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Christina Sthair was crowned Miss Miami USA 2013 in March (2012) and just recently competed for Miss Florida USA 2013 on July 14, 2012.
Although she was did not win the Miss Florida USA 2013 title, Christina did place in the top 16 (out of 74 total contestants).
In addition to competing in beauty pageants, she is an aspiring television host who strives to become the Asian-American version of Oprah Winfrey some day.
HalfKorean.com had a chance to talk with Christina about her background, being Miss Miami USA 2013 and her career aspirations.
What is your mix?
I’m half Korean and half German-American.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Florida. I went to the University of Central Florida and majored in communications.
How did your parents meet?
My mom, who was born in Seoul, Korea, met my dad in New York. My parents met at church in Lake Placid, New York. My father was in town for work, he was a strength and conditioning coach for the Winter Olympics which took place in Lake Placid that year. He was walking home from church in the snow and my mom gave him a ride home.
How well do you speak Korean?
Oh my goodness. I only know the very, very basic like anyonghasaeyo (안녕하세요) and kamsahamnida (감사합니다) and baegopayo (배고파요). That’s about it. I’ve always been so mad at my mom for never teaching me but when she came to America she wanted to live the ‘American Dream’ and almost didn’t want me to learn Korean when I was little.
Growing up, I was the only Korean student at my school. I didn’t really hang out with any Koreans. Not because my mom didn’t want me to, that was just my environment. It was a very Americanized environment.
My five year old cousin is a pretty good teacher and has been teaching me some of the basics. So I’m on his level.
What is your favorite Korean food?
All Korean BBQ with rice and gochujang (고추장)!
You just briefly touched on it, but what was your mixed Korean experience like growing up?
As I said, I was the only Korean-American in my grade and school. I thought I looked like everyone else, I guess, but other kids definitely made it apparent that I didn’t. I was often made fun of and people would ask me if I was Chinese. Growing up I was a little embarrassed about it. I was embarrassed of all the Korean food I would eat because I didn’t see anyone else eating this food that I was eating.
But, as I grew older, I learned to embrace that and it something I’m very, very proud of. I love my Korean heritage.
Have you had a chance to go to Korea?
I went for the first time two summers ago. It was great and I got to the DMZ and I went to the border South and North Korea. That was a really life-changing experienced for me. When I was there I asked my mom what I could do to help and she told me there was nothing we could do and that is just how it is. But, when we got back home I found out about this organization called LiNK Global. I really like what they do and feel like they are trying to make a difference when no one else really is right now. That is one of my main platforms that I’m trying to bring awareness for.
We visited Korea for both vacation and my mother’s business. When my mom was young she worked on hairpieces as a job to help out her family. When I was born, my mom wanted to work out of the house so she started her own hair product distribution company. She has since built that up to be a major corporation and it was bought out by Revlon. With her knowledge of the hair industry, she has many patents on hairpieces and hair extension systems. So I’ve been surrounded by hair industry my whole life because of her.
We have to ask, what is the proper way to pronounce your last name?
It is pronounced like stare or stair and just has an ‘H’ thrown in there for fun because it’s German. It is funny because my mom is in the hair industry and everyone pronounces it as St. Hair.
How long have you been interested in entering beauty pageants and pursuing a career in the entertainment industry?
This is something that kind of just happened. I’m an aspiring television host. I call myself the “Asian Oprah” because that is a good visual of what I’m trying to go for. I want to be an inspirational television host who wants to make a positive change in the world.
With that came along this whole pageantry thing. I grew up watching beauty pageants but I never thought that I could be that girl on stage. I got recruited and then it all kind of made sense. I want to be in the entertainment industry and this gives me a great platform and experience to get my name out there and really makes sense for me to do it. And, it is pretty fun!
I would love to use my background in the beauty industry too. It would be great if I could be a television host specializing in the beauty industry.
Have your parents and family been supportive of your ambitions?
I am so blessed to have the most supportive parents ever. They’ve had so much confidence in me my whole life, probably more so than I’ve had in myself. They are my biggest supporters.
Has being of mixed race played any role in your career?
For me, it has definitely helped. In Florida, I’m usually one of the only ones and helps set myself apart. I feel that in television hosting, they really like that ethnically ambiguous look because it can appeal to so many different races.
