Until I was about 13, I had virgin hair. My long black strands were shiny, healthy and only incurred slight damage from daily blowouts and the occasional hot curlers. But one day, on a whim, one of my older sisters suggested I get highlights. With the older-sister-knows-best mentality, I went for it — despite the fact that I knew my mother would be livid. She believed in going au naturel when it came to my hair color because she thought it made me look more Chinese and less Americanized.
Fast fashion mega-brand Forever 21 is under fire again for producing designs a little too similar to original pieces by other designers.
Not all Asians look the same, not all shirts should look the same
Project by Project, a national 100% volunteer-run org. with chapters in LA, NY and SF, selected a beautiful summer Saturday evening to hold its 9th annual Plate by Plate Tasting Benefit.
Imagine the biggest potluck by some of the best chefs you’ll ever come across with plenty of ladies and gents dressed to the nines, a fun photo booth, an expensive entrance fee and you get Plate by Plate.
ISA‘s first concert in Seattle was a smash hit as backstage passes alone sold out within the first fifteen minutes of release, it quickly became apparent that the International Secret Agents (ISA) Seattle Concert would have no shortage of hype and demand in its 2011 return to the stage.
Actor Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed) is negotiating with China Film Group and Village Roadshow Pictures for his directorial debut of Man of Tai Chi. The Mandarin-English-language movie will not only feature Reeves himself as a villain but also Tiger Chen, a kung fu member in The Matrix.
Reeves, who is of Chinese, Hawaiian, Irish, Portuguese and English descent, recently finished filming 47 Ronin, Universal’s remake of the original Japanese martial arts movie.
How do you think Keanu will fare behind the cameras?
Sarah Nami Ahn is one mega-talent. Originally on a path to becoming a neuroscientist (she obtained her PhD from UCLA), the Korean American changed course after her brother got into a motorcycle accident. She spent six months in the hospital nursing her brother back to health. She then went on to work for renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler and opened her own design firm, Nami Design. (Check out our story on her in our Summer 2011 issue.)
But that wasn’t enough for the triple threat: While taking some fashion courses at FIDM, Ahn submitted a design for a national contest held by apparel line Laundry by Shelley Segal — and won! (Her LBD design is currently being sold at major department stores.)
A sneak peek at one look from NAMI's Spring/Summer 2012 debut collection, a modern take on the Korean traditional dress called the Hanbok.
For more info, please check out the NAMI facebook.
Without the internet, we wouldn’t be able to keep in touch with friends via Facebook or go shopping for a new wardrobe during our 15-minute breaks at work. But what the internet has also proven to be useful for is posting less-than-sophisticated racist rants. This time it’s a young woman who calls herself Nicole. She seems to be following in the footsteps of Alexandra Wallace, who posted the infamous “Asians in the library” video that went viral earlier this year.
We’re pretty outspoken about our love for Baby Lily, played by twin baby actresses Jaden and Ella Hiller on the hit sitcom, Modern Family.
So while we are going to miss them now that EW has revealed the show has cast the 4-year-old daughter of Korean American comedienne and longtime Audrey favorite, Amy Anderson, we are super excited by this casting news!
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons will now take over for the role of Lily, the adopted Vietnamese daughter of Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet).
Showrunner Steve Levitan lauded the child actress, calling her a “natural.”
“She really enjoys the process,” Levitan said, “And she looks just like Jaden and Ella! When we had her do a scene, she sounded natural — not like a cutesy kid actor.”
Sounds like Aubrey’s going to have an amazing time on Modern Family!
Check out KoreAm Journal’s 2009 feature story on Amy and other single KA ladies.
What do you think about the new Lily?
It’s finally Friday! Start your indulgent weekend with a giveaway!
Since October 2000, DesignsByStephene.com has been an authorized retailer of designer jeans and tees with an extensive collection of the latest designs in clothing, shoes, accessories, yoga wear, even kids’ clothes! Intended to make shopping from head-to-toe easy, DesignsByStephene.com offers a wide variety of designer clothing and accessories all on their website. Some of the designers on their website are J Brand, Elizabeth & James, Rebecca Minkoff and ‘Toms, amongst many, many others.
If you’re like me, you’ll be happy to hear that this week you can watch some gourmet food trucks specializing in Asian Far battle it out to be the best. But if for some reason food isn’t your thing, you can test your poker face a celebrity poker tournament, check out the premieres of two movies, both filled with drama, violence and conflict.
13th Annual Summer Festival on the Courtyard: Food Trucks and Tea Festival
When: Saturday, August 13 11:00 am
Where: Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. First St., Los Angeles, CA, 90012
How: Free for the Summer Festival and food truck contest; $15 for concert tickets which can be purchased here; and tickets for the Tea Festival can be purchased here for $15.
It’s a family-friendly event today with crafts, music, tea tastings and a special concert. Have your photo taken and make your own frame; make one-of-a-kind coasters for your tea parties; and make origami with the kids. Vocalist Yoko Fujimoto and composer/arranger/pianist Derek Nakamoto will fuse traditional Japanese folk songs with a twist of impressionistic jazz, classical and R&B tunes.
