Michelle Banzer

photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Michelle Stephanie Banzer

Place of Birth: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 2, 1982

Ethnicity:
*father – Austrian, German, Irish, Scottish, English, Cherokee Native American
*mother – Vietnamese, Chinese, Mongolian, Russian

Michelle Banzer is an American model and beauty queen. She competed in the Miss USA pageant in 2007, and also goes by the name Michelle Zen. She was the first non-white person to represent Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant.

Michelle has said:

Nationality: American… Ethnicity: My mom is a mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese, Mongolian and Russian, while my father is German, Cherokee Indian and Irish. I grew up speaking, reading and writing Vietnamese.

Michelle’s paternal grandfather was Charles Harris Banzer (the son of Joseph M. Banzer and Ella/Ellen M. Harris). Charles was born in Texas. Joseph was born in Triesen, Liechtenstein, the son of Constantine Banzer and Susana Bargetzy.

Michelle’s paternal grandmother was named Wealthea/Waltha/Wealtha Roberta Sutherland (the daughter of Willard R. Sutherland/Southerland and Mayme/Mamie A.). Waltha was born in Missouri.

Sources: Genealogies of Michelle’s paternal grandparents, Charles Harris Banzer and Wealthea/Waltha/Wealtha Roberta Sutherland –

Michelle’s paternal grandfather, Charles Harris Banzer, on the 1910 U.S. Census –
Charles Harris Banzer on the 1920 U.S. Census –

Michelle’s paternal great-grandparents, Joseph M. Banzer and Ella/Ellen M. Harris, on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Death record of Michelle’s paternal great-grandfather, Joseph M. Banzer –

Michelle’s paternal grandmother, Wealthea/Waltha Roberta Sutherland, on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Michelle’s paternal great-grandparents, Willard R. Sutherland/Southerland and Mayme/Mamie A., on the 1910 U.S. Census –