★ M.A.R.A.★

Jason Wu

Born September 28, 1982 in Taipei Taiwan to Chinese parents, the 27 year-old Vancouver, Canada raised (after 9 yo) Manhattan based fashion designer shot to global status when Michelle Obama wore his ivory silk-chiffon creation at the Presidential Inaugural Ball January 20, 2009. 



Michelle Obama had already worn one of his designs for a short appearance in a Barbara Walters Special with the President, which aired November 26, 2008.  The first lady has since subsequently worn many of Wu’s designs. 

More of Michelle Obama in Jason Wu

More fun facts about Jason Wu:

• Started his own fashion line in 2006 with family help and savings
• Also holds the position of Creative Director for Fashion Royalty, a line of designer dolls sold at F.A.O. Schwartz for $70-$400
• His savings include those from the above job, in which he started as a freelance fashion designer at age 16 
• Wu’s dresses are sold at Bergdorf Goodman
• Expected 2009 sales: $4 million (no update since NYTimes report 1/2009)
• His mother sometimes drove him to bridal stores so he could make sketches of the gowns in the windows
• Began experimenting with fashion by using dolls as mannequins at 9 yo
• Spent his senior year of high school in France
• Left after 3.5 years at Parsons to intern with Narciso Rodriguez
• His boyfriend, Gustavo Rangel, also manages the company’s finances
• The Inaugural Ball dress that Michelle Obama wore and Wu designed is now at the Smithsonian

From Wu’s Fall 2009 Collection…



From Wu’s Spring 2010 Collection…



From Wu’s Pre-Fall 2010 Collection…

Other Keywords: famous asians, famous asian fashion designers, michelle obama in jason wu at the inaugural ball
Sources: WWD, NYTimes
More Info: Wiki, Jason Wu Website
Portrait photo

Julia Ling

currently stars as Anna Wu on NBC’s Chuck, which premieres its 3rd season with 2 hours tonight at 9pmET.  Ling had recurring roles in two other NBC television shows: Mae Li Park in ER (2006-2007) and Kim Tao in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006-2007, also starring Matthew Perry). 

Ling was born February 13, 1983 in Southern Cali and is of Chinese descent.  Her accomplishments are a must read.  See below.

Joshua Gomez and Julia Ling as Morgan and Anna on NBC’s Chuck

Fun Facts:

• Speaks Mandarin, German and English fluently
• Artwork published at age 6
• Wrote and narrated a story that won her “Best Story Teller Award” by Chinese World Newspaper also at age 6
• Her dances were aired on national television and was performing award-winning solo dances by age 9

Check out what she did in high school and beyond…I’m burnt out just reading it [via]

In high school, Ling was student body president and president of German Club, Amnesty International, Literature Society and Junior Statesmen Debate Team. She competed in dance, varsity tennis and swimming. In 1997, Congressman David Dreier recognized Ling for her community service at the local hospital. At age 16, she was selected as a state finalist in the Miss America Pageant and after nine years of playing the piano, graduated from the Royal Board of Music. She graduated high school second in her class with a 4.0 GPA and perfect SAT scores.

Pursuing a career in medicine, Ling majored in biomedical chemical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. She was Treasurer of Chemical Engineering Society, Vice President of the Engineering Society of UCLA and honorary member of the Society of Women Engineers. She left it all to pursue her love of performing.

In 2003, Julia Ling made her network television debut on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar. Over the next two years, she starred in over 20 independent short films and returned to prime time television in roles on House (FOX) and ER (NBC) in 2006. She guest starred in the recurring role of Kim Tao on the critically acclaimed Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (NBC). Her next major guest starring role was on the television drama ER, playing the recurring character of Mae Lee Park, a surgical intern. She also guest starred in The O.C., and Grey’s Anatomy.

In the summer of 2007, Ling competed in the Jackie Chan Disciples, a martial arts competition. She was selected as one of the top four finalists representing the U.S. at the International Top 100 competition in Beijing, China. In addition, her Kung Fu performance, portraying her as an adventurer ambushed by bandits, won her the Best Acting Award. She was unable to compete in Beijing because of her role as Anna Wu on NBC’s Chuck.

