Talk of the town
Business group gets tips for selling cheesecake on web
by Jim Gardner

The Asian Business Association didn't have to look far for a model of Asian webbased success to feature at its seminar on Internet business opportunities on Nov. 11.

Whether it's found a role model or a lingerie model is open to question. The association's pinup panelist for the day is of course Esther Hwang, Mayor Willie Brown's scheduling secretary, who will enlighten the group's annual business conference on how she's used the web to increase her exposure.

A former Miss Chinatown, the City Hall functionary was otherwise unknown until this summer, when Hwang made headlines with a personal web site of scantily clad modeling photos.

Now, she is being hailed as a "gifted entrepreneur" for creating her own business on the Internet and flashing more than 1 million visitors to her site in one recent month.

The Asian Business Association cites Hwang's creativity and marketing skills as having helped her launch a modeling, acting and endorsement career with appearances on TV's Nash Bridges, and clientele that includes Gucci and Bebe. Oh, and she still works for the Mayor.

No word on Hwang's intended get-up on Nov. 11, but we're guessing that fellow panelists will have a tough act to follow.