Miss Chinatown sees scar as a teaching opportunity

By Nancy Arcayna

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 26, 2011

~~<p>Shannon Wong didn't grow up with the expectation of "beauty queen" status in her future. Other neighborhood kids regarded her as an ugly duckling, calling her names like "scar face" and "split lip."</p>
<p>Wong, who holds the title of Miss Chinatown, was born with a cleft lip. She's now working with the Miss Chinatown organization to establish a fundraiser for Kapiolani Medical Center's clinic. As the new teen chairwoman for the clinic board, she often speaks to parents and children about her experience. This month, National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention month, Wong says, "I'm hoping to inspire children with challenges and give them hope. I didn't see myself as hideous.</p>
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Shannon Wong didn't grow up with the expectation of "beauty queen" status in her future. Other neighborhood kids regarded her as an ugly duckling, calling her names like "scar face" and "split lip."

Wong, who holds the title of Miss Chinatown, was born with a cleft lip. She's now working with the Miss Chinatown organization to establish a fundraiser for Kapiolani Medical Center's clinic. As the new teen chairwoman for the clinic board, she often speaks to parents and children about her experience. This month, National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention month, Wong says, "I'm hoping to inspire children with challenges and give them hope. I didn't see myself as hideous. Login for more...