I’m always super excited when great musicians come together to share their talent on one stage while benefiting a good cause. Join some of the top YouTube artists on Wednesday, March 21st for the fight against human trafficking while enjoying some amazing music!  Some of my favorite YouTube stars will be performing that night, including Boyce Avenue, Jayesslee, Clara C, Joseph Vincent, Satellite and Tournament of Hearts. The concert, which will take place at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, aims to bring awareness to the fight against modern day slavery and human trafficking. This special evening will be hosted by YouTube Vlogger/Comedian David So.

Purchase your tickets by March 14th and get 20% off with promo code: Audrey321NFS

Can’t make the event? Those not able to attend in LA now have the opportunity to watch a live stream of the event from anywhere in the world. The live stream is available with a $5 donation to support the campaign. Those who sign up for the live online broadcast will also have access to the recorded version and special footage for up to one week after the event. Plus you will automatically be entered into a raffle to win one of 6 autographed guitars signed by either Boyce Avenue (2), Jayesslee (2), Clara C (1) or Joseph Vincent (1). Winners will be announced the day of the concert and all net proceeds of the event benefit the Not for Sale Organization.
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We all know Ms. Lisa Ling is one inspiring individual, breaking barriers and walls down left and right and paving the way for women and Asian Americans in television. When interviewing her, it was no surprise that we would get to the deep stuff. Just how deep? Take a look at the video below.

Catch Lisa Ling conversing with faith healers TONIGHT on her new show, Our America, on OWN 10/9c.

It’s been awhile since Lisa Ling has worked in an office. Though the seasoned 37-year-old journalist, who got her first television hosting gig at age 16, is one of the hardest-working women on TV, her work environment range from the set of The View from 1999-2002 to investigating gang rapes in the middle of Africa as the host of National Geographic Ultimate Explorer to even the comforts of her own home, writing the book, Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home with her sister Laura Ling. It’s safe to say it’s been awhile since Ling has had a chat by the water cooler or peeked over a cubicle.

Yet, this is the very setting where we meet, in the newly occupied citrus-hued OWN (short for Oprah Winfrey Network) offices on the Miracle Mile of Los Angeles, California, where Ling is also having a photo shoot. Ling doesn’t have an office at this space but with a new show on the OWN channel, she does call Oprah boss. And she does miss working in an office. At the start of our interview, the energetic Ling muses, “I was saying to [my publicist], there’s so many cute guys here!” Ling’s new show, Our America, delves into our very own backyard and stems from Ling’s own Chinese American upbringing and not feeling like she fit into any culture.

“This series is kind of a window into who we are as Americans and what it means to be an American. We explore the ugly parts as well as the challenging parts. It really is, I hope, an all encompassing experience.”

What makes Ling’s series unique is the positive, hopeful edge ever-present throughout the series. “My hope is they will look at things differently than they may have looked at them before and they might have a little more compassion than they had before. It’s so easy to think about any topic or issue in a really black and white way and what we’re trying to do is go beneath the surface and try to provide a different perspective. No matter the topic that we’ve been covering, we feature people who ultimately came from a mother who love him or her. That’s something I keep in the back of my mind.” Ling understands the opportunity that Oprah and the OWN channel have given her in telling these stories. “It’s hard,” Ling says, “TV’s all about the lowest common denominator — what’s the most sensational. It’s so unusual to work for a woman or an organization that seeks out intention in work. Usually it’s like, okay, how’s it going to rate and while that is important, equally as important is what the intention is. I’m really grateful.”

Some issues the show will attempt to shed light to include mail-order brides, sex-offender colonies and faith healers. Faith is something Ling has also personally been exploring. I have seen a lot of things in my life and career that have made me question God and the idea of faith,” Ling explains. “Kids trafficked to other parts of the world and forced into sex slavery, women being gang raped in the middle of Africa and no one paying attention to it. A lot of these things I’ve seen and experienced made me think, if there’s a God, how could he/she allow these things to happen?” But through her exploration and with the help of her husband, Ling’s view on God and faith has been shifting. “There’s a Catholic nun here in LA, she’s kind of a guru of mine — big sister Margaret — she’s become a mother to these transgendered prostitutes and people have been kicked out of their homes. People who nobody accepts, this catholic nun accepts. To me, that’s when I see God in people like that. She never talks about God, she just acts in a God-like way — whooo we’re getting deep here!” Ling gasps. The whole room cracks up. “But you can probably see I’m fascinated by this topic. I can’t stop thinking about it. Am I completely there yet? I can’t say definitively. Faith has always been a real exploration for me but it’s one that I’m enjoying and learning a lot from.”

