Macel Leilani Wilson
Encyclopedia
Macel Leilani Wilson, of Honolulu, Hawaii
, was the first Asian American
to win the Miss USA
beauty pageant, and a film editor for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.
, becoming the first Asian American
to win that beauty pageant. Her title at that pageant was Miss Hawaii USA
. She went on to place as a semi-finalist in the 1962 Miss Universe
Pageant. Ms. Wilson later filled in at the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida
when Miss Universe Norma Nolan
of Argentina
fell ill with the measles
. She appeared on the Tonight Show on October 16, 1962.
, Denmark
and married Jens Henrik Packness, a civil engineer
. She then began studying film at University of Copenhagen
and painting in private classes. She also began work as a film editor at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. From 1973–1976, she and her family lived in Tunis
, Tunisia, where she continued her art studies at the Tunisian School of Fine Arts in Le Bardo
. In 1977 she returned to Copenhagen. In 1978, she resumed work as a film with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation until leaving in 2000. She continued her art studies and had several exhibitions in Danish galleries starting in 1999.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, was the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
to win the Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
beauty pageant, and a film editor for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.
Miss USA 1962
In 1962, she became Miss USAMiss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
, becoming the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
to win that beauty pageant. Her title at that pageant was Miss Hawaii USA
Miss Hawaii USA
The Miss Hawaii USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA pageant.Hawaii is the most recent state to start competing at Miss USA, as it first competed in 1962. Prior to this delegates were sent to Miss Universe...
. She went on to place as a semi-finalist in the 1962 Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
Pageant. Ms. Wilson later filled in at the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
when Miss Universe Norma Nolan
Norma Nolan
Norma Nolan , is an Argentine who became, in 1962, the first woman from that country to obtain the Miss Universe title. She won the title in Miami Beach, Florida. Nolan is of Irish and Italian descent...
of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
fell ill with the measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
. She appeared on the Tonight Show on October 16, 1962.
Life in Denmark and Tunisia
In 1967, Macel Wilson moved to CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and married Jens Henrik Packness, a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
. She then began studying film at University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
and painting in private classes. She also began work as a film editor at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. From 1973–1976, she and her family lived in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Tunisia, where she continued her art studies at the Tunisian School of Fine Arts in Le Bardo
Le Bardo
Le Bardo is a Tunisian city west of Tunis. As of 2004, the population is 73,953.Built by the Hafsid dynasty in the 15th century, the name Bardo comes from the Spanish word "pardo" meaning a garden. Bardo became a residence of the Tunis court in the 18th century...
. In 1977 she returned to Copenhagen. In 1978, she resumed work as a film with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation until leaving in 2000. She continued her art studies and had several exhibitions in Danish galleries starting in 1999.