Mamie Hong-Weinberg

Mamie Hong Weinberg is a lifelong resident of Chinatown who attended Castelar Elementary School, Nightingale Junior High, and Belmont High School. During her teenage years, she founded the Blue Heaven Dancers, a Chinese Folk Dance group based in Chinatown. Besides coordinating the performances, Ms. Weinberg was also responsible for choreography and costume design and was a member of the Asian American Ballet Company, and was later invited to join the Hwa Yi Chinese Ethnic Dance Company. Ms. Weinberg attended California State University Los Angeles where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Clothing and Textiles. After graduation, Mamie worked for the Broadway Department Store, and later for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Mamie is married, and the proud mother of 18-year-old twin girls, one who was the 2013 Little Queen. Mamie’s father and his family owned and operated Hong Kong Low restaurant in Chinatown, also home to the infamous punk and New Wave club, Hong Kong Cafe. Among her father's many altruistic endeavors, he served as the President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the 1960s, and Mamie feels honored to continue with that legacy in serving the Chinatown community. Mamie has been committed to volunteer work in Chinatown for decades having been a founding member of the Friends and Alumni of Castelar Elementary School (FACES), Chinatown Resident Representative and 4th President of the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council, and a Park Advisory Board member for Alpine Recreation Center, and plan to continue with that process.

Chaperone Committee, Contest CommitteeChinese ChamberJuly 22, 2025Parade Chair, Vice President

Ashley Thompson

Ashley Thompson has a rich and diverse heritage that she proudly embraces. Her mother immigrated from Hong Kong to the United States as an infant, and her father has both Caucasian and Hispanic backgrounds. Ashley grew up in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, where she was deeply connected to her cultural roots and immersed in her Chinese heritage. She attended Castelar Elementary School and spent countless hours at the local Alpine Recreation Center, where she played basketball, learned classical piano, and enjoyed time with friends. Ashley was fortunate to work at both Alpine and Castelar, allowing her to give back to the very community that raised her, all while balancing her college studies.

Today, Ashley brings her expertise to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, working as a Building Mechanical Inspector. She applies her extensive knowledge of codes to residential construction projects throughout Los Angeles, ensuring safety and quality for the city’s residents.

A proud wife and mother to her son, Ashley’s passion for community engagement extends well beyond her professional life. She believes in the importance of remembering one’s roots and always giving back. Ashley began volunteering at age 13 at Alpine Rec Center, working with the youth in the summer camp program. She remains active in several volunteer initiatives in Chinatown. She currently serves as a board member for Precision Health Center, an accessible and affordable health clinic. She is also on the planning committee for the LA Firecracker Run, a distinguished event promoting health, community, and culture through its run/walk/bike activities.

In 2019, Ashley was crowned Miss Los Angeles Chinatown 3rd Princess, following in the footsteps of her aunt, who earned the same title in 1996. This experience connected her with an inspiring sisterhood of like-minded women, and she hopes to encourage other young women to join the MLAC community and make a positive impact in the LA Chinatown that has shaped her.

Chaperone Committee, Pageant Committee, Alumni CommitteeChinese ChamberJuly 22, 2025Associate Training Director