Khmer Times/Nou Sotheavy
Thursday, 05 November 2015
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Jacqueline Bhagavan is the first Cambodian-American woman to be crowned Mrs. California-America. As this year’s winner, she is using her role and experiences to bridge the gap between her culture in America and the communities here in Cambodia.
Mrs. Bhagavan, who has been back to Cambodia three times since she left the country at the age of six, is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism for a trip to the Kingdom in an effort to promote tourism as a goodwill ambassador and a brand ambassador. She saw an ad made by the ministry about Cambodia on Bloomberg TV and was so impressed that she knew she had to help the world learn about the country she knew and loved.
She has already gathered many fans who respect her mission to highlight Khmer culture and beauty as a Cambodian-American woman.
“Cambodia is a hotspot for tourism, and as Mrs. California-America, I want to be a positive image for Khmers,” Mrs. Bhagavan told Khmer Times.
“As a Khmer-American woman, I’ve realized western culture doesn’t have a full picture of what it means to be a Khmer woman,” she said. Fighting against the stereotype of Khmer women as passive, she hopes her determination and story will make the world see Cambodian women in a different light.
Mrs. Bhagavan won the Fabulous Face Award and made it to the top 15 semifinalists at the Mrs. America competition, representing California in a competition of 51 women from each state.
As A Child
Born in Pailin, Mrs. Bhagavan recalls her childhood struggles with poverty after fleeing Cambodia. She found refuge at the age of six when her family settled in Houston, Texas.
Like many Cambodian refugees who fled the country during the years of war, Mrs. Bhagavan faced the shock of learning a new language and adjusting to American culture. Her escape from Cambodia left emotional scars. Her family hired smugglers to lead them to the Thai border, but ended up being robbed by them. One of the smugglers even shot the other in cold blood as a malnourished, 6-year-old Mrs. Bhagavan stood and watched in horror.
“The malnourishment I experienced as a child prevented me from having hair growth until I was six years old,” she said. “I also had to play catch up in my ability to process the aptitude needed for school.”
The mother of two did not let her mental and physical obstacles prevent her from living a full life.
“Your possessions can be removed and taken away, but not your knowledge. Another value is being honest and having integrity,” she added.
Overnight, she turned herself into a gifted student and pursued her dreams. As she grew older and had a family, she developed another dream – to be Mrs. California.
As a Mother
With the title, Mrs. Bhagavan felt she could give back to the country that provided her with freedom and opportunity. “Family is my top priority. As Mrs. California-America I want to share with married women the importance of taking care of yourself and your family even on a budget with limited time,” she said.
In a strong partnership with her husband, they work to provide a foundation of love for their family. One of her accomplishments is her work as a host of a web show called “Complexion Kitchen” – where she shares her tips for cooking healthy meals for families.
She plans to take her children to visit Cambodia to better understand their Khmer roots and the philosophical spirit of being Khmer.
“I want them to understand where they come from so they have a clear knowledge of who they are to take with them into the future.”
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