By Hope Vang
As cheers and applause erupted from the audience, it was announced that Michelle Truong (ΦBK, University of California, Irvine) was crowned Miss Áo Dài 2025 in the Miss Vietnam of Southern California (MVSC) Pageant in January. In the events leading up to this moment, Truong reflects on how her success and perseverance stem from her love of community, advocacy, and transformation. From her cultural involvement and academic endeavors, this proud ΦBK member hopes to inspire other academics to reach new heights.
Truong graduated from the University of California, Irvine, in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in international studies. She returned the following year to earn her master’s degree in Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics in a 4+1 program. “I chose my major because I am passionate about how politics intersect with all aspects of our lives,” Truong said. “By understanding politics, we can use it to better people’s lives.”
While at UC Irvine, Truong continued to stay involved with the Irvine community by joining organizations such as the Vietnamese Student Association and Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She also interned in the University of California Washington Center (UCDC) program at the nation’s capital. Currently, Truong works as an organizer for a labor union in Orange County, where she helps working people use their collective power to build a better future. Furthermore, she continues to participate in community events and volunteer work as part of the 2025 MVSC Royal Court.
Whether through her academic, professional, or volunteer experiences, community remains at the heart of Truong’s dedication. Her education in the liberal arts encouraged her to look for connections between various systems that impact people’s lives. “It is super important, especially in today’s climate, to be knowledgeable and willing to learn from a wide range of topics to best serve others,” Truong said. “The liberal arts taught me that. I am a better organizer and a better person because I can understand and empathize with the people I work for.”
Truong remembers when she was first inducted into UC Irvine’s ΦBK Mu Chapter in 2023. “My ΦBK membership is validation that my work and education are important,” she recalled. “Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of people like me who were motivated to study topics in the liberal arts, and I got criticized for choosing it. Being in ΦBK is a way of reminding myself that I am not alone in my passion.”
Now, as Miss Áo Dài 2025, Truong’s ΦBK membership remains integral to her experiences. MVSC is a space for sisterhood and cultural celebration that allows her to connect with different community members and transform the future of her Vietnamese community, opening doors to new challenges and endeavors. Her title, Miss Áo Dài, is a tribute to and a celebration of Vietnamese culture.
“It felt so special to be honored for these traits. My friend Faith, who was also initiated into ΦBK at the same time as me, had been manifesting this specific title for me since I was chosen as a contestant,” said Truong. “Being around truly talented and motivated people encourages me to continue to dream big.”
Truong credits her experiences in higher education and membership with ΦBK to her involvement with the MVSC organization: “To me, ΦBK reminded me of the importance of getting a well-rounded education. MVSC is about encouraging young women to achieve their dreams while honoring their heritage. I would not have had the confidence to apply for MVSC without my experiences in higher education.”
Hope Vang graduated from the University of California, Irvine in June 2023 with a B.A. in English, a B.A. in comparative literature, and a minor in creative writing. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa by UCI’s Mu of California chapter during her senior year. This fall, she will be a second-year master’s student in English literature at Fresno State University.