#THROWBACK, BABY!

Written By Pagnia Xiong

#Throwback, Baby!

2005. Hmong American New Year Banquet, Minneapolis, MN.

5 Things You Need to Know About This Picture

1.  I love gold.  Gold earrings, gold embellishments, gold heels (unpictured), gold handbag (unpictured), and gold hair.  Can you tell?

2.  The Hmong American New Year kindly invited me as a guest performer for their annual banquet as I took first place that year at their vocal contest.   

3.  I performed a cover of Luj Yaj's "Muaj Ib Hnub," which was requested by a former Hmong professor in the summer of 2004.  Who knew it'd become a favorite of my listeners, including the judges I performed for. 

4.  Although I cringed while watching this 10-year-old video, I am grateful to realize the evolution of my singing and performing abilities.  I promise you will never see anymore hand gestures resembling tus noog from me. 

5.  I am grateful for vocal contests in the Hmong community.  Of course, I would agree with many music artists that we still need more development and professionalism in the Hmong vocal competitions.  But without the vocal contests I entered years ago, I may not be where I am today. 

 

Pagnia Xiong

Pagnia Xiong is an internationally recognized Hmong-American singer, actor, and creative producer. A self-taught artist, Pagnia has spent nearly two decades using her music to empower women, promote self-love, and inspire the pursuit of dreams. Her albums and performances have reached hundreds of thousands worldwide, and she's made history as the first Hmong-American female music artist to perform at a major U.S. league sporting event. Beyond music, Pagnia is an accomplished actor, making her main stage debut with Theater Mu to critical acclaim. She recently headlined her first solo concert at the Ordway and launched a Hmong Music Mentorship program in 2025.

http://www.pagniaxiong.com
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