23 Asian American editors and influencers on representation, pride, and self-love.
In This Article
There was a distinct period in my life when I was fixated with my eyelids.
I hated my monolids and wanted to have a clear, defined crease more than anything.
Its still an ongoing process.
But working in the industry as an Asian person is a complicated experience.
Theres tokenism, appropriation, and daily microaggressions in the form of veiled compliments.
As anti-Asian hate crimes grow exponentially, its time for our stories to be told.
No more model minority myth.
No more putting everyone elses causes before our own.
My grandparents immigrated to Taiwan from China during the cultural revolution.
Growing up, did you see yourself represented in media or magazines?
How did that affect your perception of beauty?
My favorite model was Renee Simonsen, a blue-eyed blonde Danish cover star.
It bred self-loathing in not only myself but I think many of my peers.
Clear lack of representation was compounded with simultaneous misrepresentation.
And I learned to speak English without a trace of accent.
But I knew I was never fully accepted.
I was everyones pet: Teeny-Tiny Tina.
I wore heavy black eyeliner to make my eyes appear rounder and accentuated my lids with pastel-blue eyeshadow.
The few Asians at my schools were the typical quiet and studious kids of immigrants.
Instead, I was loud and demanded attention.
I spent a lot of time in detention.
They wanted me to know my place.
My family worried about me.
They thought I was a troublemaker, and I was: Little Tina wanted to be heard.
When Lucy Liu came on the scene in the 90s, I was in college at USC.
WE LOOK NOTHING ALIKE.
At 18, I stopped tanning and have never tanned again.
Suddenly, I was more interested in taking care of my skin than altering the shade of it.
And I began doing my makeup in a way that suited me, rather than disguise me.
What has your experience been as an Asian American in the fashion/beauty industry?
Its been mostly positive, because I demanded to be treated well.
I’ve simply never accepted anything less.
If people were racist towards me, Id call them out.
I felt seen because Idemandedto be seen.
I never felt represented anywhere, so I decided to represent myself.
How do seeing “trends” like fox eye makeup make you feel?
I detest fox-eye makeup and the accompanying gestures of pulling ones eyes back.
It reminds me of kids yanking up their eyes at me and shouting, Chinese!
when I was young.
They tag us interchangeably on Instagram.
Mixing me up with Tina Leung: I get that because of our names.
We look nothing alike.
Shes gorgeous, but the fact is, we look nothing alike.
What do you want allies and non-Asian people to know most about how to support the Asian community?
We are not the quiet minority that will be passively silenced and continuously stereotyped.
End the model minority myth, and start by educating yourself on the wide Asian-American experience.
Its vast, layered and a vital part of the tapestry that makes up this country.
Volunteer with organizations doing their part, like theNAPAWF.Support your local Chinatown and Asian-owned businesses.
Every little bit counts.
Speak up on the subject.
Racial injustice and hate crimes against Asian-Americans are seriously underreported by mainstream media and underplayed by government officials.
The more people spread awareness, the more chance we have for real change.
Growing up, did you see yourself represented in media?
How did that affect your perception of beauty?
I did not see myself represented in magazines growing up.
If you want to know what kind of Asian I am, just ask that question.
The fashion/beauty industry has had a long term fascination with Asian cultures.
Searching the Internet doesn’t compare to talking to elderly people about their experiences.
Support the Asian community by amplifying the stories of this violence to your web connection.
Talk about it because the news wont.
Say it’s unacceptable.
Zareen Siddiqui
Deepica Mutyala
Instagram:@deepica
Background:South Asian
Absolutely not.
I changed everything about myself; dyed my hair blonde and wore blue contacts.
It’s the whole reason I set down the career path that I am.
I want to change this narrative for the next generation.
What has your experience been in the fashion/beauty industry?
I’ve always felt tokenized in the beauty industry.
My goal is to normalize all shades and skin tones to be seen as equals.
We deserve more opportunities in creative careers.
Kathleen Hou
Instagram:@kathleenhou
Background:Taiwanese-American.
The first Asian I saw on TV was Connie Chung.
The first Asian I read about was Claudia Kishi of the Babysitter’s Club.
Then, in my teen years, on a summer trip to Taiwan, I realized Asians were everywhere.
