Crystal Lee
Miss California's Outstanding Teen 2008 (top 10 @ MAOT 2009)
Why did you decide to compete in Miss San Francisco's Outstanding Teen?
When I was fifteen I met the Executive Director of Miss San Francisco, Steve Takemura and he introduced me into the program by appointing me as the teen representative to the 2008 Miss California's Outstanding Teen pageant. At the time I studied dance at School of the Arts High School so I was excited to perform a ballet variation for the talent competition. I didn't know a whole lot about the Miss America program at the time but the volunteers helped me through the preparation process and provided much more support than my parents and I initially anticipated. I quickly learned about the Miss America brand, how the organization worked and about the wonderful opportunities they provided for young women. By the time state rolled around, I knew in my heart I wanted the job of Miss California and eventually Miss America.
What was going through your head when you were announced as the 1st runner up at Miss California?
Onstage as I held Leah Cecil's hands, I told her that she would be a terrific representative at Miss America. Moments later when my name was announced I thought of how fortunate I am to have the unconditional support my family, my local committee and my friends who drove a couple of hours from Stanford to watch me compete. Soon after I could feel myself quietly starting to tear up. As cameras flashed and hugs were exchanged, I devoted all energy to dwelling on really happy thoughts... lying under a palm tree on a warm afternoon, big bowls of fruit, sneezing pandas, my mom's Chinese cooking...basically anything that would help me avoid the Laura Kaeppeler dripping mascara waterworks fate.
Tell us about your platform, "Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Inspiring Women to Become Leaders".
I originally was going to exclusively promote girls studying fields of STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) but I decided to broaden my platform to also addressing the need for more women in positions of leadership. Out of 190 heads of state, only 9 are women. Of all the people in parliament in the world, 13% are women. In the corporate sector, women at the top with C-level jobs and board seats reach only 16 %. Women bring different life experiences to professional fields than men bring and it's pretty important for women's perspectives to help guide our future. Fortunately through MAO I was inspired by many distinguished title holders before me and as now as a title holder myself, I can continue to encourage younger girls to be ambitious and to rise to their goals, even if it means being in the minority at this point in time.
Will we see you compete in another pageant in the near future?
My goal is to be Miss America. What was originally just a budding high school interest in performing to win college scholarships quickly grew into a supportive network of lifelong friends and mentors who give this program their all. The tremendous outpouring of dedication, heart and selflessness that the volunteers show to contestants in this organization is phenomenal. Without requesting a thing in return they have lent me competition/appearance wardrobe, offered me public speaking/mock interview practice, chaperoned me to appearances, and basically did everything they possibly could to help me make the most of my reign and reach my potential as a young woman. The volunteers comprise this program. They inspire me to aim for the top.
What have you been up to after your reign as Miss California's Outstanding Teen ended?
Alot has changed since I've aged out of the teen program. College life keeps me busy and it's been more rewarding than I can describe. Since moving into the dorms on Stanford's campus, I joined a sorority and a hip-hop street dance group (I previously had only been a classical and traditional dancer), traveled throughout Asia during Fall quarter of my sophomore year and helped create the Stanford Journal of Public Health. I've also dabbled in a unique project to develop a vaccine technology, Nanoly, that eliminates vaccines' need for refrigeration. It has enormous implications of raising international health standards by lowering third-world mortality rates.
Lastly, what will you be up to after your reign as Miss South Counties ends?
This summer I fell in love with my internship at KRON 4 news in San Francisco so I'm looking forward to starting a career in broadcasting. However the contagious entrepreneurial spirit of silicon valley has also inspired me to carve out my own path in the startup world. I see myself continuing with Nanoly, which is unique also because it's a women-led startup. Being able to merge my platform and my life in a meaningful way has been a real blessing.
When I was fifteen I met the Executive Director of Miss San Francisco, Steve Takemura and he introduced me into the program by appointing me as the teen representative to the 2008 Miss California's Outstanding Teen pageant. At the time I studied dance at School of the Arts High School so I was excited to perform a ballet variation for the talent competition. I didn't know a whole lot about the Miss America program at the time but the volunteers helped me through the preparation process and provided much more support than my parents and I initially anticipated. I quickly learned about the Miss America brand, how the organization worked and about the wonderful opportunities they provided for young women. By the time state rolled around, I knew in my heart I wanted the job of Miss California and eventually Miss America.
What was going through your head when you were announced as the 1st runner up at Miss California?
Onstage as I held Leah Cecil's hands, I told her that she would be a terrific representative at Miss America. Moments later when my name was announced I thought of how fortunate I am to have the unconditional support my family, my local committee and my friends who drove a couple of hours from Stanford to watch me compete. Soon after I could feel myself quietly starting to tear up. As cameras flashed and hugs were exchanged, I devoted all energy to dwelling on really happy thoughts... lying under a palm tree on a warm afternoon, big bowls of fruit, sneezing pandas, my mom's Chinese cooking...basically anything that would help me avoid the Laura Kaeppeler dripping mascara waterworks fate.
Tell us about your platform, "Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Inspiring Women to Become Leaders".
I originally was going to exclusively promote girls studying fields of STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) but I decided to broaden my platform to also addressing the need for more women in positions of leadership. Out of 190 heads of state, only 9 are women. Of all the people in parliament in the world, 13% are women. In the corporate sector, women at the top with C-level jobs and board seats reach only 16 %. Women bring different life experiences to professional fields than men bring and it's pretty important for women's perspectives to help guide our future. Fortunately through MAO I was inspired by many distinguished title holders before me and as now as a title holder myself, I can continue to encourage younger girls to be ambitious and to rise to their goals, even if it means being in the minority at this point in time.
Will we see you compete in another pageant in the near future?
My goal is to be Miss America. What was originally just a budding high school interest in performing to win college scholarships quickly grew into a supportive network of lifelong friends and mentors who give this program their all. The tremendous outpouring of dedication, heart and selflessness that the volunteers show to contestants in this organization is phenomenal. Without requesting a thing in return they have lent me competition/appearance wardrobe, offered me public speaking/mock interview practice, chaperoned me to appearances, and basically did everything they possibly could to help me make the most of my reign and reach my potential as a young woman. The volunteers comprise this program. They inspire me to aim for the top.
What have you been up to after your reign as Miss California's Outstanding Teen ended?
Alot has changed since I've aged out of the teen program. College life keeps me busy and it's been more rewarding than I can describe. Since moving into the dorms on Stanford's campus, I joined a sorority and a hip-hop street dance group (I previously had only been a classical and traditional dancer), traveled throughout Asia during Fall quarter of my sophomore year and helped create the Stanford Journal of Public Health. I've also dabbled in a unique project to develop a vaccine technology, Nanoly, that eliminates vaccines' need for refrigeration. It has enormous implications of raising international health standards by lowering third-world mortality rates.
Lastly, what will you be up to after your reign as Miss South Counties ends?
This summer I fell in love with my internship at KRON 4 news in San Francisco so I'm looking forward to starting a career in broadcasting. However the contagious entrepreneurial spirit of silicon valley has also inspired me to carve out my own path in the startup world. I see myself continuing with Nanoly, which is unique also because it's a women-led startup. Being able to merge my platform and my life in a meaningful way has been a real blessing.