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With a growing number of Asian Americans in the US, it is no surprise that there is also an increase in the successful Asian American women in the media. More than ever, we are seeing the development of diversity in popular media that not only caters to a wide range of audiences, but also includes actors from all ethnicities to meet those demands. Check out the list of women below who are inspiring girls everywhere.
1. Media Personalities: Musicians, TV Personalities, Actresses, and Comedians
Asian American women are becoming more prominent in the film and TV industry. New Yorker Lucy Liu is a name that is pretty recognizable; she starred in Charlie’s Angels alongside Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore as the third Angel in the group in addition to her role in Kill Bill. Fans of ABC’s hit series Lost will also recognize Yunjin Kim, born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, but immigrated to the States as a child. Kim is a first generation Asian American while Liu is considered second. Just like Liu and Kim, Hawaii-native Maggie Q, of the hit CW show Nikita, is also making her way into the hearts of fans as the secret female spy. Below is a list of other famous Asian American female celebrities:
- Connie Chung, first Asian American newswoman
- Kelly Hu, former Miss Teen USA and of X-Men fame
- Lisa Ling, one of the hosts of the talk show, The View
- Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
- Margaret Cho, Korean American comedian
2. Fashion Designers & Models
Fashion is taking the world by storm, and so are Asian American designers. Detroit-native Anna Sui established her own eponymous fashion line, which has since expanded internationally. Her culturally inspired designs are able to deviate and reinvent itself time and time again, making them appealing to many types of audiences.
Other famous female Asian American designers include Vera Wang (Chinese), Doo-Ri Chung (Korean), Tyra Banks (Sri Lankan/African-American), and Kimora Lee Simmons (Japanese/Korean/African-American).
3. Athletes
Who can forget Kristi Yamaguchi gliding across the ice when she won the 1992 Olympic Championships for Ladies’ Singles? What about her fellow native Californian, Michelle Kwan? Both of these athletes blazed a trail for aspiring Asian American figure skaters, showing that passion, creativity, and elegance can transcend any racial stereotypes. For a decade, Michelle Kwan was one of America’s favorite female athletes and widely considered to be one of the greatest figure skaters of all time.
Other notable famous Asian American female athletes include Michelle Wie (golf), Amy Chow (gymnastics), Jeanette Lee (billiards) and Grace Park (golf).
Asian American women are becoming leaders in the Asian American community. As such, they serve as powerful role models for young Asian American girls who are lacking women to look up to. These successful women are only a handful of Asian Americans who are starting to change the perception of Asian Amercans in the media and with it, how Asian Americans define themselves as well.