Brook Antoinette Mahealani Lee (born January 8, 1971) is an American TV host, model and beauty queen who was crowned
Miss Hawaii USA 1997,
Miss USA 1997 and
Miss Universe 1997. Lee is the first native Hawaiian to win the title of Miss Universe.[1]
Early life
Lee is of Chinese, Korean, Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, French, Dutch and English ancestry.[2] Her Korean grandfather emigrated to Hawaii in the 1950s. Lee's mother, Toni, was president of Na Pua Ke Ali'i Pauahi, an alumni association of the school that petitioned the board for reforms.[3]
Lee represented the United States in the Miss Universe 1997 pageant in
Miami Beach, Florida.[9] On May 16, 1997, she won the crown at 26 years and 128 days, becoming the oldest Miss Universe to win at the time.[9][10][11]
"She is the host of KHON2’s “Modern Wahine Hawaii;” she is the co-host for the Podcast “It’s a Hawaii Thing;” and she dances hula at Halekulani’s “House Without a Key.” She also believes in service to the community, taking on the Artistic Director role with the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame, where she produces the annual Lei of Stars installation of Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame inductees, and serves as the secretary for the nonprofit BEHawaii."[13]