There were Taiwanese basketball players.
There were Asian makeup artists who didn’t attempt to Westernize my features.
And I still do, in many ways.
Thanks to the explosion of J-Beauty and K-Beauty, we are recognized for our manufacturing know-how to the industry.
In brand discussions and imagery, it seems that the only races discussed are either white or Black.
I receive so many DMs asking, “What is the best ______ for Asian _____?”
I can’t even imagine how underrepresented the Southeast Asian and Indian community must feel in beauty.
you could support more than one community at a time.
Asians have to be included in anti-racism discussions.
My background is a huge part of who I am.
My earliest memory of feeling somewhat represented was watching Michelle Kwan figure skating at the 1998 Olympics.
When I visit Manila, there are entire drugstore sections dedicated to whitening your skin.
I have to say it feels really lonely at times.
Even when I found success, it still felt lonely at times.
But I always wondered to myself…if I wasnt there, would that still happen?
People dont even realize the number of microaggressions we face daily.
!….like it was a surprise I was comfortable and commanding in front of a camera.
Both meant it as compliments.
I want allies and non-Asian people to expand their understanding of Asiantheres a lot of nuance.
Our traditional clothes are not costumes you might put on for Halloween.
Our food isnt just your Friday night takeout.
Our countries arent just Instagram background playgrounds.
Our traditional clothes are not costumes you’re able to put on for Halloween.
Our food isnt just your Friday night takeout.
Our countries arent just Instagram background playgrounds.
Watch movies that center (not fetishize!)
us, read books by Asian authors, like Cathy Park HongsMinor Feelings.
I definitely did not see anyone who looked like me in the media/magazines growing up.
A lot of brands took well to the criticism, but some did not.
No matter what your gender/age/race etc.
is, beauty brands should be catering and representing everyone.
What do you want allies and non-Asian people to know most about how to support the South Asian community?
Those people really gave me the confidence to thrive in a new country.
I remember just feeling like the “Other” and constantly being left out.
But then in high school, I loved being different and being Asian.
was so beautiful and that was sufficient for me.
What has your experience been as an Asian American in the fashion industry?
I’ve experienced so many microaggressions while working in the fashion/beauty industry.
I sit very comfortably in that aspect of my Taiwanese-American identity.
The AAPI community encompasses so many different cultures, yet only a few are regularly shown.
One of the projects I’m proudest of leading wasTeen Vogue’s inaugural Asian Pacific American Heritage Month package.
The AAPI identity is interesting because everyone else is constantly trying to define it for us.
But by what metric?
Learn our history, know our present realities.
Don’t treat us as a monolith.
I tagged a fewstarter resources in this postthat are great for staying informed.
And it’s important to have that dialogue.
At the same time, I refuse to minimize the extent of our pain or stay silent about it.
It’s not a spectacle for you to consume and dissect in front of us.
What I’m also asking is that you don’t put additional burdens on us.
I want meaningful change to follow your awareness.
This goes especially for those in positions of power who can work to change systems within their industries.
That’s below the bare minimum.
It became very clear to me at a young age that my non-Asian peers saw us as monolithic.
Looking back, I hate myself for this period of my life.
I didn’t realize how valuable it was to grow up surrounded by people who looked like me.
I felt like I had to be the only Asian in the room to be special and unique.
What has your experience been as an Asian American in the beauty industry?
That’s it, that’s the tea!
Support Asian-owned businesses and assess your own prejudices.
Ayesha Perry-Iqbal
Instagram:@ayeshapi
Background:I am Welsh and Pakistani, raised in the UK.
I didnt see myself represented at all in the media.
I didnt see one person in fashion or beauty that looked like me when I started in the industry.
Now in 2021, I am still the only Pakistani Plus model signed in the United States.
Its been such an uphill battle trying to get brands to work with me.
I have had brands say my “ethnicity is a risk” and havent cast me.
So being in the industry for me means representation, it means growth, it means breaking down barriers.
I am proud to be South Asian.
Educate yourself on Asian and South Asian culture.
There are so many young women and men who want to feel seen and heard.
We all have the opportunity to be better for all races.
I gravitated towards Korean fashion and beauty magazines because they felt so much more relatable.
In media, there were a few key Asian-American celebrities that seemed to represent all of us.
