Seeking Beauty and the Best

December 15, 2006
By Susan Sunderland

Eric Chandler likes to tell beauty title holders "It's a silly crown. It's a silly banner." Not that he demeans the significance of winning a beauty contest. It's his way of putting it into perspective once someone is judged as the most beautiful person in the state. Whether it's Miss Hawaii USA, Miss Hawaii Teen USA or Miss Universe, Chandler says a title really is a path to self-discovery and a commitment to one's community. Takeo Kobayashi, co-producer of the Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Hawaii Teen USA pageants, agrees. As Chandler and Kobayashi embark on their 10th anniversary of directing regional pageants, they reflect on society's definition of beauty and how it has evolved over the ages. Takeo - known professionally by his first name - is an artist and designer. His company 2Couture, a partnership with Chandler, represents clients in Hawaii, on the Mainland and aboard. Takeo's gowns grace actresses such as Jennifer Love Hewitt, Elizabeth Lindsey and Kelly Hu, to our town's social elite. Tokyo-born Takeo is considered one of the top fashion designers in the United States. Chandler's Hawaiian name, Kamakahia`ai, means "the eyes that see beauty." Formerly from Washington state, he made Hawaii his home more than 20 years ago. He attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo and continued his education at Hawaii Pacific University. At 2Couture, he and Takeo successfully merge retail design projects with pageant production as directors of Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Hawaii Teen USA. The Miss Hawaii USA contest is a preliminary to the Miss USA national competition, which leads to Miss Universe, the world cup of beauty. Business tycoon Donald Trump owns the Miss Universe system that consists of the Miss Teen USA, Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. "He's our boss," Chandler says. "We have a book that's an inch-and-a-half thick of rules governing our management of the Hawaii program." Like The Donald, it's all serious business and requires adherence to the highest standards of presentation and pageantry. This year it culminates Sunday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. at the Sheraton Waikiki ballroom. Fifteen Miss Hawaii USA and 15 Miss Hawaii Teen USA contestants will compete for the honor of representing our state in national pageants. The evening is a glamorous showcase of fashion modeling, music, and staging of swimsuit, evening gown and interview segments. Chandler and Dr. Angela Pratt are hosts for the program. The Iwalani School of Dance and singer Jordan Segundo will entertain. Also sharing the spotlight are reigning Miss Hawaii USA Radasha Ho'ohuli and Miss Hawaii Teen USA Hannah Thomas. As if that isn't enough beauty to grace the stage, there will be a special introduction to former Miss Hawaii USA titleholders. Adding dazzle to the occasion will be Jennifer Fairbank (2005), Justine Michioka (2004), Alicia Michioka (2003), Juliet Lighter (2002), Nadine Tanega Hogan (1994), Lyn Vesnefski (1995), Zoe Ann Roach (1983), Judi Anderson (1978) and Elithe Aguiar (1965), among others. It's a fitting tribute because Hawaii's representatives to Miss USA have been among the most popular and successful participants. There have been four top winners: Marcel Wilson (1962), Tanya Wilson (1972), Judi Anderson (1978), who was first runner-up at Miss Universe, and Brook Lee (1997), who went on to win Miss Universe. Hawaii has placed in the Miss USA finals seven times and in the semi-finals 18 times. Kelly Hu won Miss Teen USA in 1985. As Alicia Michioka can attest, Hawaii's representative always gets a lot of attention and interest at the national pageant, not only from the media but from the other contestants as well. There's something intriguing about the beauty who hails from exotic Hawaii. The Kapaa (Kauai) High School graduate of Japanese-Caucasian ancestry did well as a semi-final-ist in the 2003 Miss USA pageant. In a rare occurrence, Alicia passed on her Miss Hawaii USA crown to her sister, Justine Michioka, the following year. "Getting involved in pageants is a good way to step outside of your comfort zone," Alicia says. She has been competing for beauty titles since age 13. Alicia today is a mother and self-employed executive. She runs a production company and is executive regional vice president for Arbonne International skincare cosmetics. Beauty pageant experience "allows you to discover yourself," Hogan says. "My parents always emphasized the importance of being productive and authentic, as well as having meaningful relationships with other people." Training