OSU crowns Mr. and Miss Asian OSU 2024

Monday, March 18, 2024

Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Editor, Department of Brand Management | 405-744-7193 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University recently crowned Ike Imerbthama and Alison Samson as Mr. and Miss Asian OSU 2024.

The event, hosted by the Asian American Student Association and Office of Multicultural Affairs, was held in the Student Union Theater on March 9.

Imerbthama, a marketing junior from Owasso, Oklahoma, said the opening dance was one of the most challenging parts of the pageant. 

"I used to play soccer, so I used to be kind of flexible, but that was years ago," Imerbthama said. “It was a lot of fun. We started practicing three or four months ago, and it was a good challenge."

Samson, an applied exercise science sophomore with a minor in dance from Harrah, Oklahoma, described conquering her nerves as the most difficult part of the competition. 

"Immediately after, I felt this weird rush, like, 'This isn't real. This actually happened,'" Samson said.

Imerbthama’s platform is focused on supporting small businesses to bring people together and bolster the local population. 

"Especially in Stillwater, a small town, we all like to go out and support our community," Imerbthama said. 

His plans include hosting workshops on consumer behavior and business engagement. He highlighted local businesses like the recently opened Churro Bar and The Curty Shack.

Samson’s platform focuses on combating the stigma surrounding mental health within the Asian American community. 

"I want to be able to get the knowledge out there that it's okay to have mental health issues, and there are options to get help for those wondering," Samson said. "My main goal is to get people to feel better about themselves.”

One of the things she’s looking forward to in her reign is bringing in University Counseling Services to give a workshop about the importance of caring for mental health. 

Outside of the pageant life, Imerbthama has various interests, including creating his own YouTube videos and creative writing.  

Imerbthama credits several people as role models, including his parents, grandparents and a close friend, Evan Baker, who passed away. 

"He was always unapologetically himself and had a beautiful outlook on life," Imerbthama said. “He wanted people to be themselves, and I've tried to bring that to the table daily."

Samson has a deep passion for dance, which she showed in her talent portion of the competition. As a dancer since she was 3, her interest has gone beyond pageant life. 

"I do different master classes in OKC,” Samson said. “Then I teach dance, and I'll be coaching some competition teams next year. Seeing them grow is such an amazing feeling because I taught them that.”

Imerbthama concluded by encouraging others to participate in pageants. 

"It's a great way to be involved in your community and make new friends," he said. "It's also a great team-building experience."

Story By: Mak Vandruff | makenzie.vandruff@okstate.edu