Even though I came to the US when I was two, I felt very much like an outsider.
This really affected my self-confidence and perception of beauty.
Over the years, I’ve realized my true viewpoint of beauty.
That we are all in this together to help one another so that build a better future.
To kindly listen to us as we listen to you.
To have respect and understanding of our cultural differences.
Don’t jump to conclusions and stereotypes.
I read them obsessively and never saw an Asian model or celebrity.
When I first got to NYC and started working in fashion and beauty, I felt I’d arrived.
I was finally a part of the club.
I used to march down the street feeling important going to my job, so special.
Like I was living a dream.
How f****d up is that??
When we hate ourselves, we hate where we come from.
When we hate ourselves, we hate where we come from.
I came to the US for college and have stayed since.
What has your experience been as an Asian American in the fashion/beauty industry?
Have you felt represented and seen throughout your career?
I have worked mostly with Asian brands because of my race.
I think the most important thing to point out right now is that we cannot be quiet.
There is a misconception that our experience is not as important as others like the Black Lives Matter movement.
Its time that the Asian community as a whole speaks up in unity.
We feel invisible and marginalized, and it hurts.
Its time we all speak up for the sake of our parents and grandparents.
What has your experience been as an Asian American in the fashion/beauty industry?
Have you felt represented and seen?
Like many of us, my experience has been complicated.
There hasnt been equity in the space and that is disheartening and it needs to be addressed.
I think it’s important to understand that being Asian in America is not monolithic.
There are so many beautiful cultures encompassed inside the Asian-American identity.
Ying Chu
Instagram:@yingchunyc
Background:My family is Chinese, and I was born in Shanghai.
When I was really young it was just Connie Chung on the news.
And then, eventually, Lucy Liu started showing up in mainstream media.
I was somewhat obsessed with her freckles.
Winona Forever!).
But this is 2021 and I like to think that weve made progress as a society.
Fox eye makeup is not okay.
Nor is the stereotyping of Asian peopleI really have no words for theKung Fu Vaginasvideo.
Its really about sorting out your biasesboth conscious and unconscious.
Maureen Choi
Instagram:@maureenpchoi
Background:I am a proud Korean American.
Growing up in the ’80s, my entire childhood revolved around cultural assimilation.
I actively tried to fit in to minimize microaggressions and discrimination, which I experienced regularly.
I didn’t see myself represented in media or magazines because frankly, I wasn’t looking.
She had a penchant for fancy things that made her look and feel better.
I would watch her as she would get dressed and do her hair and apply her makeup.
One of my earliest memories is of her painting my nails when I was 6.
She taught me the art of dressing up and looking the partand using that confidence as a superpower.
Together, they were the ones who instilled a strong perception of beauty in me.
But that’s beginning to change as the conversation around diversity and inclusivity evolves.
Growing up, there was virtually no representation of South Asians in media.
It was about hiding everything that made me truly me.
I now want to push this progress further to include motherhood as part of the dialogue too.
What has your experience been in the fashion/beauty industry?
Have you felt represented and seen throughout your career?
I feel more seen and represented in my career today, but that wasnt always the case.
It was never about showcasing my culture or celebrating my ethnicity.
I’m 3/4 Hakka Chinese and 1/4 Shanghainese.
No one went to sleep hoping and dreaming they had black hair, and brown almond eyes.
No one went to sleep hoping and dreaming they had black hair, and brown almond eyes.
You could even say this was the era of anti-diversity when it came to fashion.
The model look at the time was extremely thin and very white.
At the same time, the grande magazine dames had this completely Westernized take on aesthetics.
There were very few minorities in power positions, much less Asians.
The idea here is that the almond shape is visually pleasing and to emulate that with makeup.
you’re free to also do makeup to make your eyes look rounder for example.
Of course even something like this can go awry depending on how people describe it or contextualize things.
What hurts when I see the hate crimes is how it’s targeting elderly Asian Americans.
It’s so obvious here that they are targeting a group that is physically vulnerable.
It makes me think of my parents who are in their late 60s.
I think the community has become more and more outspoken over the years, which I love.
It’s derogatory and yet used all the over the place.
We need to call this kind of stuff out.
Someone might ask, “Oh but is it even that bad?”
