Editing E. Lynne Kimoto (section)

==Pageantry and Early Recognition==

Before leaving Hawaii for university, Lynne Kimoto came to broader public attention through competitive modeling and beauty pageantry. Her mother entered a photograph of Lynne into a national modeling competition whose prompt centered on "the importance of a smile." The contest was co-sponsored by major American brands including Coca-Cola, United Airlines, and Jantzen, the Pacific Northwest swimwear company. Lynne won the state-level round in Hawaii and advanced to the national competition, which she also won. Her prize included a trip to New York City — her first visit to the continental United States — for the debut of Jantzen's new spring collection, in which she participated as a featured model.

In the wake of her national win, the Honolulu-based department store '''Liberty House''' promoted Lynne as its winning contestant, giving her an early platform in Hawaii's retail and fashion landscape. She subsequently enrolled at the '''University of Hawaii''' for two years, studying fashion business, before deciding to pursue her education on the mainland.