Dolene Simmalavong of San Francisco, CA was crowned Miss Lao International (MLIP) on Saturday at the historical landmark Hotel Whitcomb Ballroom in San Francisco.

Dolene is an apparel design and merchandising student at San Francisco State University. She is 19-years old, the first ever Miss Lao International.

She says, “I’m proud and honored and look forward to representing the International Lao New Year Festival (ILNYF) organization and Laotian American community.”

Dolene’s win has earned her a seat as a contestant sponsored by ILNYF at the 25th Annual Miss Asian America Pageant at the iconic Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco on Saturday, August 7, 2010.

Miss Asian America 2009-2010 Queen Amy Chanthaphavong, who was the first ever Miss Asian America of Laotian descent had the privilege of crowning Dolene at the Whitcomb Ballroom, and said she would be more than happy to crown Dolene as the next Miss Asian America Queen.

Joining Dolene in the court is 1st Princess, 23-year old Aleta Rattanasith, a Research Assistant at Oakland Unified School District and 2nd Princess, 22-year old Busaba Sisounthone, a Shiseido at Macy’s Beauty Consultant in Yuba City, CA.

The event was sold out and highly successful. The MLIP organizing committee hopes this year’s success will increase a larger pool of applicants and contestants to be part of the 2nd Annual Miss Lao International on Saturday April 9, 2011. Eventually, we hope to bring Lao Queens from all over the world to San Francisco to truly make this an annual International pageant, to show the world the beauty, grace, poise, intellect, and uniqueness & essence of Lao women.