Asian Pacific American Month
May is Asian and Pacific Islander American Month. This is a time for the US to recognize and celebrate the influence Asians and Pacific Islanders have had on the culture, history, etc of the US. Being part Asian myself, I really value my culture and am so thrilled to finally see Asian representation here in the US - be it in films, books, even on platforms like Tik Tok (*ahem* Avani). Here is a list of just some Asian Americans who inspire us while paving the way for future - and present! - generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Alexa Chung
Alexa Chung was born in England and is of Chinese descent. She modeled from the ages of 16 to 20 before quitting due to the low self-esteem she had developed during her career. However, she is still very successful. Chung has her own fashion line, which you can view at www.alexachung.com. She also has her own YouTube channel, which is funny, quirky, and has great style tips! Plus, make sure to check out Next In Fashion on Netflix, a fashion design competition series, hosted by Tan France and Alexa Chung. I know you may be thinking it’s going to be another one of those cheesy, reality competition shows, but I found it really different. The competitors on Next In Fashion are always giving each other advice instead of being stereotypically competitive and rude. And, most importantly, there are some really amazing designs that come out of the show!
2. Henry Golding
Henry Golding is a British-Malaysian actor who rose to stardom after playing the male lead in Crazy Rich Asians. He also has indigenous Iban ancestry and takes part in many Iban traditions, including bejalai, a rite of passage into manhood that men complete before they get married. You can watch his bejalai journey on YouTube. Following Crazy Rich Asians, Golding starred in Last Christmas, A Simple Favor, and more. For any of you Crazy Rich Asians fans - such as myself - I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that Golding is set to star in TWO Crazy Rich Asians sequels, which are both currently in pre-production.
3. Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling is an Indian writer, actress, and comedian who was probably first known for playing Kelly Kapoor on The Office. She is extremely successful and has worked/is working on many projects. Kaling’s big break was The Mindy Project, which she both created and starred in. Other projects of hers include Inside Out, The Morning Show, and A Wrinkle in Time. Kaling also recently created and produced Never Have I Ever, a comedy-drama with a very diverse cast, which is currently available to watch on Netflix. As for the future, Kaling will be writing Legally Blonde 3, alongside successful TV producer Dan Goor. Very exciting!!!
4. Gemma Chan
Gemma Chan is definitely one of my top style icons - I love her hair, sophisticated outfits, and minimalistic makeup. Chan is a Chinese actress who was born in London, England. Her biggest role was Astrid Young Teo, the cousin of Henry Golding’s character in Crazy Rich Asians. Chan has also acted in Fantastic Beasts, Captain Marvel, Mary Queen of Scots, and more. Outside of acting, she has partnered with Cook 19, a non-profit that provides homemade meals to NHS staff during the Corona Virus pandemic, Save the Children, and Unicef.
5. Lana Condor
You probably recognize Lana Condor from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. This is definitely her most famous role, but she has also been in movies such as X-Men: Apocalypse and Alita: Battle Angel. Condor was born in Vietnam and enjoys giving back to her hometown. Through The Asia Foundation, she developed a scholarship that allows girls in Vietnam to attend all four years of high school and aims to support and empower young women. Considering her young age (23), Condor is very successful and is a great role model for young Asian American girls and women everywhere.
6. Lily Chee
Lily Chee is a 16-year-old Asian American YouTuber. She also has a modeling career and is involved with the charity, Pencils of Promise, which works across the globe to build schools and create programs with the goal to provide education to all. Honestly, I am so jealous of Chee’s lifestyle! She travels to soo many amazing places, works at Brandy Melville, went to Coachella, and is always wearing stylish new clothes…all while being only 16 - which means she’s still in high school. Make sure to check out her YouTube channel or Instagram if you want to see a day in her life, shopping hauls, travel vlogs, and more.
7. Karan Brar
I bet many of you may recognize Karan Brar, an Indian American actor, from Jessie. Yes, he was Ravi in Jessie, but he has been in many tv shows and movies since then. However, his main project at the moment is The Cameron Boyce Foundation. As you may remember, Cameron Boyce played Luke in Jessie, alongside Brar. However, tragically, Boyce passed away last year, at 20 years old. Boyce and Brar were such close friends, so Brar, alongside another close friend and Boyce’s family, founded The Cameron Boyce Foundation, which honors Boyce by reducing gun violence and curing epilepsy. One of the biggest projects at the foundation is Wielding Peace, a social media campaign to end gun violence that Boyce had actually been planning before his death. Many stars have joined the cause, posting pictures of them wielding items significant to them in the place of guns, on Instagram and encouraging people to donate to The Cameron Boyce Foundation. At only 21, Brar has already made a huge difference in the world.
Wielding Peace Project
Special Mention: Vera Wang
We just had to include Vera Wang because, duh?! Wang is a Chinese American designer who was a senior fashion editor at Vogue for 15 years before starting a bridal boutique in 1990. Now, she has a design empire which is estimated to be worth $80 million. While her brand is most well known for bridal wear, Vera Wang also makes everyday wear (although the clothes are veeery expensive). Not only is Wang such a talented designer and super successful, but she is also 70 years old! Yeah, that’s right. 70. And, honestly, she’s probably more fit than me. Wang is an amazing role model for Asian American women…she grew her very own, massive empire from a small bridal boutique in New York City… she is healthy, talented, and a very determined, successful woman. Such an icon!
