Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.

ISSUE: Summer 2011

DEPT: Features

STORY: Janice Jann

PHOTOS: Melly Lee

HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS

{ HELENA }

Growing up, the only way Helena Kim thought she could make herself look more “feminine” was by growing her hair long. “I had always been really athletic and strong with a stockier frame,” says the Korean American. “As I got older, I felt a little out of place. It was hard to identify with not having a really feminine build. My mom tried to make me wear makeup, but it didn’t look right. I just accepted I wasn’t going to look like the images I saw or the people [around me].”

By the time Helena got to college, she cut 14 inches off her locks and started to feel more like herself. “Now if people put makeup on me or pouf out my hair, it feels really weird — like not part of my body.” Though Helena is comfortable with the way she looks, there are still people out there who aren’t. “The only time [my image] evokes a negative response is generally where there are not a lot of people of different color,” she says. “Kids would come up to me asking if I were a boy or a girl. Sometimes guys feel uncomfortable around me. They’ll say things like, ‘Oh, I have that shirt in my closet.’” The public bathroom is where most issues arise. “Usually someone will say something like, ‘This is the women’s bathroom.’ Yeah, I know,” Helena laughs. “That’s why I’m here. It’s been so long it doesn’t even bother me.”

It’s something the 35-year-old had to learn. “I think my biggest thing is to walk the best journey I can and exercise patience and compassion with people,” she says. “I get it — they just haven’t seen anyone that looks like me. I think people are afraid of things that they don’t know or understand. Usually, if I can sense that someone’s uncomfortable or will have some sort of negative reaction, I’ll just say, ‘Hey, how are you,’ and suddenly it doesn’t really seem to be an issue anymore. It’s like, oh, I’m a person. You don’t have to treat me like some sort of freak show.”

Helena admits she was a little nervous about sharing her story. “I was really surprised when I got chosen. I’m familiar with Audrey. I’ve known it since the launch [in 2003] and I know I don’t look anything like the kind of women in Audrey.” So what changed her mind? “When I was growing up, I think I would have really liked to have seen someone who looks like me in a magazine for Asian American women.”

– Janice Jann

Joz is one of nine women Audrey featured in its Body of Quirks feature. Check out more stories here.

Purchase the Summer issue of Audrey Magazine here.

Mission accomplished.

Took a great shot last Christmas? Love to draw, doodle or Photoshop? We wanna see your work in Audrey!

What does “winter” or “the holidays” mean to you? Maybe snow angels? Maybe partying it up on New Year’s? Maybe all the resolutions you failed to keep in 2010?

Regardless, we want to see it! We want to see what “winter” (specifically, December through February) means to you, whether it’s the holidays, New Year’s, even Valentine’s Day! You just might get your photo or artwork into the next issue of Audrey Magazine!

Submit your photos that in some way reflect the Asian American experience as well as the theme of “winter.” You don’t have to be a pro, so submit your photo by October 17, 2011. To submit, please see instructions below.

We’re looking forward to seeing your work!

Submissions

Images should be in digital jpeg format, at least 300 dpi resolution and 2400 pixels on the long end. Along with each image, please include your name, location and an explanation of how your image relates to the theme. Only submit photos that you’ve taken yourself. Please do not digitally alter your photos, besides cropping and applying basic tonal adjustments. Send your photos to EDITOR@audreymagazine.com, maximum three entries per person.

Legal & Releases

By submitting, you are granting Audrey Magazine permission to publish your submitted photos online and/or in print with your photo credit. You must be 18 or older to submit; if you’re under 18, a parent or legal guardian can submit on your behalf. We cannot accept photos of “recognizable” people in your photograph without a personal release signed by the person, authorizing our publication of the photo.

ISSUE: Summer 2011

DEPT: Plugged In

STORY: Katrina Guevara

Treme, HBO

Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, this HBO TV series from David Simon (The Wire) follows the lives of struggling artists and musicians, including Annie, played by Korean-Italian American Lucia Micarelli, a real-life, Juilliard-trained concert violinist who has toured with Josh Groban and Jethro Tull. Currently in its second season, Treme (pronounced “truh- may”) is shot on location where the city is as much a character as its human counterparts.␣

Audrey Magazine: Has filming on location changed your perspective of New Orleans?

Lucia Micarelli: All these years later, you can clearly feel the gravity of the natural disaster in the city and its people. The city’s still not back, and the people are still hurting. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of community. It’s part of what makes it a really interesting cultural space and place to tell that city’s story.

AM: What’s happening to your character Annie this second season?

LM: I can say that she is in a new relationship, and she is really growing a lot as a musician. She just returned from being on tour and over the course of the season she’s being encouraged by different people to become her own artist.

AM: You were a child prodigy of sorts on the violin.

LM: I started off on piano, and that didn’t work out so well. And then I switched over to violin. I was like 3, so I don’t actually remember starting out. But my parents did tell me that I was a pretty quick learner.

AM: You did a lot of touring before Treme. Any favorite destinations?

LM: I had an amazing time in South Africa and Iceland. Red Rocks in Colorado was one of the most beautiful venues I’ve ever seen. But I still haven’t been to Japan and am really excited to visit one day.

— Katrina Guevara

More stories from Audrey’s Summer 2011 issue here.

Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.

ISSUE: Summer 2011

DEPT: Features

STORY: Janice Jann

PHOTOS: Melly Lee

HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS

{ JESSICA }

“I realize it’s more about how you carry yourself.” — Jessica Del Rosario, 23, on being 4-foot-11-inches and having some of her kindergarten students taller than her.

