020, originally scheduled to take place February 2020, was postponed to 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Composition

• Logo of Miss Chinese International Pageant 2007 with the new Chinese title of the pageant.
  Logo of Miss Chinese International Pageant 2007 with the new Chinese title of the pageant.
• Logo of Miss Chinese International Pageant 2006 with the old Chinese title of the pageant.
  Logo of Miss Chinese International Pageant 2006 with the old Chinese title of the pageant.

At its inception in 1988, in what was formerly British Hong Kong, delegates were either winners or runners-up of regional Chinese beauty pageants around the world excluding the country of China, as originally, this was a pageant for Chinese delegates from overseas. In 2007, pageant organizers altered the entry requirements to include delegates representing Mainland China. All delegates at the time of the pageant are between the ages at least of 17 and 25, with the upper age limit expanded to 27 in 2012. The delegates must be of at least partial Chinese descent.

In 2009, a record number of 11 delegates came from Mainland China, more than one-third of the total contestant count. The number of China delegates has since decreased, with the 2013 pageant having only one Mainland Chinese delegate, representing Foshan.

Chinese name change

Starting in 2007, the pageant allowed mainland Chinese participants, and the Chinese name of the pageant changed from 國際華裔小姐競選 (Cantonese: Gwokjai Wayeui Siuje Gingsyun; Mandarin: Guójì huáyì xiǎojiě jìngxuǎn), which literally translated to "Miss International of Chinese Descent Pageant" to 國際中華小姐競選 (Cantonese: Gwokjai Jungwa Siuje Gingsyun (Mandarin: Guójì zhōnghuá xiǎojiě jìngxuǎn) to reflect the change, matching the English pageant title of Miss Chinese International Pageant.

Participating regions

Africa

• Johannesburg, South Africa (1989; 1992–1997; 2003; 2006–2007; 2016–2017)

The Americas

North America

• Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1988–1996, 1998–2005, 2007–2008)
• Chicago, United States (1989–2007, 2009–2015, 2019)
• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (1988–1993)
• Honolulu, United States (1995; 1997; 1999; 2001–2002; 2018–present)
• Los Angeles, United States (1993–2005; 2013–present)
• Montreal, Quebec, Canada (1988–present)
• New York City, United States (1993–present)
• San Francisco, United States (1988–2010; 2014–2015; 2017-present)
• Scarborough, Ontario, Canada (1988, 1991)
• Seattle, United States (1988–2010; 2013–2015)
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1988–present)
• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (1988–present)
• Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (1989–1994)

South America

• Lima, Peru (2003–2006)

Europe

• Amsterdam, Netherlands (2002–2010)
• Frankfurt, Germany (2005)
• The Hague, Netherlands (2002)
• London, England (1988-1991; 1996–2000; 2012; 2019)
• Paris, France (2008)
• Rotterdam, Netherlands (2007)
• Tübingen, Germany (2009)

Asia

• Bangkok, Thailand (1991–1998; 2000–2008; 2010–2017; 2019)
• Beijing, China (2009-2012)
• Brunei (1993)
• Chongqing, China (2008–2009)
• Dalian, Liaoning, China (2012)
• Foshan, Guangdong, China (2007–2010; 2013–2015; 2017-present)
• Guangdong, China (2007–2012)
• Guangxi, China (2007)
• Hangzhou, China (2008-2009)
• Harbin, China (2009)
• Heilongjiang, China (2009)
• Hong Kong (1988–present)
• Jiangsu, China (2015)
• Ipoh, Malaysia (1993)
• Jilin, China (2009)
• Johor State, Malaysia (1991)
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1995–present)
• Laos (2018–present)
• Macau (1988–1998; 2009–2010)
• Manila, Philippines (1988–1994; 2000–2013; 2017–2018)
• Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (2009; 2016)
• Nanning, China (2007)
• Penang, Malaysia (1989–1992)
• Quezon City, Philippines (1994)
• Singapore (1988–present)
• Taipei, Chinese Taipei (1988–2006)
• Wuhan, Hubei, China (2009)
• Zhengzhou, Henan, China (2009-2012)

Oceania

• Auckland, New Zealand (1991-2017)
• Brisbane, Australia (1988–2005; 2019)
• Christchurch, New Zealand (1993)
• Hastings, New Zealand (1989-1991)
• Melbourne, Australia (1988–present)
• Sydney, Australia (1988–present)
• Tahiti, French Polynesia (1988–2010; 2018–present)

Pageant timeframe

The first two pageants (1988 & 1989) were held in the fourth quarter of the calendar year. However, in 1990, TVB decided to shift the pageant date to the beginning of the year to coincide with Lunar New Year. But since Miss Chinese International Pageant 1989 was not held until mid-December, the 3rd Miss Chinese International Pageant came early 1991 with no pageant being held in 1990. Since then, the pageant was held late January or early February of every year.