So I’m just going to pause here and go deal with my feelings of inadequacy…


Keywords: famous asians, asian, famous asian actresses, famous asian actors, asian girl on chuck
Sources: TVGuide, JuliaLing.net, IMDB, Wiki
Photos

Vivienne Tam

is a Chinese American fashion designer known for her East-meets-West polish, clean lines, Asian prints, rich color sense, and facility with beading … and has PRIZES & GOODIES for you at her Lace & Sequins Holiday Cocktail party!  Everything is up to 60% OFF! (per an email from the marketing coordinator).  All you have to do is RSVP by NOON 12pm, Tuesday, December 22nd.

***See invite below***

[via]


Vivienne Tam SOHO store with pieces from her Fall 2009 collection [1, 2]







Some of her gorgeous and delicious pieces, Spring 2010 RTW collection [via]
Will be available Jan/Feb 2010.  Will update when Marketing informs me of trunk show info. 

Other Quick facts about Vivienne Tam:

• Born November 28, 1957 in Guangzhou, China
• Launched eponymous line in 1994
• Designed East Wind Code for 9 years prior to her own line
• Saks, Neiman, Bloomies (among many others) carry her clothing in the U.S.
• Clothing also carried in stores worlwide
• The Met, Andy Warhol, and FIT museums display her pieces
• CFDA Nominated for Perry Ellis Award for womenswear in 1998
• Co-authored China Chic with Martha Huang
• Launched Red and Jade lines in 2007
• Designed Gramercy Park Hotel restaurant staff uniforms in 2007
• Design deal with HP in 2008 (see HP product placement in her photo above)

Other Keywords: famous asians, famous asian fashion designers, holiday party, NYC SOHO store, Vivienne Tam ethnicity, HP laptop design, Asiance Magazine invite Vivienne Tam holiday lace and sequins party, meet & greet, goody bags, raffle prize to Vivienne Tam’s Fall 2010 Runway fashion show at Bryant Park, RSVP!
Sources & More Info:  Wiki, NYMag
Profile photo

Maya Lin

is an Asian American artist and architect of Chinese descent most famous for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.  The stark, v-shaped, black granite structure was constructed below ground level and holds the inscription of more than 58,000 names of Americans who died in the Vietnam War.  Lin intended for the memorial to resemble “a wound in the earth that is slowly healing”. 

What an incredible parallel to recognize and subsequently integrate into structural design.  It’s even more impressive that Lin had such an awareness at 21 years old, which proved useful when she faced much controversy and had to defend herself and her design in front of the United States Congress.  

The minimalist and below ground level design and that the nation’s memorial to a war in Southeast Asia was to be designed by an Asian American left many upset, angered, and confused.  A compromise was reached by placing American flag and a bronze statue of “The Three Soldiers” (aka “The Three Servicemen”) to the side of the Memorial. 

With an estimated 4.4 million annual visitors, over 25 years, it is one of the most visited in the country.  See a list of Lin’s other major works below. 


Lin in the early 1980’s with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial plan

Other quick facts:

• Born October 5, 1959 in Athens, Ohio
• Lin was still an undergraduate at Yale when her design was selected
• She believes she would not have won if the contest was not “blind” - the judges knew the contestants by an assigned number instead of by name
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial corners face the Washington and Lincoln Memorials

Lin’s other major works include:

• “What is Missing?” conservation installations, various locations (2005-2011)
• MOCA (Museum of Chinese America) New York, NY (2009) Video
• Wave Field, University of Michigan (1995)
• Civil Rights Memorial, Montgomery, AL (1989)

Maya Lin unveils “Unchopping a Tree” at UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, Dec 16, 2009

Other Sources & More Info: Wiki, Lin’s website, interview, FAQ on “the Wall”, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4
Other Keywords: Famous asians, famous asian, famous asian architects, famous asian artists, memorialist,

Evan Low

26 years old, Campbell City Council-elected Mayor as of Tuesday December 1st, Chinese, and gay.  Talk about overcoming obstacles in Politics.  “It’s about making a difference int he community I live in,” he says.  RIGHT ON Evan Low!