On the subject on beliefs, Ling is grateful for one person that has faith in her. “I have worked with Oprah more than five years now,” Ling gushes about her boss. “She’s just awesome. The only reason I have this series on this network is because she believes in me. Just the way she led her life with such integrity. It’s really rare to find people like that in this business and that’s a reason why she’s as successful as she is, because she never deviated from that.”

Don’t miss Ling’s show premiering February 16 on the OWN channel. Ling will also pop up in the Spring issue of Audrey but before that, check out our exclusive video interview with Ling below:

Boy, did the stars shine bright at KoreAm Journal‘s Unforgettable gala — and 20th anniversary celebration! — last month. Audrey checks out some of the stylish studs that strutted down the red carpet.

JuJu Chang and her clan were adorable. Look at those matching smiles!

Singer Ameriie looked like an angel. Ameriie also presented an Unforgettable award to baseball great, Chan Ho Park.

Lovely Lindsay Price (a former Audrey cover girl) nearly missed the party. She thought the gala was held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, not Park Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. Despite the tardiness, Price was still red carpet ready.

Nicole Bilderback’s saucy red number lit up the winter night. Loving her matching red lips too!

Grace Park is a goddess. But you already knew that.

Rockin’ sneaks with cool tux? Check. Effortlessly chic one shoulder cocktail dress? Check. Super cazch semi-prom pose? Check. I wish I was this stylish when I was a teen!

They may be in basic black but Lisa Ling’s dewy, to-die-for cheekbones keeps her and hubby Paul Song’s ensemble anything but boring.

With that steely stare and jawline, who cares what actor Tim Kang is wearing?

For more of Unforgettable 2010 photos from Mas Chae, Tada Chae and Eric Sueyoshi, check it out here!

In honor of its 50th anniversary, Sanrio has landed in Los Angeles with its 10-day carnival Small Gift L.A., going on now until November 21 at the Santa Monica Airport!

As soon as I walked past the food trucks and stepped into the hangar at the event’s press preview party last week, I was in a completely different world. Giant character heads floated from the ceiling, a ferris wheel rotated just as high, carnival games and foods and art pieces were just a walk away — oh my! To describe the night in one word, I’d use: dreamland!

To add to all the delightful imagery were the enchanted fans who also put on their own display with their dashing outfits. Like this trio who paired their glamorous Sanrio-inspired dresses with sparkly platforms.

Move over fellow penguin Badtz-Maru because Penguin Sam is dressing Renee!

These girls created a scene with their quite wearable outfits (considering) and had a blast roaming around the event.

Three cheers for the red, white, blue and Hello Kitty on Veteran’s Day.

Crochet guru Twinkie Chan (check her out in our upcoming Winter 2010-11 issue) in her own crocheted KerokeroKeroppi dress!

Other than wine, who knew red and white could be so fluid and tasteful?

It wasn’t just character-driven getups, either. Plenty of guests showed up in less obvious but still fun looks. Domonique’s well-fitting spandex dress is her own creation.

Sisters Laura and Lisa Ling didn’t need an outrageous outfit to stand out. Lisa added how she loves Audrey!

Color chemist Ann-Marie wears a drapey dress accented by robotic straps. Love the haute-y zebra hat paired with a beat-up lawyer’s bag.

Check the checks on Onch, Paris Hilton’s one-time BFF contestant (center), posing with artist Miss Kika, left, and friend.

It was a jungle out there! And it did not smell like a bed of roses.

This photo does not do the rubbery-shiny material of her dress justice.

Johnny Cupcakes x Hello Kitty is their biggest collaboration yet, said L.A. rep Lennard (right).

Even though he claimed he wasn’t Hello Kitty’s biggest fan, many Sanrio lovers became fans of him.