I did not see anyone that looked like me in the media or magazines.
When South Asian characters were casted, they always played the same bland supporting character with the same stereotypes.
Even in Bollywood and Dhallywood, light-skinned women with Eurocentric features were casted.
Commercials advertised skin lightening creams and told me that I would be beautiful and successful if I was lighter.
This had me wondering where I belonged.
I was surrounded by colorism most of my life.
Girls were protected from the sun, but not from the harsh words said about their skin.
This mindset really affected me growing up.
I did not feel beautiful and was so uncomfortable in my skin.
I loved wearing makeup but at that time I wore it because I depended on it.
It wasnt a form of self-expression for me; I wanted to find behind it and fit in.
Ivan Lam
Instagram:@ivanbaaaaah
Background:First generation Malaysian Chinese.
Growing up, did you see yourself represented in media or magazines?
When I moved to the United States 10 years ago, that all changed.
I remember only knowing Lucy Liu and Margaret Cho as Asian representation in TV.
I thought it was normal, because it was America, and I didn’t know any better.
Now I know that we were severely underrepresented.
It definitely seeped into my dating life as a queer Asian person as well.
One thing that I really wanted to change in my early years was my slightly hooded monolids.
I thought they were unattractive and made me look dull.
As more Asian pop culture gained traction in America, I felt more comfortable with my appearance every year.
My experience as an Asian American in the beauty industry has been interesting.
I remember when K-beauty and J-beauty took America by storm.
That was the first time i’ve felt like I was included in any conversation of beauty.
As someone that believed in massage, layering skincare, and soft makeup, I felt seen.
Beauty has always been a safe space for me in terms of self expression.
Hopefully in the coming years there will be more visibility for my Asian American creative peers.
I think I offer a perspective that hasn’t been seen yet, so it’s exciting.
When the fox eye trend was big on socials, I didn’t think much of it.
I want allies and non-Asian people to know that we are here.
And we have been here.
Speak up for us, support our elderly, local business.
Include us in your anti-racist work.
Sandy Lin
Instagram:@heysandylin
Background:Im Chinese.
My dad is from Shanghai, China, and my mom is from the Cao Bang Province in Vietnam.
It made for a very interesting childhood!
It warped my perception of beauty.
Nothing will look right.
Everyones features are so different.
It didnt make sense to be judging myself against Western standards of beauty.
This has definitely changed through the years.
It took a lot of growth and internal work.
Seeing more diversity and representation in the media over the years has played a huge role in this.
We have to take a more active role on what and how we consume.
Its important to recognize whats good for us and what isnt.
My experience as an Asian American in the fashion/beauty industry has kind of been as expected.
The reality is POC often have to work harder for less exposure.
Were able to build and fill our communities with our own role models and peers.
And in this way, I feel represented and seen.
I think huge strides have been made because of this and things are changing.
Are they truly inclusive behind the scenes?
Do they actually want to share our faces and stories on their front pages?
Sometimes, I still dont know how to feel.
Ive been made fun of for having the eyes I do.
When I see the makeup trend done now, I feel uncomfortable.
Some people say doing the makeup look is fine, just dont pull your eyes back in a pose.
Others say the makeup trend altogether should be done with.
It can be an ugly, difficult process and it takes time.
Sometimes its pushing it aside until new information comes along or until Im ready to deal with it.
I do feel for my community.
I did the fox eye trend once and out of respect, I havent done it again.
Theyre working through their own emotions and experiences.
And when someone tells you theyre hurting, listen and be willing to have the conversation.
I think thats where I feel most hurt.
There are so many ethnicities, stories, and experiences under Asian American and were not a monolith.
I have yet to hear of all the stories and even I have so much to learn.
So while I love that we can come together as Asians, we cant always be grouped together.
My perception has definitely evolved over the years.
I embrace and love my Asian features, including my monolids.
Rather than sculpting my features to look less Asian I wanted to learn techniques that would accentuate them!
I immediately went home and washed it off.
I had monolids sculpted as if I had an imaginary double lid.
I’m sure many Asian girls can relate!
It’s as if the world only thought one skin tone was considered “beautiful”.
I still feel like there is so much work to be done as personally.
Honestly, I think no matter what we should just be lifting each other up.
