A weekend of celebration, heritage, and empowerment marks the Lao New Year with music, food and the importance of passing traditions forward.
Miss Lao San Diego held its annual two-day celebration on April 5 and April 6 in honor of the Lao New Year 2025.
The event began with an evening gala featuring entertainment and food available for purchase. This night served as an introduction to the contestants participating in the pageant the following day, where one would be crowned Miss Lao San Diego 2025. The contestants also had the opportunity to raise funds for the organization through an entry fee. Everyone danced the night away with their family, loved ones, and all who wished to join the festivities.
The following day started early for the twelve contestants participating in the pageant, as the daytime festival began at 9 a.m. In addition to the pageant, entertainment was provided by the Viensavanh Band during the breaks when the contestants were not on stage. There were also Lao food and trinkets available for purchase.
The contestants took the stage as a group and answered questions individually about Lao culture and its impact on their lives. Alyssa Salazar said, “Having the opportunity to participate in this pageant has not only allowed me to learn more about my community and culture, but it has also shown me how important it is to carry on our traditions and help teach others, especially the younger generations, what we are all about.”
Valerie Silavong was crowned Miss Lao San Diego 2025. She expressed her gratitude to the sponsors and all the participants, stating, “Being Lao is not just an identity for me; it is a statement. I am proud to represent our people from this moment forward.”
The pageant is organized by the Lao Community Cultural Center of San Diego, which was founded in 1992. Its mission, as stated on their website, is to “promote unity and collaboration among Lao Americans of all ethnic groups and to facilitate cultural exchange between the Lao community and other communities at large.”