Quick Facts about Campbell City:

• 38,000-resident Silicon Valley city
• Average resident age is 35
• Asian Americans are the second most populous demographic in Silicon Valley

Quick facts about Low:

• Campbell City Council promoted Low from Vice Mayor to a one-year term as Mayor
• Currently obtaining MPA from San Jose State Univ (his undergrad alma mater)
• Has undergrad degree in Political Science
• Attended exec program at Harvard Kennedy School of Gov’t
• Works full time as Senior District Representative to Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Sunnyvale
• Lost in 2004 City Council run
• Won in 2006.  Term ends 2010.

More from SF Gate article and Passport


Keywords: One of the youngest mayors, youngest Chinese mayors, openly gay politician, youngest openly gay mayor, Campbell mayor, Silicon Valley mayor, San Jose, Asian demographic, famous Asian politician, famous Asian politicians, famous Asian

Liu Wen

Most recently became the first Chinese (or non-mixed Asian) model to strut the Victoria’s Secret catwalk.  This Victoria’s Secret 2009 Fashion Show airs on CBS tonight Dec 1st @ 10pmET/9c. (A total of 3 mixed and non-mixed Asians heat up the runway tonight…post coming up!)

Per Wiki:

Liu Wen was born January 27, 1988, in Yongzhou, a city in the Hunan Province of China. 

Wen started her modeling career in 2005,^[3] when she entered the New Silk Road World Model Contest, a contest previously won by international covergirl Du Juan.  Though she didn’t win, she began working after the contest. She became a national success when she landed the cover of Chinese FHM in the beginning her career.^[3] She then started working for top Chinese fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.^[3]

In September 2007, Liu caught the eye of the international fashion industry when she shot a Cosmo editorial styled as designer like Karl Lagerfeld and Viktor and Rolf^[1][3], and later appeared on the cover. She then was ushered to Paris in 2008, and signed with Marilyn Agency.^[3]

In February of the same year, she appeared in four editorials for Chinese Vogue.^[3] She debuted on the international runways in the same month, closing the fall Trussardi show in Milan, and also walked for Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Hermès.^[2]

For the Spring 2009 season, she appeared in seven major campaigns^[4], including DKNY Jeans, The GAP, and cKone.^[4]

In 2009, Liu Wen became the first ever Chinese or non-mixed far east model to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.^[5]

More pics of Liu Wen in NYMag



Keywords: Asian Models, Famous asian models, chinese models, first asian chinese model in victoria’s secret runway
Other Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4

John C. Liu

NYC Nov. 3, 2009 - ELECTIONS TODAY!!!!
John C. Liu running for Comptroller

Under the Democratic and Working Party lines
Platform: About John

Quick Facts:

• Elected to Councilman in 2001, northeast Queens (20th District)
• Re-elected 2003, 2005 
• FIRST Chinese-American and Asian-American to be elected to City Council
• Moved to the U.S. from Taiwan at 5yo
• Father changed “Chun” to “John” to honor John F. Kennedy
• Brothers’ names were changed to honor Robert & Edward Kennedy
• Attended NYC public schools & Bronx High School of Science
• Mathematical Physics major at Binghamton University in NY
• Worked as a Manager at PriceWaterhouse Coopers before being elected to City Council

Keywords: First Asian American, first Chinese American, elected to City Council, Democrat, Democratic, Working Families, New York City, NYC Councilman, NYC City Council, John C. Liu, John Liu

Alexa Chung

is a British model, DJ, contributing editor at British Vogue, and host of MTV’s It’s On With Alexa Chung (airs weekdays @3:30pm/ET).  Get the scoop on her interview and photo shoot at V Magazine here. 


Chung was born on November 5, 1983 and raised in Privett, Hampshire, England by her English mother and 3/4 Chinese father.[via]  More on Wiki.