Aureana Tseu, Miss Hawai'i USA. – Photo: Courtesy 2Couture

Tseu in the running for Miss USA

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola Loa

Only about 80,000 people watched Aureana Kamali'io'iwalani Kim Len Tseu compete for the Miss Aloha Hula title at last year's Merrie Monarch Festival, a drop in the bucket compared to the 5.5 million people watching the 2008 Miss USA pageant a week later.

But despite the much larger stage she'll be on this year running for Miss USA, Tseu isn't sweating the pressure as Miss Hawai'i USA 2009. "After preparing for Miss Aloha Hula, Miss Hawai'i USA was a walk in the park," she said.

On Sunday, April 19, a day after Merrie Monarch winds down in Hilo, the 58th Miss USA pageant will take the stage at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Representing Hawai'i will be the 25-year-old Tseu from Mililani, O'ahu.

Aureana Tseu performs at last year's Merrie Monarch Festival. Courtesy photo.

When she's not on a pageant stage, Tseu is a professional print and runway model as well as a professional hula dancer. Much of her modeling takes her around Asia, but locally, you can see her on the cover of the Paradise Yellow Pages. Tseu will also be the face of Disney's upcoming resort at Ko'olina, O'ahu. Another project in the works is a CD for the Japanese market.

To be sure, Tseu isn't one of those cellophane skirt hula dancers. She's serious, having danced her whole life for her mom, 'Iwalani Tseu, and for the last five years for Hula Hālau O Kamuela. Tseu hopes that Miss USA will be a platform to share the true culture of Hawai'i, not the kitschy, wicky-wacky hula version. And after Miss Hawai'i USA, and possibly Miss USA, she hopes to allow other young Hawaiians to do the same.

Tseu, 4th from the right in the front row, poses with all 51 contestants during the Miss USA preliminaries in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo courtesy 2Couture

Tseu hopes to establish an agency to represent local talent with beauty and intellect, strongly rooted in heritage and able to transcend the cellophane-skirted coconut-clad stereotype. "I was fortunate to have had the right mentors and opportunities to travel and promote our culture," she said. "I don't want the next generation to think that they can't make a living loving their culture."

The 2001 Kamehameha grad certainly has the experience to pull it off, having danced hula professionally since the age of 14, and will surely put her University of Phoenix business degree to use. She has never been represented by an agent, learning the ways of the business on her own. Her secret to success: "If you don't think you're worthy, no one else will think so either."

The Tseu ʻohana after Aureana's ʻAuana performance at last year's Merrie Monarch Festival. From left, sister Chariya, mom ʻIwalani, Aureana, dad Leighton, and sister Tatiana. Photo courtesy Chariya Willis

When she's not traveling around the world modeling and dancing, Tseu enjoys being at home, spending time with family. She also likes to inspire others. "The true measure of success is to help someone else achieve success," Tseu said.

Tseu is ranking high in the online voting at missusa.com, where people can cast votes for the contestants in several categories. A gang of at least 75 supporters will be in the audience at the Miss USA pageant, cheering Tseu on with ti leaf instead of signs. Not only do the lā'ī go with the pageant's eco-friendly theme this year, but they bring with them the kaona of healing and good luck, Tseu said.

Aureana Tseu, freshly-crowned Miss Hawai'i USA, paused with her sister, Tatiana, at the Hawai'i Inaugural Ball on Jan. 20 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. – Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom