Local is Miss Taiwan World

Growing up in La Cañada, she never dreamed of being a beauty queen. In fact, when a friend told her about the upcoming Miss Taiwan World pageant auditions, Christine Dai said she thought, “No way, those girls are so gorgeous and talented, they’d never choose me.”

However, after filling out her paperwork and competing in the three categories — introduction, talent and question and answer — Dai, a 2004 graduate of La Cañada High School, propelled to the top of each level of the three-tiered pageant: Miss Taiwan, Miss Taiwan U.S.A., and ultimately as the 2008 Miss Taiwan World.

“I’m so honored,” Dai said. “I really never thought I’d win the competition.”

Dai was crowned in July in San Gabriel and will represent the Miss Taiwan Foundation at various local and international events throughout the year.

Dai is the only child of Becky and Peter Dai. Her parents are of Taiwanese and Chinese ancestry. She was born in Monterey Park and attended High Point Academy in Pasadena through fifth grade. The family moved to La Cañada when Christine was in the third grade. She attended Palm Crest Elementary School for sixth grade and later, La Cañada 7/8 and La Cañada High School.

Dai graduated with a 4.83 grade point average. This year, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in neuroscience and economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. She plans to attend graduate school at Harvard University, and possibly pursue a career as a dermatologist.

Dai has several hobbies and interests, including surfing, sail boarding, and other “out doorsy” activities. She also loves to shop, participate in volunteer activities and support her community.

While at the high school, she was involved in swimming, fencing, track and cross-country. She also enjoys horseback riding, art and oil painting.

Her volunteer activities include four years at Verdugo Hills Hospital and this past summer as a volunteer at Angels of the Valley Hospice in Montrose.

Caroline Sykes, a harpist and instructor at Pacific Harps in Pasadena, got to know Dai while helping Dai prepare for the Miss Taiwan World competition.

“Christine came to me in May and told me she was going to be in the competition, and she wanted to learn to play the harp,” Sykes said.

This was a bit surprising because the competition was to be in July, she added.

“That was pretty ambitious, but I thought we’d give it a try,” Sykes said, with a laugh.

Dai already knew how to play a smaller Chinese zither, and she had played piano since she was 4 years old, but she had never played a harp.

In the two months prior to the Miss Taiwan World competition, Sykes worked with Dai and taught her the basics, as well as “some flashy stuff,” Sykes said, adding that Dai practiced every day and learned quickly.

Sykes loaned Dai her gold harp for the competition and attended the event to watch her student.

“She was terrific. All of the girls were beautiful, and some were quite talented, but Christine was wonderful,” Sykes said.

She said Dai was articulate in speaking, poised and performed beautifully on the harp. “I was so proud of her,” she said. “And, then, when she called me and told me she won, I wasn’t surprised. She really deserved it.”