Macel Leilani Wilson

Macel Patricia Leilani Wilson, of Honolulu, Hawaii, (b. 5 May 1943) was the first Asian American to win the Miss USA beauty pageant, a film editor for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, and a visual artist.

In 1962, she became Miss USA, becoming the first Asian American to win that beauty pageant. Her title at that pageant was Miss Hawaii USA. She went on to place as a semi-finalist in the 1962 Miss Universe Pageant. Ms. Wilson later filled in at the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida when Miss Universe Norma Nolan of Argentina fell ill with the measles. She appeared on The Tonight Show on October 16, 1962.

In 1967, Macel Wilson moved to Copenhagen, Denmark and married Jens Henrik Packness, a civil engineer. She then began studying film at University of Copenhagen and painting in private classes. She also began work as a film editor at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. From 1973–1976, she and her family lived in Tunis, Tunisia, where she continued her art studies at the Tunisian School of Fine Arts in Le Bardo. In 1977 she returned to Copenhagen. In 1978, she resumed work as a film editor with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation until leaving in 2000. She continued her art studies and had several exhibitions in Danish galleries starting in 1999.

...
Wikipedia