Sanrio’s Small Gift celebrations will be popping up all over the US until December. The LA event in Barker Hanger in Santa Monica will last until Nov. 21. Get your cute on while you can!

As done on award shows, we at Audrey like to also play the role of best supporting actress to our sister publication KoreAm Journal for its role in hosting a night of entertainment and awards called Unforgettable.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of KoreAm as a publication and the 10th annual anniversary of the Unforgettable gala. So come out on Saturday, Nov. 20, and join us at this premier event, hosted by comedian Randall Park.

KoreAm will present achievement awards to actress Grace Park, news anchor Juju Chang and baseball pitcher Chan Ho Park. There will be live entertainment from Brian Joo (Fly to the Sky), singer-songwriter Heather Park, DJ Kero One and Poreotix (America’s Best Dance Crew, Season 5).

Unforgettable will take place at the opulent Park Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, and it will be an exclusive chance to wine and dine on luscious prime rib from Lawry’s, while hobnobbing with a who’s who of the Korean American community.

For more information on how to buy tickets, visit www.iamKoreAm.com/Unforgettable10.

I am so excited! Laura Ling and Lisa Ling, sisters and co-authors of the newly released Somewhere Inside, which tells the story of Laura’s harrowing imprisonment inside North Korea, will be having a book signing in Downtown L.A. this weekend. Co-sponsored by Giant Robot and Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), the event will be their first book signing event for the sister journalists.

Laura and Lisa Ling's "Somewhere Inside" (HarperCollins).

In 2005, Laura worked as a series producer for Channel One News. She later became the vice president of Current TV’s investigative journalism series Vanguard, and an on-air correspondent for the show.

A contributor to ABC’s Nightline and the National Geographic channel, Lisa Ling is a correspondent for the Oprah Winfrey Show. She was also a co-host of ABC’s The View until 2002. (Lisa graced Audrey‘s cover in April/May 2004.)

“Somewhere Inside is the electrifying, never-before-told story of Laura Ling’s capture by the North Koreans in March 2009, and the efforts of her sister, journalist Lisa Ling, to secure Laura’s release by former President Bill Clinton. This true account of the first-ever trial of an American citizen in North Korea’s highest court carries readers deep inside the world’s most secretive nation while it poignantly explores the powerful, inspiring bonds of sisterly love.” – GR2

See you there!

DETAILS Giant Robot Los Angeles (GR2), 
2062 Sawtelle Boulevard, 
Los Angeles, CA,
5 – 7 pm.

By Dianne Lee

I remember when Lisa Ling stopped by our office for a photo shoot many many moons ago. It was early, but Lisa was bubbly and chatty, immensely likeable from the moment she walked in the door. As we were getting her primped and prettied up, her good friend, local news reporter Gordon Tokumatsu stopped by and the two allowed us to take some cute photos of them horsing around.

Here's a screen grab of National Geographic Channel's Explorer with Lisa on a chopper ride in the Sierra National Forest. Watch NGC's "Explorer: 25 Years," hosted by Lisa Ling, tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Lisa had just left her post on “The View” back in 2003 to work as a correspondent for National Geographic’s Explorer. Since then, Lisa has traveled all over the globe, reporting on topics as varied as the most dangerous gang in the world and gave us a rare look inside the adoption process in China. Lisa looks back at 25 years of National Geographic’s multiple award-winning globetrotting show in “Explorer: 25 Years,” which airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic Channel.

Did you know that up to 60% of API women experience intimate partner abuse or sexual abuse in their lifetime and are least likely to report it? That is an extraordinarily high percentage given that the national average is 33%.

Actress Sheetal Sheth.

Now, Asian American stars Sandra Oh, John Cho, Aaron Yoo, Lisa Ling, Leonardo Nam, Archie Kao, C.S. Lee, Joan Chen, Justin Chon, Far East Movement, Kaba Modern and more than 100 other members of the creative community will appear in a series of videos supporting the Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF), which provides a multi-lingual 24-hour call center, emergency shelter, transitional housing program, counseling services and various community outreach programs to address domestic violence. Hundreds of others contributed their time, experience and resources to produce the videos and help raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault.

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