حوإ¼½م½م graduate Leeanna Lor ’22 was the subject of a highlighting her dual roles as Miss Hmong Minnesota 2023 and a burn unit nurse at St. Paul Regions Hospital.
Lor was crowned Miss Hmong Minnesota 2023 after a two-day competition last November during the Hmong New Year celebration. Since 1984, the pageant has been a popular showcase and celebration of Hmong culture in Minnesota, which is home to the largest urban population of Hmong Americans in the country. The pageant offers the crown winner and two runner-ups the opportunity to work collaboratively to organize community events and fundraisers.
As Miss Hmong Minnesota, Lor also plans to use her platform to increase health education among the Hmong community. The language and cultural barriers she experienced in medical settings growing up motivated her to become the advocate she wished she’d had in the hospital room. As a nurse, she hopes to act as a resource for other Hmong speakers in the hospital and ensure everyone gets proper care.
“I’m really honored to represent the community and be that bridge between the youth and elders and within my field of nursing,†said Lor. “I think there’s a lot of pressure and a lot of people look up to me but I feel very honored to be here and speak about my journey.â€