▶ Jane Park(center), who won first place in the Ms. America pageant, poses with fellow contestants at the finals on the 20th.

Jane Park〈See Page A-1 of the 11th and Page A-2 of the 12th>, who was crowned Mrs. Asia USA earlier this month, took first place at the ‘Ms. America’ 2007-08 finals held on the 20th, earning recognition as the most beautiful married woman in the United States.

Park will represent the United States at the Ms. World pageant next spring.

The competition, held at Verdugo Hills Country Club in Glendale, selected 13 contestants from 33 finalists. Park earned high scores in every category, including fashion, interviews, and community service, defeating second-place winner Laura Hunter(Washington) and third-place winner Eileen Mary(Utah).

Susan Jeske, chairwoman of the Ms. America pageant, described Park as “a versatile woman with a second-degree black belt in taekwondo and diverse professional experience as an actress, model, and broadcast journalist.” She added, “It is especially noteworthy that she became the first Korean woman in the pageant’s history to win against contestants of other ethnic backgrounds.”

The six judges for the finals included previous winner Debbie Nelson, prominent broadcaster Quinn Fry, and former Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver.

Immediately after winning, Park said, “I am incredibly happy and proud to represent the Korean American community.”

She added, “I plan to devote myself to nonprofit community service campaigns, including activities with the international relief organization ‘Live to Give International.’ I hope the beauty pageant title will help promote humanitarian work.”

Park, who is attracting attention from various sectors of mainstream society following her consecutive pageant victories, is also actively promoting her faith and participating in volunteer activities. She recently began writing a Christian book.