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Ayako Kosuge as Miss Asia USA 2016

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DO YOU HAVE A DREAM?

I DO! And, I need your help to make it come true.

My dream is to become Miss Asia USA!

My name is Ayako Kosuge and I am a fashion model, yoga instructor and Italian chef. I live in Los Angeles, California and I have been chosen as Miss Japan to compete for the Miss Asia USA 2016 crown. To achieve this goal, I am assembling a world-class team, from top fashion designers, makeup artists and professional photographers. My hope is that this elite team of professionals will reveal my hidden potential and catapult me to success.  I am ready for the challenge! However, this challenge will be a costly one, which is where my family and I need your help. I need to raise $15,000 to be competitive for the crown of Miss Asia USA.

My modeling career started shortly after high school while I was living in Italy and scouted by Ducati Motors. I was the only Asian woman and it was tough work, but while I was working, some beautiful children told me that they wanted to be like me. That is when I realized that there are young girls out there who were inspired by me, which gave me a purpose. So, I decided to continue modeling and serve as a role model for those who may never have an opportunity such as this.

During that time, my cooking career was beginning to take flight and I moved to Japan to be the head chef of a new cooking school. I continued to model and realized that my true passion was to strut in front of people, so I moved to NY to kick-start my modeling career. My most memorable show in NY was in Central Park where over 2,000 people attended and supported a local designer. I was so happy at this stage of my career!

My modeling career was really starting to flourish, and to make ends meet I was working for many Italian restaurants as a chef. Then, one of my colleagues from Italy called and said that he was opening an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles. I jumped at the chance to work with him again and moved to California with increased vigor and energy. While in LA, I saw an ad for “Miss Newport Beach.” The ad reminded me why I started modeling while I was in Italy; I wanted to be famous and be on stage. Surprisingly, I became second runner-up and was the first Asian woman to ever place in the contest. That was when one of the judges recommended that I compete for Miss Asia USA 2008. 

I was so happy that my modeling career was again taking shape, which is when I was hit with a bit of bad news. My doctor found that my vocal cord had been seriously damaged and it was possible that I could lose my voice. While being treated for my sickness, I never gave up and continued training for Miss Asia USA 2008. My dearest mother and brother, who had never visited the U.S., attended the contest from Japan to see me standing on the Miss Asia USA 2008 stage. I was so proud that I could show them who Ayako really was. I was so disappointed that my father did not get to see me win the courage award at Miss Asia USA 2008. However, after the contest, I heard that he had had a serious stroke and surgery. He never let me know before the contest so that I would not worry. My mother brought back the contest program and pictures to Japan to show my father, and my mother told me that he took them to show his coworkers and neighbors. I was so happy that I could become a daughter that my father would be proud of.  That was one of the happiest moments in my life.

With the experience Miss Asia USA 2008, I received many offers to model at fashion shows. However, my vocal cord disease became serious and I had to have surgery. I returned to Japan for a year for surgery and rehabilitation. After that year, I was back in LA and restarted my modeling career. It was then that I grew interested in yoga and became a yoga instructor.

Shortly after that, I had heard that a very good friend of mine had passed away from uterine cancer. I was so shocked and had fallen into depression. I had completely lost all confidence as a model. A month later, I received a letter from a friend in which she wrote, “stay healthy and follow your dreams. Your dream to become the top model in the world will come true. Just keep shining!” It was then that I regained my confidence to stand on stage.

And now, I received an offer to represent Japan for Miss Asia USA 2016. I am confident that I can win the crown of Miss Asia USA 2016, I will be the one and I am truly grateful for all of the support I have received thus far, but I have more work to do.

In order to achieve my goal, I will need funds for the following:

Japanese Kimono - $5,000
Evening Dress - $2,000
Hair Stylist and Make-up Artist -  $4,000
Professional Photographer - $1,000
Miscellaneous Fees - $3,000 (application, tickets, advertising, etc.)

The total budget is $15,000. I know that this is a big project and not inexpensive. My dream is so close and I would love for you to share in my success as Miss Asia USA 2016!

Please help and support me! Any amount will be helpful and appreciated.
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Donations 

  • naomi isogawa
    • $42
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer

Ayako Kosuge
Organizer
Torrance, CA

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