Miss Asian Chicago
Contestant Spotlight
Maeve
Nguyen
Vietnamese
2024 Contestant #7
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What's something memorable about you?
I won Donkey from Shrek as a superlative in graduate school...and I think it’s quite accurate! I’d say our similarities are that I’m THE best adventure buddy, a loyal friend, bring humor and light to every situation no matter how dismal, can say many bold things often, and “in the morning, I’m making waffles!”
Why did you join MAC? / What is your goal with MAC?
Being from California, I was apprehensive about moving to the Midwest because I was skeptical of whether I would find an Asian community. California has one of the largest Vietnamese communities, which always helped me feel connected to my culture. I joined MAC because I wanted to find and become more involved with the Asian community here! I hope through MAC I familiarize myself with the community to call Chicago home and the Asian community my family, who I will wholeheartedly uplift and celebrate.
What is your spirit animal?
My spirit animal is a golden retriever! I am playful, gentle, loyal, loving, energetic, and have unconditional positive regard for others. I can also be a little bit of a klutz, but I’ll always shake it off with a smile!
What three things would you bring with you to a remote island?
If we’re talking purely strategy wise and trying to survive, I would bring 1) spark rocks to always be able to build a fire 2) a sharp edge like a machete for multiuse purposes 3) water filtration system for clean water. If we’re talking purely for pleasure, I would bring 1) guitar, with all this free time I could finally learn to play! 2) endless supply of books 3) sketching/painting materials!
What's your favorite quote?
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou
Hello everyone! Xin chào mọi người! I am Maeve Nguyen and I am overjoyed to participate in Miss Asian Chicago 2024!
I am a Vietnamese American from Southern California and moved to Chicago from the Bay Area last year! When I lived in Northern California for my undergraduate & doctorate education, I remember being confused as to what it meant to not just be Asian but what it means to be Southeast Asian and Vietnamese American, especially when I was a minority in most spaces. As I moved to Chicago, to complete a doctoral internship in clinical psychology (I finished and am a psychologist!), I mused on what my relationship with my cultural identity may look like in a new environment. I am excited to be in Miss Asian Chicago 2024 to further explore and celebrate what being a Vietnamese American woman means to me!
One of my driving forces is my desire to uplift and empower voices. It’s the main reason why I became a psychologist! When I heard about Chi-AWE and Miss Asian Chicago, I found my values aligned with their mission and was excited by this personal growth opportunity. I never envisioned myself being in a pageant before, which is precisely why I joined: to challenge myself, grow, and learn! Often, the things that scare us most have the largest potential for reflection, growth, adventure, and transformative change. I’m honored to have this opportunity through Miss Asian Chicago 2024. I deeply care about passing forward what was passed onto me, and I hope I can use my involvement with Chi-AWE to support and empower Asian women and the larger Asian community. I hope to encourage people to be their most unique self, find beauty and joy, and celebrate themself with pride!
Follow me on Instagram, @maevenguyen7 to follow my journey!
maeve's activities with us
