The First Korean-American Miss America Crowned

Emma Broyles, who was selected as Miss America in 2021
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] A Korean-American female college student won the Miss America pageant this year.

On the 17th (local time), according to AP News and the Anchorage Daily News, Emma Broyles (20), a third-generation Korean-American representing Alaska, won the Miss America 100th Anniversary pageant. This is the first time a Korean-American woman has been crowned Miss America.

When Broyles was announced as Miss America at the pageant held in Connecticut the day before, she said, "I never expected this," and expressed gratitude, saying, "As a Korean-American, I am thankful to my family, especially my grandparents who came to the U.S. from Korea."

Her father is white, and her mother is Korean-American; her maternal grandparents settled in Anchorage, Alaska over 50 years ago. Broyles said, "Growing up half Korean and half white was very difficult," adding, "Many people in the U.S. struggle with identity issues, so reaching a position like Miss America as a Korean-American is truly special."

She also expressed her ambition to focus on the Special Olympics, a sports event for people with developmental disabilities, during her tenure as Miss America. Broyles said, "My decision was influenced by my older brother with Down syndrome, who has participated in the Special Olympics since childhood."

A student at Arizona State University aspiring to become a dermatologist, she received a $100,000 scholarship (approximately 120 million KRW) as a prize in this competition.

Miss America began in 1921 as the Atlantic City beauty pageant. In an interview with Business Insider, Broyles said, "Becoming Miss America as a Korean-American perfectly reflects the positive changes in this pageant."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.