PURCHASE TICKETS TO SUPPORT JASMAN

Sat sri akal, my name is Jasman Sidhu (ਜਸਮਨ ਸਿੱਧੂ) and I am so excited to be a Miss Asian Chicago pageant contestant in their inaugural year. This feels like a rare opportunity to be a part of something very special for the Asian community in Chicago and beyond. I feel honored to be a part of it. Over 30 years ago, my parents immigrated to Chicago and had my brother and I shortly thereafter.

Cut to eighteen years later, I attended Saint Louis University where I earned my degree in Business with a concentration in Economics. I then attended Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where I earned my Juris Doctorate in Spring of 2021. I am now a junior finance associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, a global law firm with an array of capabilities. Being a Punjabi American woman has had its fair share of challenges throughout these experiences. Some of these battles have been internal conflicts, like how to deal with covert racism, others have been external, like socioeconomic factors that felt impossible to overcome. However, I have been blessed with many mentors along the way who have helped me feel supported, provided guidance, and ultimately helped me achieve these goals.

I hope to have an impact on Asian American women such that they feel empowered to achieve their own academic, professional and personal goals. I aim to create a network of Asian American women that feel empowered to empower one another. We often fall into a trap of being an army of one, but I hope to display the value and impact of working together to overcome whatever might get in our way. Most importantly, I want to create a space that Asian American women feel welcomed to, and want to, come back to throughout their careers and passions. Being a Miss Asian Chicago pageant contestant is not what I expected, but I couldn’t imagine a more fun and authentic way in which to contribute to my community.