ATLANTA - She may have finished as first runner up in the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas Saturday night but the reigning Miss Lake Lanier and Miss Georgia is number one in the Peach State.
Monica Pang, a consumer journalism graduate of the University of Georgia, won a $20,000 scholarship for her efforts in Las Vegas.
Pang believes that the pageant system will endure because of what it does for women.
"But, it's really important for young women's self-esteem and to be able to stand up for something," she told the Georgia News Network. "I know that (it has helped me.)"
Pang said it appears the decision to move from Atlantic City, N.J., to Las Vegas was a good one.
"I've never been to Atlantic City to see Miss America, so, I really don't have strong ties to Atlantic City but I thought Las Vegas was fabulous. They actually took us out to Los Angeles the week before (to help promote the pageant.)"
She says it appears moving from broadcast television to cable, CMT, did not hurt the pageant.
Pang said she's always had an interest in pageants, having entered his first one while a freshman in high school. She came close to winning Miss Georgia in 2003 before capturing the crown last year after being crowned Miss Lake Lanier in Gainesville last February.
As for coming in runnerup in the Miss America pageant, Pang said "I gave it my all and it turned out pretty well, I think."
As for the future, she says she's interested in furthering her education, perhaps at a music school in the South because "right now I'm interested in getting into the music industry. I like to be a producer."
Friday
January 17th, 2025
7:07PM
