Asian Pride
And what its really like to grow up Asian in America.
Growing up, I envied my classmates who got to sleep in on the weekends.
By 9, shed shuffle us out the door to drive us to Chinese school by 9:30.
We were never late.
The lack of visibility in the latter, the dissonance of trying to find your identity in both.
As I started my career, I thought I found a safe space in the beauty industry.
After all, here was a place that seemed to embrace Asian brands, traditions, and voices.
Then, 2020 happened.
And now, more than ever, our stories need to continue being told.
On The AAPI Experience
The AAPI experience is as diverse and varied as we are.
I grew up in a predominately Caucasian area and I would get called names.
I felt like I was always hiding.
It got to the point that I hated going to school because of how people made me feel.
Both of my parents immigrated here from Vietnam.
Always in between both worlds and never completely part of either world.
They tag us interchangeably on Instagram.
I understand mixing me up with Tina Leung because of our names.
We look nothing alike.
Ty McLaren, founder of Koa
I was born and grew up in Japan.
I moved to NYC and have now lived and worked in the US for over 20 years.
Its made me feel closer to people with Asian heritage and roots."
Now, more than ever, we embrace the features that connect us with our ancestors.
As a teenager, I was so ashamed of my nose.
Someone once told me to get a nose job to my face!
I used to hate taking photos of my side profile.
Priyanka Ganjoo, founder of Kulfi
I love my almond eyes that are monolidded and from my mother.
Now I love my eyes, although the revelation did not come without some serious self-reflection and self-love.
Liane V, content creator
I was teased mercilessly for my chubby cheeks as a child.
Kids called me pie face.
I even refused to smile as a child for fear my cheeks would look even bigger.
But now I am thankful for my full face its kept me from looking my age!
Craig
I have these thick, angular eyebrows, which are a hallmark of my Japanese family.
I have thought about trimming them in the past, but I love them now.
Now, I love my eyes especially when I smile or laugh, because they express joy so well.
-Jaclyn Fu, founder of Pepper
Growing up, I was often the only Indian girl in the room.
Taking the time to learn about those differences between each of us in the AAPI community matters.
We are not all the same, but we stand united in alliance.
Le
Check on your Asian friends.
Craig
“Be aware of any microaggressions change comes from small daily thoughts and interactions.
Lim
We need more from you than just loving our food and beauty products.
Were finding our voices, breaking sh*t, and getting louder.
Its going to be uncomfortable and feel messy.
So encourage that and make space.
Speak loudly with us, sit in discomfort with us, champion our champions.
Stephanie Lee
Love us or just simply leave us alone.
Kim Chi, drag queen & founder of Kim Chi Chic
Take the time to sit and break bread.
My moms biryani theres nothing in this world like it.
She would put so much love into that huge steel pot.
I realized after she passed, South Asian moms say I love you through piping hot plates of food.
Thats what I miss most in life.”
I recall someone bringing it to school and finding out it was Korean I ate the whole bowl.
Emily H. Rudman, founder of Emilie Heathe
My parents make the best aloo parathas.
Its a staple in my Punjabi family.
Roy
My absolute favorite food is Japanese tonkotsu curry.
The crisp fried pork and rich curry over white rice just ticks all the boxes for me.
Its a really fun, interactive meal that I always look forward to.
Shinn
My comfort foods are associated with my grandma.
She expressed love through her cooking, and I felt it with every bite.
One of my favorites is her tomato eggs.
It’s such a simple dish, but I have never been able to recreate it myself.
Fu
My mom would always cook chicken adobo and lumpia for me growing up.
She also taught me how to cook both dishes with her own secret seasonings.
Koreans also traditionally enjoy Miyeokguk on birthdays to honor and thank their moms for bringing them into the world.
I will always remember the ritual and the camaraderie they shared in the kitchen that day.
As we move forward, lets take a moment to celebrate how far weve come.
I am so proud to be Indian-American/Asian-American.
I grew up in India and moved to America when I was eight years old.
Arshia Moore, content creator
In fragrance, the industry has been dominated by French Caucasian males for decades.
It’s only very recently that there have been master perfumers of varying backgrounds.
Nita Mann, content creator
I started off at a makeup counter doing makeup for free.
I was so hungry to make something of myself.
When I moved to LA, I felt like all of my dreams started coming true.
Three years ago, I launched my own brand.
Being Asian American has allowed me to shine in all my complexity.
Ganjoo
Being proudly Korean American means having a complex, beautiful, multicultural identity.
I think understanding my roots and culture gives me my strength and power in this world.
Michelle Ranavat, founder of Ranavat
