Officials last week unveiled a new website for the Alex Theatre that includes updated calendar features as well as new guides to local restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
The new website, www.alextheatre.org, will allow users to add events to social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace and receive real-time event listing notifications for events.
Alex Theatre is at 216 N. Brand Blvd.
For more information, call (818) 243-2539.
Miss Asia USA 2008 – 20th Annual Cultural Pageant – Alex Theatre – June 21, 2008
Record heat could not keep an anxious crowd of over 1400 people from filling the Alex Theatre on Saturday night to see who would be crowned Miss Asia USA 2008. Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the premiere pageant for young Asian women in the USA, the Miss Asia USA 2008 Cultural Pageant once again played to another sold out audience. Electricity filled the air as 31 beautiful, intelligent and talented young Asian-American women proudly represented various countries from around the Asian continent. Throughout the show, they dazzled the audience and judges with their eye-popping national costumes, Scala eveningwear, Malibu Girl swimwear and evening gowns as they vied for the coveted title of Miss Asia USA 2008.
After five categories of intense competition, our distinguished panel of judges selected the stunning 26 year old Diane Yoo representing Korea to be the Queen. Inspired by her interest in diverse cultures and deeply held belief in cross-cultural unity, Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the prestigious Baylor University and also attended the Mayo Hill School of Modeling. She calls Houston, Texas home, where she is Vice-President of Business Development of JDDA Concessions Management at the Houston Intercontinental Airport. Because she believes so strongly in honoring her civic and social responsibilities, Diane dedicates herself to assisting her others through charitable work and political involvement. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to inspire and organize others to serve with her. Appointed as the Asian Community Liaison and Special Projects Director by the Houston City Council, Diane successfully organized numerous volunteer and fundraising efforts within the Korean community as well as with members of many other minority communities. She earned special honors from the Texas House of Representatives and the Houston City Council for her dedication and contributions to the Asian and other minority communities. Diane also was given recognition for her efforts to assist victims of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster working with Houston Mayor Bill White’s Command Center. Expanding her political involvement on a national level, Diane contributed towards a draft legislative bill initiated by Congressman Mike Honda of California to provide disaster relief services affecting the Asian community nationally. Currently she is a representative for the Asian American Giving Circle, a founding member of Korean Young Professionals, and a Board Member of the Korean Chamber of Commerce. When she finally had a chance to catch her breath after the pageant, Diane said; “Being crowned Miss Asia USA 2008 means so much to me because this incredible pageant represents so much that I believe in about unifying our various cultures. To serve as the Ambassador of Culture and Goodwill among all the Asian communities is an honor and welcome responsibility, and I truly look forward to fulfilling it with all my heart and dedication.” In keeping with her commitment to fulfilling this responsibility, Diane’s future plans include relocating to Los Angeles.
“The title Miss Asia USA is earned through dedication, hard work and the demonstration of self-confidence, intelligence, beauty and elegance,” according to Virgelia Villegas, President of Virgelia Productions, Inc and the producer and director of Miss Asia USA. Diane Yoo showed the judges and the audience that she has all of those qualities in abundance. We are proud to have her representing the mission of Miss Asia USA to unite the communities of the 58 countries of the Asian continent because has already proven to be an outstanding role model for young Asian women in America. Her total commitment was what impressed me the most. Even though she lives in Houston, she never missed a rehearsal or pre-pageant event. It takes that kind of dedication to earn the crown. I look forward to introducing her to all the Asian communities this coming year.”
Virgelia went on to say, “I am extremely pleased and proud of all of our wonderful delegates and I offer them my sincerest gratitude for their participation and hard work. Our 20th Anniversary was unforgettable, and we couldn’t have done it without them. The same is true for our generous sponsors, our staff and our fantastic hosts, Pilar Lastra and Hector Luis Bustamante.”
Virgelia also announced the Queen’s Court and the winners of the special recognition awards:
Brittany Chen – Miss Taiwan – 1st Runner-up
Linda Tram Nguyen – Miss Vietnam – 2nd Runner-up
Liane Valenzuela – Miss Philippines – 3rd Runner-up
Tamanno Kamiljanova – Miss Uzbekistan – 4th Runner-up
Best National Costume – Diane Yoo – Miss Korea
Miss Photogenic – Chanita Thinrat – Miss Thailand
Miss Congeniality – Ouch Chourp – Miss Cambodia
Miss Popularity – Brittany Chen – Miss Taiwan
Miss Friendship – Sophia Garsevanian – Miss Armenia
Award of Courage – Ayako Kosuge – Miss Japan
The newly crowned Miss Asia USA 2008 has already received an official invitation from the Consul General for the Republic of Korea to participate in a cultural tour of her country of heritage. Details of the official visit have not yet been finalized and will be made available in the near future.
About Miss Asia USA
Miss Asia USA, Miss Teen Asia USA and Mrs. Asia USA Pageants are the premiere Cultural Pageants presenting Asian women in the United States who trace their ancestry to the fifty-eight countries considered part of the Asian continent. The pageants offer the delegates the unique opportunity to display the cultural beauty and the sociability of the country of their heritage. Through this celebration of Beauty, Culture, Elegance and Talent Virgelia Productions, Inc aims to unite the fifty- eight countries in the Asian continent. Asian women from all over the United States gather in the name of friendly competition to vie for these coveted titles Miss Asia USA, Miss Teen Asia USA and Mrs. Asia USA. The Pageant promotes leadership, personal growth; strengthens cultural values, camaraderie and unity in diversity. Each Delegate will not only epitomize beauty and intelligence, but reflect the unity and sociability of her country. The Pageants display the rich ethnic diversity of our society and gives us a glimpse into the multitudes of cultures that surround us today. The lavish parade of the National Costumes, the grace and elegance of the Evening Gown competition and the sensational Swimsuit Competition all combine to create an atmosphere of excitement that surpasses the audience’s expectations time and time again.