In 2010, the pageant reverted to being held in November, delaying the 22nd Miss Chinese International Pageant by almost 10 months. Therefore, Christine Kuo, Miss Chinese International 2009 is the longest serving titleholder, having served 658 days from January 17, 2009 to November 5, 2010. The delay of the pageant meant that several regional titleholders from 2009 were not able to enter Miss Chinese International Pageant 2010 as they have already crowned their successors by November 2010, including Miss Hong Kong 2009 Sandy Lau. Miss Hong Kong Pageant 2010 was held in August and Lau's successor, Toby Chan, represented Hong Kong in Miss Chinese International 2010 instead.

One year later, TVB announced that the 23rd Miss Chinese International Pageant would be delayed until January 15, 2012, meaning that there would be no pageant held in 2011. This is the first time since 1990 a pageant would not be held during a calendar year. As with the year before, several regional titleholders from 2010 would not be able to enter Miss Chinese International Pageant 2012 as they have already crowned their successors by the end of 2011. However, the organizers allowed 2010 regional titleholders from Auckland, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver to compete with their 2011 counterparts in Miss Chinese International 2012, marking a first in the pageant's history where two representatives of the same region compete together.

The 31st Miss Chinese International Pageant was originally scheduled to take place on February 15, 2020 in Hong Kong. However, on January 28, 2020, organizer TVB announced that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, for the safety of the delegates, crew, and audience, the pageant would be postponed to the year 2021, with the actual date to be announced.

Results

Delegates representing Canadian cities have won 11 iterations of the competition; with Vancouver winning seven titles (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2016), Toronto three times (1992, 1997 and 2009) and Montreal once (1993).

Delegates from pageant organizer Hong Kong have won four times (1988, 2000, 2014, 2019), and have recorded the most top three finishes with 19.

Delegates representing New York City, USA have won thrice, first in 1999, followed by back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2018.

