Saerlaith Anying Dunn
鄧安盈
communication director
Saerlaith Anying Dunn first got involved with the CCCLA at the age of 5 when she was crowned Little Queen at the 2006 Little King & Queen Contest. She attended San Marino High School where she participated in extra curriculars such as musical theater, speech and debate mock trial. She then continued those extra curriculars at St. Joseph’s University in Brooklyn where and majored in Political Science. She then won the Queen title at the 2024 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant, following in her mother’s footsteps
She enjoys spending her free time learning more about and advocating for the Chinese community, and is an active member of her local Chinese Club as well as MANAA. She is also a passionate animal rights advocate and a decade-long volunteer for Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue. She was awarded her Girl Scout Gold Award for producing a workbook educating new rabbit owners about rabbit care.
Saerlaith has strong roots in Chinatown as her grandmother, Ngoot Chan, got her first job in America at Phoenix Bakery in Chinatown. Phoenix Bakery later sponsored her mother, Sepherteen Jew, at the 1982 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant. Her reign has been a transformative experience that has taught her many lessons about leadership, friendship, teamwork and most of all resilience. A quote she lives by is, "Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History".
Raised in Southern California by her mother alongside two sisters, Saerlaith has a deep love for animals, especially rabbits. When she’s not volunteering or caring for her beloved pets—Mei Mei the dog and Xiao Bao the rabbit—she’s dedicating her time to advocacy, educating herself and others on issues facing underserved communities.
Her favorite part of being on the court? The cultural advocacy and volunteer work. Saerlaith believes that representation matters, especially for young Asian children who need role models that look like them, both in our organization and in the media. “Representation impacts our children’s self-esteem and our relationships with one another. Supporting Asian/Chinese-American success is vital because when one of us rises, we all rise together.”
Inspired by women like Anna May Wong, Michelle Kwan, and Lucy Liu, Saerlaith joined the pageant to advocate for the community she cares so deeply about. It also fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming “big queen.” Now, she’s proud to represent such a historic and meaningful organization, continuing the legacy of Chinese-American culture in Los Angeles.
Age: 23
Sponsor: Cargo Snack Shack
Saerlaith Anying Dunn was raised by her mom alongside her two sisters, just ten minutes outside of Chinatown, in San Marino, California. Her many talents include singing, acting, dancing and sewing. During school she took leadership roles in her favorite clubs; Mock Trial, Thespians and Chapel Players. She is also a decade-long member of Girl Scouts having earned her bronze, silver and gold awards. She began volunteering with rabbits at the age of 8, but more recently she expanded her efforts by collaborating with a veterinarian to create animal care video guides specifically for children. She hopes her work will eventually put a stop to animal neglect, testing and mistreatment.