Who are some of your influences?
Oprah Winfrey. I call myself the “Asian Oprah” because I think it gives people the idea of what I’m trying to do and accomplish. I really look up to her because she is a branded role model. She is a television host, business woman and has such a big heart to help people and those in need. Those are all qualities that I have and am trying to cultivate right now. She is definitely someone I look up to and admire.
What kind of goals have you set for yourself?
For short term, I’d like to have my own morning beauty talk show for a local station.
Long term, I want to have my own television network and being a brand and empire like Oprah, a positive one.
Was the Miss Miami pageant your first that you have competed in?
After I graduated from the University of Central Florida, I went to Los Angeles to pursue my television hosting career. I have family in LA. So, I got myself a hosting agent and was just trying to make it out there. When I was out there, I was recruited by the Miss California organization. That was the first time that pageants had ever been on my radar. I thought it was awesome and told them I’d do it and had no idea what I was getting myself into. But, the whole time, I felt like I was cheating on Florida because I’m not really from California. That was the first time I was approached by it so I just went with it. So, I placed top 20 out of 300 in Miss California. After doing that, I decided I was going to go home and try Florida. If I can place top 20, I’m going to take it in my home state. It was the confidence I needed to believe in myself enough to go home and try in my home state.
That you know of, were you the only Korean (or Asian) American competing for Miss Florida?
From what I’ve seen, I’m the only one. I think it is something that sets me apart. But, most people just kind of look at me as being ethnically ambiguous.
Funny you mention that. What do most people think you are?
You know I make the joke that when I’m in Florida I’m Asian and when I’m in California I’m Hispanic. It’s funny, because when I’m in Florida I’m one of the only Asians here and I embrace it and love it. When I go to California I’m not even considered a “real” Asian with all the Asians and Koreans there.
I get everything and it all depends on how tan I am at the moment. I’ve gotten Hawaiian and have been asked if I was an Eskimo before. I’ve also gotten Hispanic, Mexican, Filipino and lot of other things. I’ve even been asked if I was Italian!
How do you prepare for an event like Miss Miami or Miss Florida?
A lot goes into preparing for a pageant. Everything from training to runway walk, interviewing, public speaking skills and obviously health and fitness with eating healthy and going to the gym and getting your body in the best shape possible. And, of course, I need to get the perfect gown, swimsuit and all that kind of stuff. But, I find all that stuff fun anyway.
So, unfortunately, we know that you did not win Miss Florida USA 2013. How many contestants were there and what was the experience like?
There were 74 contestants in Miss Florida. I placed top 16. Only Asian to place! It was such an amazing experience. It pushed me to be the best person I could be! I expected to go further and I was ready to win. But, I believe God has a bigger and better plan for me.
Do you plan to enter any other pageants in the future?
I am officially retired from pageantry. I will continue as Miss Miami USA until I crown my successor in March 2013.
What are some of your roles as Miss Miami USA?
Basically the only thing you have to do as Miss Miami is compete for Miss Florida. Everything else is up to you and what you do with the title yourself. I’m out there in my community visiting children’s hospital, meet the mayor, I’ve thrown the first pitch at a Miami Marlins game, and I’ve hosted a segment on NBC Miami where I shared some of my beauty secrets.
Those are things that I’ve pursued and made happen. Honestly, I have the best title in the state of Florida, being Miss Miami. I don’t think it gets any better than that. I’m definitely trying to utilize that title and run with it.
Now that the Miss Florida is over, what’s next for you?
Right now, I live bi-coastal in both Los Angeles, CA and Miami, FL. I’m in Los Angeles right now pursuing a career in television hosting and I will be flying back to Miami frequently to fulfill my Miss Miami USA duties! I love being Miss Miami USA! I feel like I’m representing the sexiest city in the U.S.!
Any final words to the mixed Korean community?
I think this is something that should be embraced and sets ourselves apart, in a good way. I’m very proud of my Korean heritage and I think it is something we should all be proud of. Be confident in yourself and set yourself attainable goals and go after them.
We want to thank Christina for spending the time to talk with us. We wish her the best for the remainder of her reign as Miss Miami USA 2013 and continued future success. For more information regarding Christina, please check out her official website and follow her on Twitter.
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