– Janice Jann

Joz is one of nine women Audrey featured in its Body of Quirks feature. Check out more stories here.

Purchase the Summer issue of Audrey Magazine here.

Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.

ISSUE: Summer 2011

DEPT: Features

STORY: Janice Jann

PHOTOS: Melly Lee

HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS

{ VIOLETTA }

Cambodian-Chinese American Violetta Tang’s wild mane of hair is so perfect for her effervescent personality that it’s hard to believe there was a time in her life when she would spend an hour every morning and pay hundreds of dollars to get her hair stick straight. “In middle school I started to feel weird that my hair wasn’t as straight as my other Asian friends, so I started blow drying it a lot to get it straightened,” she says. “I didn’t really know how to handle my hair.” When Violetta started wearing her hair curly in college, she was surprised to hear a lot more compliments on her locks. “I guess I just kind of stood out,” she says.

It hasn’t been all positive feedback though. “I once got this job as a hostess at an Asian restaurant and I wore my hair curly and down. My manager asked me to tie it up and wear it as a bun,” remembers the 24-year-old. “All the other hostesses had stick straight hair and they got to wear their hair down. I don’t think I fit the Asian image of what they were looking for.”
Continue Reading »

Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.

ISSUE: Summer 2011

DEPT: Features

STORY: Janice Jann

PHOTOS: Melly Lee

HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS

{ DORIS }

“Since I was a teenager, my body was not like any of my petite classmates who had just nipples, no boobs,” says Doris Tang with a laugh. “I always associated the reason I couldn’t get a date was because of my body — because I was supposed to be petite and no one wanted me,” says the Chinese American. Continue Reading »

Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.

ISSUE: Summer 2011

DEPT: Features

STORY: Janice Jann

PHOTOS: Melly Lee

HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS

{ YOKO }

“It helps me feel beautiful from within because it just makes you feel good.” — Yoko Igawa, 30, on working out.
A former track athlete, the Japanese American also takes hula classes and kickboxing.

– Janice Jann

Joz is one of nine women Audrey featured in its Body of Quirks feature. Check out more stories here.

Purchase the Summer issue of Audrey Magazine here.

Not sure what you all are feeling up to this week, but personally, I am most looking forward to getting a spa! Too bad Spa Week’s not till October, but that doesn’t mean I can’t book in advance! But lucky me, I have a Wi Spa coupon from my Audrey’s Night Out goody bag. You can win one too! Just follow the instructions here.

Spa Week – Book Now!

When: Now until Sunday, October 16

Where: Spas across United States and Canada – visit SpaWeek.com for details

How: Sign up on SpaWeek.com

With the stress we’ve all been enduring, I say it’s time we treat ourselves for some de-stressing treatments – all at a discount! This fall, Spa Week is taking place from Monday, October 10 – Sunday, October 16. Hundreds of day spas, medical spas, resort spas, yoga and Pilate studios and other health and fitness centers will be offering 2-3 exclusive services for a discounted price of just $50 each. Book your appointments now! Continue Reading »

Audrey contributor Mira Advani Honeycutt gets us a backstage pass into the parties at the Toronto Film Festival. Here, her report.

At the Sony Pictures Classics party: Jessica Chastain, Restless screenwriter Jason Lew and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Toronto, Canada: The film festival is in full swing with over 300 films, international stars and parties. And the red carpet is sizzling with such stellar names as Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightly, Freida Pinto, Megan Fox, Ryan Gosling, Kristen Dunst, Francis Ford Coppola and the band U2. But it was the arrival of George Clooney and Brad Pitt that made the star-wattage meter go through the roof. While Pitt is here with the Moneyball, Clooney is celebrating two films at the fest, as the director of The Ides of March and starring in Alexander Payne’s The Descendents.

And where there are stars there are parties — staged in downtown lofts and warehouses transformed into stylish pop-lounges and upscale hotels like the Thompson and Ritz Carlton.

Continue Reading »

Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.

ISSUE: Summer 2011

DEPT: Features

STORY: Janice Jann

PHOTOS: Melly Lee

HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS

{ JOZ }

“I come from a family that was extremely beautiful and I always felt that I was not one of them,” Taiwanese American Jocelyn “Joz” Wang remembers. Raised among cousins who eventually became models and news anchors, the 34-year-old grew up labeled “the smart one.” Though she did feel pressure to compare herself to her genetically blessed clan, she never let herself go overboard. “Some people get really obsessed with their looks,” says Joz. “A lot of people let their own body image stop them from living life. I decided that wasn’t something I was going to do. I feel like life can be so full, why spend the time being consumed with things that you can’t control or will bring you down?”

Joz’s grounded perspective is evident in her online presence. An editor of the website 8Asians, she went viral when she posted a photo on Flickr labeled “Racist Camera! No, I did not blink … I’m just Asian!” (The camera tracks eyes to prevent a shot of the subject blinking.) The controversial photo has been viewed more than 420,000 times and was even discussed in an article on Time.com.

“I think the thing about the Internet that’s so beautiful and empowering is [it used to be] an editor [who] decided you were good looking enough to be on [her] magazine, but nowadays with the Internet, it’s you who decide what you want to put out there,” says Joz. “Do you have to be model thin to have 3 million followers on YouTube? No. The definition is changing. There’s all kinds of things that can make you appealing in front of a lot of people.”

– Janice Jann

Joz is one of nine women Audrey featured in its Body of Quirks feature. Check out more stories here.

Purchase the Summer issue of Audrey Magazine here.