26-year-old who represented Korea wins the 20th annual Miss Asia pageant at the Alex.
“It’s unity among the 58 different countries in the Asian continent,” said Virgelia Villegas, president of Virgelia Productions, which produces the event.
Jessica Mogi, a 17-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga who was representing Indonesia in the contest, said the pageant gives contestants a chance to develop their poise and public speaking skills, as well as interact with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
“You actually learn about different cultures,” she said.
The national costume parade was a sea of ensembles of every imaginable color, shape and style.
Diane Yoo, who was named the winner of the 2008 Miss Asia USA contest at the end of the night, started the evening off strong by winning the Best in National Costume award.
The 26-year-old Yoo, who hails from Texas and represented Korea in the show, took the stage wearing a traditional dress with an enormously full layered skirt, a wide-brimmed hat perched at a dramatic angle on her head and waving two bright pink fans at her sides.
On Friday, each contestant had exhibited her national costume for judges and also had one minute to provide a verbal description of what she was wearing.
On Saturday night, each contestant modeled in a bikini and evening gown before the judges narrowed the pool to 10 finalists.
For her evening gown, Yoo wore a shimmering blue dress that had a peacock-like train with bright blue feathers.
Seventeen-year-old Brittany Chen, who was representing Taiwan and would later be named first runner-up, wore a glimmering light blue and silver gown.
The 10 finalists were then narrowed down to five based on their answers to a variety of questions. Some of those questions got at different aspects of how the women wove their Asian cultural values into their daily lives.
The five finalists were narrowed to one winner based on their answers to the following question: If your culture did not allow you to participate in beauty pageants, would you participate anyway, and why?
Liane Valenzuela, 21, representing the Philippines, said that she would, because cultures had to adapt and change.
“I believe culture is growth,” she said.
Linda Tram Nguyen, 24, who represented Vietnam, said she would definitely participate.
“It makes us independent and strong, which young Asian women are today,” she said.
Yoo was crowned queen of the pageant after answering simply that she would be disheartened if she wasn’t able to participate and represent her culture.
All the contestants received $8,000 scholarships to the James Albert School of Cosmetology, as well as several outfits.
“The Untouchables” kicks off the series tonight with a VIP reception at 6, catered by Damon’s Steak House. The series is co-sponsored by the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn. and Massage Envy Spa.
“We’re very, very excited about it,” said Helen McDonagh, owner of Massage Envy Spa and merchants association board member. “It’s important the first film is a success to create momentum so the rest of the season is a success.”
The merchants association started talking in the spring about doing events that bring the public to downtown Glendale mid-week during the summer, she said.
“With the Americana opening, we want some focus on the downtown area,” McDonagh said.
Proceeds from the first film will go to the Glendale Police Foundation’s Community Police Partnerships Unit to raise money for equipment to help patrol the downtown area in a more environmentally friendly way with bicycles and Segway self-balancing scooters, McDonagh said
“As merchants, we feel that having a police presence in the downtown area will help keep it safe,” she said. “And bicycles and Segways make them more accessible to the area instead of patrol cars.”
By getting the police out of their vehicles, the merchants are hoping the alternative transportation will save on gasoline and the environment and keep police officers physically fit, McDonagh said.
“I think it is a blessing, truly, for the association to be willing to do that, and we are very, very grateful as a [community policing] unit, and as the Police Department,” Glendale Police Lt. Gary Montecuollo said of the Community Services Bureau, which oversees the downtown policing efforts. “The partnership is what makes community policing work.”
The next film in the series, “American Graffiti” on July 30, will raise funds for Glendale Kiwanis Club’s Ducks 4 Kids program and Glendale Arts, a new organization that runs the Alex Theatre and brings all the city’s arts organizations under one umbrella, McDonagh said.
The film series was a way the Alex Theatre could partner with the merchants association, said Elissa Glickman, director of marketing and resource development for the Alex Theatre.
“We saw this as a good way to partner with the local businesses, as well as raise some seed money for the new organization,” she said.
The merchants association has been trying to use events such as this to market the mid-Brand business district, Glickman said.
The Downtown Dash, summer concerts and other events help to bring people back to the boulevard and shows off its major anchor, the Alex Theatre, she added.
“And it’s a way to give back to the charities that give back to our community,” she said.
“All the charities work hard and do great work in the community, but these are some of the charities we work closely with on an ongoing basis.”
“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” on Aug. 20 will benefit Glendale Healthy Kids and the Glendale Arts program, McDonagh said.
Proceeds from “The Great Race” on Sept. 17 will benefit the Glendale’s Relay for Life and Glendale Arts, she said.
The merchants association and Massage Envy Spa are raising $10,000 through sponsorships to pay for the film rental, Alex rental and projectionist, so that all proceeds from ticket sales will go to the causes, McDonagh said.
Sponsors are still needed to donate money, and in exchange the merchants association will give them exposure by projecting slides advertising their businesses on the screen before the movie starts, McDonagh said.
And Massage Envy Spa is offering everyone who buys a VIP ticket a 30-minute massage gift card, she said.
For more information on sponsorships, call McDonagh at (323) 620-2835.