Isa Salmen
September 19, 2024
Introducing Ariel, an accomplished pageant titleholder with distinctions including Miss Teen British Columbia 2016, Miss Asia Pacific International Canada 2018, Miss British Columbia 2023, and a top 8 finalist at Miss Grand USA 2024. With an academic background from the University of Cambridge and Harvard, Ariel’s accomplishments reflect her dedication to excellence in pageantry and her significant contributions to education. We are honoured to explore her exemplary achievements and impactful initiatives
Ariel, you’ve graced the international stage in over 13 beauty pageants during the past 10 years. You won the title of Miss Teen British Columbia 2016, Miss British Columbia 2023, and represented Canada at Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 . Most recently, as Miss Grand New York 2024, you placed in the top 8 at the national Miss Grand USA 2024. Do you have a favourite story or moment from your pageant experience that you love to reflect on? What key skills have you learned from pageantry that have carried over into your professional life?
My favourite memories from pageantry always stem from the people I meet, whether they are other contestants, organisers, community members, or my students, as I’ve also started coaching young women through their journey. Some of my closest friends are women I’ve met through pageantry. Although it’s a competitive environment, the women have always been incredibly supportive, driven, and empowering, helping me to become the best version of myself so that I can better serve those around me. For instance, my college roommate is someone I met at a community service event during one of my appearances as a teen titleholder. I later competed against her in a pageant and even coached her through another competition. We bonded over our love for the glitz and glamour, as well as pageantry’s impact on how we connect with our community. During my time competing internationally at Miss Asia Pacific International, I made friends from around the world. Miss Netherlands, for instance, was recently conducting her PhD research at Boston Children’s Hospital, and we spent a lot of time together in Boston while I was completing my Master’s at Harvard. After Miss Grand USA, I joked that I now have couches to crash on in all the states where there’s a Miss Grand state titleholder!
Since 2017, I’ve coached over 30 young women in pageantry, having founded Crown Academy Consulting (www.crownacademy.io), and have recently coached national winners, including Miss Teenage Canada and Miss World Canada. As an Asian immigrant, when I first started competing in pageants over 10 years ago, very few women looked like me in these competitions. Now, I feel a sense of accomplishment and excitement seeing more representation in the community and am grateful to help young women navigate this journey.
You have an excellent educational background, having studied at the University of Cambridge and earned an EdM from Harvard Graduate School. As a professional in visual arts, computer science, and higher education, what inspired you to initiate large projects aimed at improving inclusive education? In your expert opinion, what are the biggest challenges in this field? If you could change anything in education or technology with the snap of your fingers, what would it be?
Over the past decade, I’ve found deep fulfillment through education. As an EdM graduate from Harvard, an MPhil graduate from Cambridge, and the CEO of a STEM education nonprofit called Girls in STEAM (www.instagram.com/girlsinsteamorg), I’m privileged to be an educator advocating for accessible and inclusive learning environments. Growing up, I was frustrated by constantly being boxed into stereotypes, so I now mentor young women to embrace their unique identities and intersectionalities. Whether as a scholar, leader, or beauty queen, we can embody all of these roles simultaneously.
The biggest challenge in today’s corporate world is the lack of women in positions of power. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, «Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.» If I could change anything in education or technology with a snap of my fingers, I’d ensure that more women and people from diverse identities are included in decision-making processes.
What were your main goals when you founded the nonprofit Girls in STEAM?
STEAM stands for STEM + Art & Design because we need both STEM and artistic minds to create products and processes that are truly accessible and inclusive for people from all walks of life. Girls in STEAM is a nonprofit that supports access to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Design, Mathematics) education for girls, women, gender-diverse students, and the LGBTQ+ community across North America. We aim to address gender disparity in the tech industry by building a community, offering educational programming, and providing an accessible network for underrepresented groups to launch their careers in STEAM. In 2025, we’ll host the first-ever Girls in STEAM Conference at the University of British Columbia, where speakers, workshop facilitators, and industry leaders will share their expertise with aspiring collegiate women in STEAM. This nonprofit stemmed from my MPhil research dissertation at Cambridge on access to design education and was incubated at Harvard Innovation Labs last year. I’m grateful to have a board of women across North America who share this vision and help bring this project to life.
What strategies do you use to expand educational programs and opportunities for underrepresented groups? Can you share examples of how Girls in STEAM is helping to create a more diverse and inclusive community in tech? Where do you see your organisation going in the future?
At Girls in STEAM, we focus on building community partnerships with professionals, educators, and advocates committed to promoting diversity in STEAM fields. Our 2025 full-day conference will feature interactive workshops, panels, and activities designed to empower young women and gender-diverse individuals to explore their potential in STEAM, overcoming the barriers posed by societal stereotypes and lack of representation. By ensuring the event is financially and physically accessible, we make it possible for participants from all backgrounds to engage, gain valuable skills, and build confidence. We prioritise diverse representation among speakers and mentors to create an inclusive environment where participants can envision themselves in STEAM fields.
Looking ahead, Girls in STEAM plans to expand geographically and develop year-round programs like mentorship and seasonal workshops. We aim to create online resources to reach underserved communities, and in the long term, form partnerships with tech companies and educational institutions to provide pathways to internships and careers in STEAM. As we grow, we remain dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive tech community, continuously adapting our initiatives to meet the evolving needs of STEAM education.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why?
For the past two summers, I’ve worked in residential and campus life for pre-college programs at the University of British Columbia and Yale University. Currently, I work in higher education as an administrator and educator, which I love because I personally enjoyed my college experience so much. Now, I get to share my passion for creating memorable and fulfilling campus life experiences with students. My interests in higher education include admissions, global experiences, and student affairs. I have a deep passion for working with people from diverse backgrounds and mentoring high school students to make well-informed post-secondary decisions. I also enjoy coaching college students—many of whom serve as advisors at these summer programs—helping them learn how to lead with intention as they prepare to enter the professional world. Ultimately, my goal is to earn a PhD in Education and become a dean, provost, or university president, where I can build campuses that foster diverse and inclusive learning environments and support students in becoming lifelong learners.
Model: Ariel Cao @arieljcao
Photography: The Code Creatives @thecodecreatives
Hair and makeup: Beauty by LadyCode @beautybyladycode
Red and the 2 gold dresses: Ekaj Team @ekaj_team