Miss Chinatown Houston Pageant

As we head into pageant day, let’s meet the final member of our 2024 court: Miss Chinese New Year, Courtney Starks .23

📚 Courtney is a rising sophomore at Texas A&M, pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. Right now, she’s working at a pet boarding facility to gain hands-on experience with animals and further prepare for a future career in veterinary medicine.

👑 From Courtney: Being part of the pageant has been such a meaningful experience! It deepened my connection to my culture, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and gave me friendships I’ll always treasure. Preparing for the pageant helped me grow in confidence and grace — skills I now carry into interviews, leadership roles, and working with clients in a professional setting. The experience empowered me to embrace both my cultural identity and career goals with pride and purpose. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’m forever grateful for the journey. I can’t wait to cheer on the next group of incredible contestants.

✨Her advice to this year’s contestants: Being on stage and putting yourself out there is scary, and just showing up is already a huge achievement. Be proud of yourself and enjoy the journey — before you know it, you’ll be crowning the next court and looking back on all the amazing memories you’ve made.

🎟️ Come support Courtney as she crowns her successor tonight! Tickets: misschinatownhouston.org