WA family notches firsts in global beauty pageant

• Regular tickets are $185.

Why it matters: This year, Kent residents Ekta and Sanjay Saini became the first people of South Asian descent to be appointed national directors of the Miss World America competition.

• Their daughter, Shree Saini is the reigning Miss World America and was the first Indian-American woman to represent the United States at the Miss World pageant, which was held in Puerto Rico.

Catch up quick: Shree Saini is a University of Washington graduate who has a pacemaker, survived facial burns from a car accident and has made overcoming disabilities a part of her platform.

• She placed second in the overall competition last year.