Rita Ng InterviewMiss California 2000, 2nd RU @ Miss America 2001 & Preliminary Talent Winner @ Miss America 2001
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Los Altos pageant?
One of the best pieces of advice that I have been given is to challenge yourself in situations outside your comfort zone - you'll surprise yourself with the direction in which your life will take. I was a senior at Stanford University and had been accepted to the University of California at San Francisco Medical School.I had traveled all around the world for my honors thesis work looking at health care access in developing countries and had been featured in Glamour Magazine and USA Today newspaper. At one of my photoshoots, the photographer had mentioned if I had ever thought about the Miss America pageant - that it was a great way to earn scholarships for school. When I returned back to Stanford, my sister (who was a freshman at the time) had found a flyer on campus promoting the Miss Los Altos Pageant. She entered me in the competition and the rest is history! I had never entered a pageant before in my life and had never even worn make-up!
What was going through your head when you were announced as the new Miss California?
I was in shock - it was certainly a surprise and I had thought that I was going to the Miss California Pageant for a fun life adventure before starting medical school in a month. I felt so incredibly honored to be selected to represent California and all of the amazing friends I made during my two weeks at the Miss America Pageant.
Tell us about your platform you used during your reign as Miss California.
As Miss California, I traveled around the United States and world promoting my platform of healthcare for the underserved. I had the tremendous privilege of serving as spokeswoman for countless charitable organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, raising thousands of dollars through keynote addresses and piano concerts to benefit health and welfare causes. Whether meeting with dignitaries in London, speaking to thousands of school children as part of the program “California Cares for Children,” visiting orphanages in Indonesia, or working with community activists in San Francisco, my year out of school was a truly humbling experience. In so many ways, it gave me a better perspective about what is important in life and the incredible strength and generosity of the human spirit. After my year of service, I began medical school with a renewed sense of self, a profound compassion for the thousands of lives that had touched my own, and a sense of empathy for my future patients. I knew that I wanted my role as a physician to be much more than providing an acute intervention; I wanted to be an advocate and teacher for my patients.
When did you start playing the piano?
I started playing the piano at the age of 5.
What would be your first thoughts when you were called into the top 10 and then called as the 2nd runner up?
It was such an incredible experience; I felt honored, humbled, and so incredibly excited to be part of the Miss America pageant. I didn't expect to make Top 10 and was so thrilled to finish 2nd runner up!
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss America?
My most fond memories are of the amazing new sisters and friends I made at the pageant. It is wonderful to be part of such a supportive and loving sisterhood and pageant family!
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss California?
I have so many wonderful memories from my year as Miss California...traveling all around the world including the French Riviera, Cannes, Bordeaux, Indonesia, China, London...presiding over the opening of Disneyland's California Adventure...delivering the keynote address for various charity gala events and giving charity piano concerts...spending my Valentine's day meeting hundreds of hospitalized veterans...it's hard to pick my most memorable moment!
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss California ended?
I graduated from medical school at the University of California at San Francisco, finished my residency in Internal Medicine at UCSF, and am now a Cardiology Fellow at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, California. I've traveled all around the world providing free health care and running free clinics in third world developing countries.
One of the best pieces of advice that I have been given is to challenge yourself in situations outside your comfort zone - you'll surprise yourself with the direction in which your life will take. I was a senior at Stanford University and had been accepted to the University of California at San Francisco Medical School.I had traveled all around the world for my honors thesis work looking at health care access in developing countries and had been featured in Glamour Magazine and USA Today newspaper. At one of my photoshoots, the photographer had mentioned if I had ever thought about the Miss America pageant - that it was a great way to earn scholarships for school. When I returned back to Stanford, my sister (who was a freshman at the time) had found a flyer on campus promoting the Miss Los Altos Pageant. She entered me in the competition and the rest is history! I had never entered a pageant before in my life and had never even worn make-up!
What was going through your head when you were announced as the new Miss California?
I was in shock - it was certainly a surprise and I had thought that I was going to the Miss California Pageant for a fun life adventure before starting medical school in a month. I felt so incredibly honored to be selected to represent California and all of the amazing friends I made during my two weeks at the Miss America Pageant.
Tell us about your platform you used during your reign as Miss California.
As Miss California, I traveled around the United States and world promoting my platform of healthcare for the underserved. I had the tremendous privilege of serving as spokeswoman for countless charitable organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, raising thousands of dollars through keynote addresses and piano concerts to benefit health and welfare causes. Whether meeting with dignitaries in London, speaking to thousands of school children as part of the program “California Cares for Children,” visiting orphanages in Indonesia, or working with community activists in San Francisco, my year out of school was a truly humbling experience. In so many ways, it gave me a better perspective about what is important in life and the incredible strength and generosity of the human spirit. After my year of service, I began medical school with a renewed sense of self, a profound compassion for the thousands of lives that had touched my own, and a sense of empathy for my future patients. I knew that I wanted my role as a physician to be much more than providing an acute intervention; I wanted to be an advocate and teacher for my patients.
When did you start playing the piano?
I started playing the piano at the age of 5.
What would be your first thoughts when you were called into the top 10 and then called as the 2nd runner up?
It was such an incredible experience; I felt honored, humbled, and so incredibly excited to be part of the Miss America pageant. I didn't expect to make Top 10 and was so thrilled to finish 2nd runner up!
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss America?
My most fond memories are of the amazing new sisters and friends I made at the pageant. It is wonderful to be part of such a supportive and loving sisterhood and pageant family!
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss California?
I have so many wonderful memories from my year as Miss California...traveling all around the world including the French Riviera, Cannes, Bordeaux, Indonesia, China, London...presiding over the opening of Disneyland's California Adventure...delivering the keynote address for various charity gala events and giving charity piano concerts...spending my Valentine's day meeting hundreds of hospitalized veterans...it's hard to pick my most memorable moment!
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss California ended?
I graduated from medical school at the University of California at San Francisco, finished my residency in Internal Medicine at UCSF, and am now a Cardiology Fellow at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, California. I've traveled all around the world providing free health care and running free clinics in third world developing countries.