WHS homecoming queen places in national competition

Tiffany Hsiou Her list of awards, participation in extracurricular activities and volunteer activities is impressive, so it’s not surprising to learn that 18-year-old Tiffany Hsiou, a 2005 graduate of Westlake High School, is on her way to UCLA in September.

Among her additional honors, Tiffany was crowned first runner-up last month in a national competition, America’s Homecoming Queen.

The organization is a nonprofit that promotes education, travel and community service among girls chosen as high school homecoming queens.

Tiffany entered the California homecoming queen competition in March after she was encouraged by school administrators. She went up against 52 other girls and won.

She then advanced to the national finals, where she and homecoming queens from 48 other states were interviewed by judges on their goals and on current events. She had to write a timed essay on how she’d promote the competition. The top 10 girls then answered a concluding question, with the final four and queen selected unanimously by seven judges.

After noting the dozens of achievements and awards on Tiffany’s profile, the judges

Misasked her what would challenge her in her life.

Her answer came from what she’d learned at school, traveling with her family and from the competition. The aspiring FBI agent or United Nations ambassador said it would be a challenge to convince people to have tolerance for each other.

“In high school, I have firsthandedly experienced intolerance,” she told them. “Every day in the news I see intolerance all around the world . . . .

“Tolerance is the key to everything and . . . it is possible.”

Although America’s Homecoming Queen isn’t considered a beauty contest, it has what some would consider beautypageant trappings. For instance, the girls dress in evening gowns and the winner wears a crown and sash. However, there isn’t a talent or swimsuit contest.

The top 10 finalists, Tiffany said, weren’t the “flawlessly gorgeous” girls who would easily get modeling contracts, but the humble, more intellectual ones who communicated well. Personality was also a priority, she said.

The judges were undoubtedly impressed, too, with the countless hours Tiffany has spent in community volunteer work.

SuWen Hsiou, Tiffany’s mother, said her daughter has always enjoyed helping others.

“She does it from her heart. She’s just naturally that way.”

Tiffany found it amazing the number of girls in the competition who’d lived sheltered lives, having never left their state, flown on an airplane or seen the ocean.

Indeed, one girl complimented Tiffany on being beautiful and then confessed she’d never seen a Chinese person her entire life.

Tiffany was the only contestant of Asian descent.

“That’s why I was even more proud to be there,” she said.

After the competition, Tiffany thanked her parents for raising her and her three siblings in a state where they were exposed to diverse cultures and people.