with Takeo and Chandler in past contests, Hogan says they "give you a vision that you don't even have yourself." Today, Hogan is the crowning glory of a family that includes hotelier-husband Gary Hogan and two sons, ages 2 and 4. Beauty titleholders become the face of the community. Roach will be remembered not only as Miss Hawaii USA 1985, but as the face that launched a million vacations to our Islands. She was Hawaii's poster girl in the 1980s and 1990s, following the fame of Rose Marie Alvaro years before. Today, Roach is a Hawaiian Airlines commercial transport pilot with more than 8,000 hours of flying time. She is respected by fellow pilots who say she is "very professional and makes good landings." Clearly, a beauty title is a journey to achievement. Anderson, the "blonde who did the hula in the Miss Universe pageant" and won judges' hearts, says winning can definitely further one's career. It puts you on the radar screen for fame and recognition. Fairbank says it's also a "learning and growing process." The lessons learned in managing public appearances, making influential statements to the media and at forums, and projecting an ideal personal image are invaluable. Fairbank, an actress and model living in Los Angeles, just completed filming Oceans 13, starring George Clooney, which will be released in July. "I've taken my Hawaiian attitude to Hollywood," she says. "It has gotten me more attention from casting directors and producers." Experience as a beauty titleholder definitely looks good on a resume, she adds. "It gives you an edge." For Lighter, winning Miss Hawaii USA allowed her to obtain a college education. She is pursuing a master's degree in communications at HPU, co-hosting Hawaii Reel Stories TV show, and starting a foundation for victims of domestic violence. "Winning the title was truly an unexpected blessing," Lighter says. If one climbs to the level of Miss Universe, as Lee did in 1997, it's an even more glorious achievement. Miss Universe, now in its 51st year, is an international organization that offers women "an opportunity to communicate their views and to be personally enriched, attain personal career goals, and promote social and humanitarian causes," according to Trump. He says, "The titleholders personify the combination of beauty and intelligence that defines the 21st century." Trump's view is that "style and success are completely interwoven. People respond to the whole package." His apprentices and barons of beauty in the Pacific - Takeo and Chandler - agree wholeheartedly. "One's path to self-discovery can be so amazing," says Chandler. "It changes your life. "Our goal is to empower women to make decisions based on how they see the world," he says. "We want contestants to grow to make decisions on their own, and that's how we affect generations. The better decisions they make, the more nurturing relationships they have, the more committed they will be to the community." He adds, "Competition is wonderful, especially when it's against one's self. Competing is a process. Our training has nothing to do with physical beauty. We can make anyone beautiful." Takeo embellishes that with, "More important is one's commitment and inner beauty. It's an X-factor, something shining from the inside that could be attitude or passion." "Our role for the Miss Hawaii USA program is to cocoon the young women, develop their joy of beauty and guide them to their full potential as members of the community," Chandler says. Someone who supports and applauds Takeo's and Chandler's efforts is Dr. Lawrence Tseu, a local dentist and nationally certified body-building judge. He has been involved in the Miss Hawaii USA pageant since 1997 and is a major sponsor. Recognizing that there are those critical of beauty pageants and the judging of one's external appearance, Tseu feels these events will always have a place in our society and community. "It's like a sport," he says. "People like competition and seeing who emerges as a winner." The true winners are the contestants themselves, he claims. Top winners come away from beauty contests with scholarships, modeling contracts, wardrobe and cosmetic prizes, plus extensive public exposure. As Chandler declares, "it's a silly crown. It's a silly banner." But the thousands of beautiful and successful young women who have reached for the stars and won, don't regret a moment of it. That's what it takes to be beauty and the best. Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Hawaii Teen USA Pageant. Sunday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m., Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom. Tickets: $30 advance, $37 at door. Call 2Couture, 538-6690.