Briana Fukushima was crowned NIU’s first Miss Asia Tuesday night in the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center.

Cristina Aguilera, Ms. Latina NIU 2004, crowned Fukushima as Prince’s “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” played in the background.

“It was nerve-racking. I was astonished to be the first Miss Asia,” Fukushima said. “I had to check my number twice because I was in shock. All of the girls did a wonderful job and I want to encourage other women to get involved next year.”

Fukushima said she plans to be at every event she can once she gets over the initial shock of winning.

Turnout for the event was more than expected, with more than 300 seats filled and more people standing at the back of the room.

Initially, 200 seats were set up, but 100 more were set up as more people kept showing up, said Michelle Vargas, junior history major and president of Alpha Phi Gamma sorority.

“For next year, we have a good idea what to expect,” Vargas said. “Maybe next year, we will have it at Carl Sandburg.”

Tuesday’s pageant featured contestant performances ranging from playing the piano, singing and dancing to juggling a soccer ball, reciting poetry and giving a spoken-word piece.

The cultural wear competition featured the contestants wearing traditional kimonos.

Finding cultural wear for the girls was one of the hardest parts about putting the show together, Vargas said.

“I borrowed my kimono from my mother,” said first runner-up Rosemarie Mayor, a senior political science and business management double major.

Second runner-up was Mar Dionela, a junior international business marketing and political science double major.

After the pageant, several students said the show was good exposure for the Asian community.

“This is another great benchmark, along with the Asian American Center,” said Jessie Bayani, a senior media studies major. “Our population is huge and it’s about time we got recognized a lot more.”