The Rise of Asian Influencers
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In the growing age of media, there is a progressively direct relationship between influencers and their followers. Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and, more recently, Tiktok, have made it easier for influencers to both develop and maintain an audience, as virtually any individual has the ability to create an account through these social websites. The availability of opportunities has led to an increasing number of influencers from more diverse and representative walks of life. With more representation, Asian and Asian Americans are no longer portrayed as single dimensional caricatures, but instead as multifaceted individuals. One of the first individuals to develop a large fan base and pave the way for Asian influencers is Michelle Phan. After creating her YouTube channel in 22 | SPRING 2021
2006, the Vietnamese American beauty vlogger amassed a large following. She has even been referred to as the “first YouTuber.” On her channel, she posts beauty-related content, such as makeup tutorials and reviews.
platform by sharing his men’s grooming and fashion tips. The Chinese actor and influencer was born in San Francisco, California and later moved out to Los Angeles in order to pursue a career in acting and entertainment.
Phan became Lancôme’s first Vietnamese American spokesperson in 2010 after they made her their official video make-up artist. A year later, Phan co-founded a monthly beauty product subscription program called MyGlam. This company eventually grew to be renamed Ipsy and accumulated a value of $500 million. One of her most notable accomplishments was when she launched a cosmetic line with L’Oréal called EM Cosmetics in 2013. In an op-ed she wrote for Teen Vogue, Phan discussed how she felt underrepresented and marginalized when she was younger. “In a world before Instagram and YouTube, magazines were my point of reference for ‘ideal’ beauty standards,” she said. Because of her platform, she has had the opportunity to embrace her features that she was once mocked for such as her eyes and fuller lips. Now she explores “new facets of beauty through the lenses of different cultures.” In a similar vein, Edward Zo is paving the path for Asian representation through his
Edward Zo, 21, men’s fashion and grooming
design/Maggie Dungey
or many years, Asians have been underrepresented in Hollywood and in the media in general. In the cases that they did have the spotlight on them, it was typically stereotyped and did not properly represent Asians, Asian Americans, and their culture. Films and shows utilized stereotypical tropes such as the “nerdy Asian,” the “Asian that speaks English poorly,” and the “all Asians know martial arts.”
by Hannah De La Garza
A review on big names that are paving the path for Asian representation in the media