Megan
wikowsky
Filipina-Chinese
2023 Contestant #7
Miss Asian Chicago
Contestant Spotlight
Megan's Community Project Proposal
Megan's activities with us
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What's something memorable about you?
I have trained in a total of 4 different martial arts!
Why should the community support you for Miss Crowd Favorite?
I love talking to new people and getting to know them! Although I'm competing in a pageant, in my free time I enjoy hanging out with my roommates, playing Super Mario Bros., and training for boxing with my teammates!
Why did you join MAC? / What is your goal with MAC?
I joined MAC to prove to myself and the people around me that they are capable of doing anything they set their minds to, and everyone has an inner strength that only they can actualize!
Tell us about your community platform project.
I am focusing on mental health + fitness; oftentimes people overlook fitness as a means of aiding your mental health. While meditation, yoga, and hot baths are great, looking at different routes such as fitness are always beneficial. Providing alternatives and resources such as fitness classes, martial arts, and workshops are the best way to possibly help a young individual who is struggling with their mental health.
What about your heritage makes you proud?
The people- I am so proud to be apart of the Chinese and Filipino culture, as the people are welcoming, hospitable, and make the best food out there!
What is your spirit animal?
A frog! Green is my favorite color, and frogs represent a metamorphosis!
Share about a time you amplified someone's voice.
When I first started teaching children how to ride their bikes, one child was nervous about taking off their training wheels. One of the other kids who had recently gotten theirs off came up to me and asked if they could help the child who was nervous about taking their training wheels off. I said yes, and asked the child who was nervous if they wanted their help. They said yes, and I allowed the child to help the other one, since oftentimes, children learn from each other just as I learn from children. The child benefitted from learning from the other person, and they learned how to bike!
Share about a time you empowered another woman.
One time when I was in high school, my group was working on a project and one girl felt too shy to share her idea- she shared it with me individually outside of class, and I asked her if she wanted me to share it with the group. She said yes, and I shared it with the group. It felt good knowing that she was able to share her idea, and our whole group liked it! We ended up getting an A on the project, and the girl and I are still friends to this day.
What three things would you bring with you to a remote island?
I would bring pasta, my boxing wraps, and a tv that lets you play Crunchyroll!
What's a fun fact about you?
I am the youngest of three sisters!
What's your favorite quote?
"Be yourself, everybody else is already taken!" -Oscar Wilde
Hello! My name is Megan Belano Wikowsky, and I am contestant #7!
I am 20 years old, half Filipino, part Chinese, and half white. I am currently a college sophomore studying computer science and design at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and I hope to make user interfaces more accessible for persons with disabilities. In my free time I am a boxer, I love to illustrate, and I research disability design!
Growing up, I either felt too Asian for my white peers, or too white for my Asian peers. As a biracial girl growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, it felt as if there was no space for me. By attending UIC, I found a community that accepted me for everything I was. At UIC, I lead fitness classes and I became the first female President of UIC’s Boxing Club, and the first female national boxing champion title holder for our school.
It took me time to realize that instead of trying to fit into one community or molding into an image someone else had for me, I needed to find and develop my own community instead. I learned that I shouldn’t care about how others want me to fit into their world, but I should actively work harder to make the world a more accepting place for everyone.
Through the Miss Asian Chicago 2023 pageant and the inspirational women I meet, I hope to learn how I can be more accepting and understand the impact I have upon others. I want to empower everyone and show that everyone can make a difference and everybody has the power to make the world a better place!