Major award winners

Year	Date	Winner	1st Runner-Up	2nd Runner-Up	Miss Friendship
1988	Oct 2, 1988	Michele Monique Reis File:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong Kong	Tammy Marie Lee Seattle, USA	Sharon Kwok San Francisco, USA	Tanya Lim Calgary, Canada
1989	Dec 17, 1989	Kit Wong Sydney, Australia	Monica Chan File:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong Kong	Guilhermina Madeira da Silva Pedrugo File:Bandeira do Leal Senado.svg Macau	—
1990	Postponed to February, 1991
1991	Feb 10, 1991	Yen-Thean Leng Singapore	Anita Yuen File:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong Kong	Hazel Cheung Montreal, Canada	Deanna Kay Leung Seattle, USA
1992	Jan 26, 1992	Rosemary Chan Toronto, Canada	Amy Kwok File:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong Kong	Valerie H. Lee San Francisco, United States	[Sherine Seng] Auckland, New Zealand
1993	Jan 10, 1993	Christy Chung Montreal, Canada	Emily Lo File:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong Kong	Elaine Barbara Der Vancouver, Canada	Stephanie Chang Seattle, USA
1994	Jan 23, 1994	Saesim Pornapa Sui Bangkok, Thailand	Diane Wang New York City, USA	I-Man Chao Seattle, USA	Marie Catherine Munoz Manila, Philippines
1995	Jan 22, 1995	Hsiang-Ling Ku Taipei, Taiwan	Darabhorn Bhakdeeratna Bangkok, Thailand	Edna Wei Los Angeles, USA	Gloria Hui Vancouver, Canada
1996	Jan 27, 1996	Siew-Kee Cheng Singapore	Melissa Ng San Francisco, USA	Amy Chung (Dethroned)[a] New York City, USA	Winnie Yeung File:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong Kong
1997	Jan 26, 1997	Monica Lo Toronto, Canada	San San Lee File:Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong Kong	Kulsatri Konjanawann Bangkok, Thailand	Wendy Giam Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1998	Jan 25, 1998	Louisa Luk San Francisco, USA	Lisa Vongthong Bangkok, Thailand	Kalyane Tea Montreal, Canada	May Ling Lai Chicago, USA
1999	Feb 14, 1999	Michelle Ye New York City, USA	Janet Huang Los Angeles, USA	Anne Heung Hong Kong	Mabel Wong Calgary, Canada
2000	Feb 6, 2000	Sonija Kwok Hong Kong	Tiffany Yang Los Angeles, USA	Crystal Pan Vancouver, Canada	Jessie Cheng Melbourne, Australia
2001	Jan 20, 2001	Bernice Liu Vancouver, Canada	Jennifer Huang Montreal, Canada	Vivian Lau Hong Kong	Hsing-Ting Chiang Taipei, Chinese Taipei
2002	Jan 27, 2002	Shirley Zhou Vancouver, Canada	Christie Bartram Toronto, Canada	Angela Foo Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Marjorie Wu Honolulu, USA
2003	Jan 25, 2003	Rachel Tan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Tiffany Lam Hong Kong	Diana Wu Toronto, Canada	Lola Gong Amsterdam, Netherlands
2004	Jan 17, 2004	Linda Chung Vancouver, Canada	Mandy Cho Hong Kong	Carlene Aguilar Manila, Philippines	Mandy Cho Hong Kong
2005	Jan 29, 2005	Leanne Li Vancouver, Canada	Fala Chen New York City, USA	Jessica Young Melbourne, Australia	Jolene Chin Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2006	Jan 21, 2006	Ina Lu Johannesburg, South Africa	Ginney Kanchanawat Bangkok, Thailand	Annabelle Kong Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Annabelle Kong Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2007	Jan 20, 2007	Sarah Song Sydney, Australia	Ivy Lu Johannesburg, South Africa	Sherry Chen Toronto, Canada	Parichat Wisuthiphatt Bangkok, Thailand
2008	Jan 26, 2008	Océane Zhu Paris, France	Kayi Cheung Hong Kong	Aileen Xu Chongqing, China	Delaine Lee Calgary, Canada
2009	Jan 17, 2009	Christine Kuo Toronto, Canada	Skye Chan Hong Kong	Cici Chen Vancouver, Canada	Skye Chan Hong Kong
2010	Nov 5, 2010	Eliza Sam Vancouver, Canada	Belle Theng Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Candy Chang Toronto, Canada	Lu Bai Foshan, China
2011	Postponed to January, 2012
2012	Jan 15, 2012	Kelly Cheung Chicago, USA	Cheryl Wee Singapore,	Lenna Lim Kuala Lumpur,	Ashton Hong Toronto, Canada
2013	Feb 24, 2013	Gloria Tang Vancouver, Canada	Denise Camillia Tan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Carat Cheung Hong Kong	Lauren Weinberger Los Angeles, USA
2014	Jan 26, 2014	Grace Chan Hong Kong	Cindy Zhong Vancouver, Canada	Lucia Ting-Li Lorigiano Montreal, Canada	Mandi Cheung Singapore
2015	Jan 25, 2015	Mandy Chai Sydney,	Veronica Shiu	Catherine Hui New York City,	Christina Jin Auckland,
2016	Jan 23, 2016	Jennifer Coosemans Vancouver, Canada	Mary Chen New York City,	Tiana Luan Sydney,	Alice Wong Los Angeles,
2017	Jan 15, 2017	Stitch Yu New York City,	Serene Lim Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Crystal Fung	Adelaide Lee Johannesburg, South Africa
2018	Feb 3, 2018	Rose Li New York City, United States	Angela Liu Los Angeles, United States	Juliette Louie Hong Kong	Crystal Yang Hawaii, United States
2019	Mar 2, 2019	Hera Chan Hong Kong	Stephanie Wang Hawaii, United States	Gina Wu New York City, United States	Tavee Meesang Bangkok, Thailand

Notes

• a ^ In 1999, Amy Chung was stripped of her title of Miss Chinese International 1996 Second Runner-Up and had her artiste contract with TVB terminated when it was discovered that she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest in USA as she left the country to enter the pageant while on probation stemming from a credit card fraud conviction. Chung had also lied about her academic credentials, claiming to have a Masters Degree from Harvard University when she only has taken a course from Harvard Extension School. The title has yet to be filled since.

Gallery of Winners

• Miss Chinese International 1999 Michelle Ye, New York City, USA
  Miss Chinese International 1999
  Michelle Ye, New York City, USA
• Miss Chinese International 2000 Sonija Kwok, Hong Kong
  Miss Chinese International 2000
  Sonija Kwok, Hong Kong
• Miss Chinese International 2004 Linda Chung, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  Miss Chinese International 2004
  Linda Chung, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Miss Chinese International 2008 Océane Zhu, Paris, France
  Miss Chinese International 2008
  Océane Zhu, Paris, France
• Miss Chinese International 2009 Christine Kuo, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  Miss Chinese International 2009
  Christine Kuo, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Miss Chinese International 2010 Eliza Sam, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  Miss Chinese International 2010
  Eliza Sam, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

External links

• Miss Chinese International Pageant 2017 Official Page