Miss Hawaii 2000 and Miss America 2001, Angela Perez Baraquio, a Catholic elementary school teacher and now Principal, was crowned Miss Hawaii in June 2000 and went on to become the First Asian-American Miss America on October 14, 2000. To date, she is the only Filipina Miss America in history to win the prestigious crown, since the pageant's inception in 1921 on the shores of Atlantic City, NJ.
As the 8th of ten children born of immigrant parents, Angela was honored to be named the first teacher and the first to win with Hula as a talent in the iconic Miss America competition. Winning the title was the realization of an American Dream for her and her family.
After five years of teaching in Catholic schools and earning her Master's degree in Educational Administration, Angela decided that the world was her new classroom. From 2006-2008 Angela was a Presidential Appointee to George W. Bush's President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. Today, Angela is happily married to her high school sweetheart and is the and mother of five - four boys and one girl. After gaining real world experience she returned to the classroom as a Junior High English teacher and Vice Principal. Today, she is the Principal of a K-8 Catholic Elementary School in LA County, named St. Anthony of Padua School. Angela is also a Motivational Speaker, TV Host, Business Owner, Pageant Consultant, and Author. Her passion is helping people of all ages and backgrounds to define and achieve their personal and professional goals, inspiring them to reach their dreams by developing their character. Angela is a pro-life advocate who promotes the idea of "Whole Life". She believes in the intrinsic dignity of the human person from natural conception to natural death. After her brother shockingly died by suicide in 2006, Angela began to speak out publicly on pro-life issues and the importance of faith and family. She is the author of the faith-based inspirational memoir, "Amazing Win, Amazing Loss: Miss America Living Happily, EVEN After."
Some topics Angela has spoken about to faith-based organizations in the past include, but is not limited to:
1. Experiencing Celebrity from a Catholic Perspective
2. Character in the Classroom: Teaching Values, Valuing Teachers
3. The Role of Mothers in Raising Children of Good Character
4. Being "IN" the World, But Not "OF" the World
5. Amazing Win, Amazing Loss: Miss America Living Happily, EVEN After
6. Finding Your Passion
