Pageant News Bureau

Miss Chinese International Pageant winner Leanne Li

China, past and present

Miss Chinese International Pageant photos courtesy of Chinese Pageant Pictures
Miss Atlanta Chinatown photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

According to the editors of PNB, the rise of China was one of the top pageant news stories of 2004. And it may be one of the greatest developments in pageant history.

China is the world's most populous country, but for decades it didn't boast a single beauty contest. Now it's a pageant hub. It's becoming known as the favorite venue of Miss World, and it has its own superhip competitions. Girls are primping and training -- and winning and weeping -- from the Yellow Sea to the Himalayas.

More photos from the Miss Chinese International Pageant:

We had a flash of inspiration, something like a firecracker. What better way to highlight the past and present of Chinese pageants than to do a Lunar New Year feature? Now, just in time for the Year of the Rooster, we look at two Chinese pageants from the just departed Year of the Monkey.

Photos from the Miss Atlanta Chinatown Pageant:

The Miss Atlanta Chinatown Pageant was held in Georgia in October 2004. Fiona Fang was the winner, and Miss China Universe, Meng Zhang of Beijing, was the special guest. The Miss Chinese International Pageant was held in January 2005 in Asia and was won by Leanne Li of Vancouver.

The 21st century belongs to the Chinese, or so the pundits say. As long as they keep producing beauty queens like this, we're proud to pay tribute.