Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Queen Title Is Win for San Marino

Photo courtesy Charles Lin / Nina Koh, who was born and raised in San Marino, was crowned the 2025 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Queen.

When the 2025 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Queen was announced, it wasn’t just Nina Koh who felt the weight of the moment — it was as if the San Marino community was raising the crown atop her head, just as it had collectively supported her leading up to the pageant.

Her father spent hours practicing public speaking with his daughter, and her mother helped pick out the right dresses and a makeup artist for the occasion. Her mom also hand-glued gems onto Koh's cocktail dress, which was donated by a family friend. Another supporter spent two afternoons sewing hundreds of beads onto an evening gown, with many others contributing their time and effort behind the scenes.

Their support, however, started long before the competition, spanning her entire life. Koh, who was born and raised in San Marino, has always had her community in her corner. It was a space that fostered her growth in all sectors of life.

On the night of the pageant, more than 70 San Marino community members sat in the audience, including Koh’s 87-year-old grandmother, Jane, and 90-year-old great aunt, Lily Lee Chen, the first female Chinese American mayor in U.S. history. All were rooting for Koh, who was among 13 contestants vying for the top title of queen.

As five of the women were named to the court, there was an instance when the outcome seemed uncertain. The anticipation was palpable in the room. Whispers of encouragement were exchanged in the meantime, with hands locked together across the San Marino crowd as it awaited the final results.

Koh was finally called, winning the title. Happy tears were shed and enthusiastic cheers rang out.

“Wow, I felt so loved,” Koh said, reflecting on the journey to the crown, with the San Marino community standing behind her.

“I was really nervous,” she recalled. “I'm sure the audience saw it in my face, but then they called my name and I think I almost started crying on stage. There was confetti and so many people were cheering. It just felt unreal. I walked up and so many things happened at once.”

Photo courtesy Charles Lin / Nina Koh is joined by her father, Peter, and Maggie Lee, who represented the Chinese Club of San Marino at the 2025 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant.

Koh’s father, Peter, described the built-up emotions as being intense, which "ratcheted up to a crescendo.” When it was over, he breathed a sigh of relief, his takeaway being that San Marino has been a champion for so many, including his children.

“San Marino has always been really supportive of our young people — our schools, our education — and I think that night just kind of encapsulated that by having six tables of mostly moms who watched my daughter grow up,” said Peter, who is the president of the Chinese Club of San Marino and former president of the San Marino Schools Foundation.

The Koh family has long been deeply connected in the community. Sylvia, Koh's mother, was a PTA president within the San Marino Unified School District when her daughter was in elementary school. Koh, who has a brother named Marcus, attended Carver Elementary School, Huntington Middle School, San Marino High School and Chinese-language classes through the Chinese Club of San Marino. 

Growing up, Koh was immersed with a sense of duty to her community. She often lent a helping hand with various PTA fundraisers, flocking lawns with flamingos for grad night, posting yard signs on behalf of the San Marino Schools Foundation and more. She was also a Girl Scout and a member of the National Charity League, which she assisted at the nonprofit’s thrift store Main Street Attraction with the proceeds funding college scholarships for women.

Photo courtesy Vinson Soohoo / Queen Nina Koh (center) attends the Golden Dragon Parade with third Princess Michelle Dupont, first Princess Ashley Gong, second Princess and Miss Friendship Jennitine Chang and fourth Princess Terena Phan.

Since then, Koh has joined Delta Phi Kappa — an Asian-interest sorority at USC, where she is working toward earning a master’s degree from the Marshall School of Business. Notably, the organization has an impressive alumni list which includes Miss California 2022 Catherine Liang, who held the Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Queen title in 2018.

As the sorority’s fundraising chair, Koh said she tripled the profits and partnered with a Chinatown bakery, selling an array of buns — about 500 in a three-day timeframe. The result: $1,400. Though Koh said the amount may not seem like much, it was a great feat for its 25-member group.

Looking back, Koh never imagined she would sign up to be a part of a beauty pageant, but after some coaxing from people in her life, she decided to take the leap. The opportunity allowed her to give back to San Marino, as well as open herself up to represent the Chinese American community more broadly.

“I didn't have as much respect for pageants that I do now, especially for this Miss Los Angeles Chinatown one, because I didn't realize it was so much about community involvement and being a leader. It's just so much more than just being pretty or being beautiful,” said Koh, who saw the position as an extension of the work her family has always done and continues to do for their hometown.

Photo courtesy Koh family / A young Nina Koh (center) meets Miss Los Angeles Chinatown royalty.

Koh values her new platform, but said her “crown is a plus.” She wants to make a meaningful impact, particularly with the next generation — leading by example.

“Being able to represent the Chinese American community is such an honor,” Koh said. “I have this big title where I can really show who I am, make a greater difference and hopefully inspire young girls to do more for their communities. I think representing the community is all about being a part of it and showing up.”

Koh said she has improved her public speaking skills since joining the competition and spent time perfecting her walk. She even had family and friends quiz her with Q&A sessions. It all contributed to her winning confidence.

“I looked at myself in the mirror practicing — I'm like, do I look good? Do I look like I am the queen? And on pageant day, I told myself, ‘OK, this is your moment, you're going to win,'” Koh said. “When you have confidence, it shows in the way you move, in the way you speak, in your eye contact, and I was confident because I practiced a lot.”

Sure enough, Koh did just that. Her win comes after San Marino resident Saerlaith Anying Dunn’s 2024 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Queen reign. To add to the merriment, Koh was recognized by the San Marino City Council with a certificate.

The Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant, established in 1963 and organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, is held annually. The queen and court act as cultural ambassadors for the Chinese American community in the Greater Los Angeles area.

“The Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Pageant is about our heritage,” Koh said. “It requires being someone who can show you have cultural understanding, can engage with your community and demonstrate the traditions and values of Chinese Americans.”

Koh said her court members all exemplify the pageant’s values. They have bonded through their shared experience. Some of the events they have attended so far include the Golden Dragon Parade, the Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K, Spring Fest, Monterey Park birthday celebration and the Cathay Bank Annual Golf Tournament. Later this year, she will visit Castelar Elementary School in Chinatown.

Photo courtesy Koh family / The 2025 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown court participated in San Marino’s Fourth of July parade, including fourth Princess Terena Phan, Queen Nina Koh and second Princess and Miss Friendship Jennitine Chang. 

In San Marino, Koh rode in the city’s Fourth of July parade. It was one of her favorite outings so far.

“I was in my hometown, and I felt so proud that I was able to stand here and represent them as queen,” Koh said. “It was more of a personal experience compared to the Golden Dragon Parade because we went around Lacy Park and I saw a lot of familiar faces. It felt so nice to see my community come out all together.”

She recalled waving to the crowd, and relishing the moments where children would spot her.

“One girl’s family came up to us after and her parents had told us she wants to be a princess when she grows up and that she was really inspired by us,” Koh said. “It just made my heart melt. She was such a sweet girl. We took pictures with her. And it's just so nice to know that I am actually inspiring these young girls and when they see me, they're just like, ‘Wow, I wanna be that.’”

Koh looks forward to serving at the Chinese Club of San Marino's Mid Autumn Gala fundraiser as its emcee on Nov. 1. She views this event as a full-circle moment, bringing her back to her roots, when she would volunteer at local events like this one.

“It's a huge accomplishment — to see how far I’ve come,” Koh said.