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

{ NEBULA }

In a recent Glee episode, wannabe Broadway superstar Rachel Berry contemplates getting a nose job, despite her adulation of Barbra Streisand. The episode was one Chinese American Nebula could empathize with. Having grown up with a distinctive nose, one her parents always touted as “the highest-bridged Asian nose they could find,” Nebula is also in the acting industry, one where sometimes how you look is more important than how you act. “I just don’t have that typical Asian look when they’re looking for the [button-nose] and everything,” says Gu.

Sometimes looking atypical has its upsides. While on jury duty, one man recognized Nebula. “He’s like, ‘Have I seen you before? Your nose, it’s really distinctive. … it makes you really special,” Nebula remembers. “I thought that was so sweet.”

Whether or not she’ll have a career like Barbra Streisand who “defined a whole generation,” Nebula is confident she’ll continue working. “Character actors work,” Nebula says. “They have a tremendous opportunity because there are so many cookie cutter [faces] — that’s an opportunity for you to stand out.”

– 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.

Start the New Year right.

No racism. No bullying. No more violence.

Pan Asian Community Together (PACT) just released the second of its PSA projects, “Speak Out! APIs Against Violence.”

Directed by Shane Sato and produced by PACT and Ken Choy, the PSA includes Tzi Ma, Elizabeth Sung, Nebula Gu, Edward Hong, Sue Jin, Randall Park, Jae Suh, Megan Lee, and Joseph Yuan. Longer versions include Amy Hill, Katherine Iniba, James Huang, Aki Aleong, Jully Lee, Junko Goda, and more.

Check out the long version of the PSA here:

The Asian American community got together for this PSA to encourage all of us to get out and vote! Featuring Tzi Ma, Elizabeth Sung, Amy Hill, Francois Chao, Nebula Gu, Katherine Iniba, Amy Hill and Megan Lee, directed by Mark Niu.

It’s time to exercise your rights! Get out and vote TODAY!!!