★ M.A.R.A.★

Judith Hill

is the ROCKIN chick who sang at Michael Jackson’s memorial and was one of MJ’s back up vocalists slated for his This Is It concert tour.  Though the movie was supposed to be in theaters for two weeks only since it’s October release, the $101 million worldwide revenue over the first five opening days was enough to steer the SONY bosses to keep it out through Thanksgiving.  (Announced Nov. 1)



I saw the movie last weekend and reveled in the MJ showmanship and production.  Judith Hill was a pleasant surprise.  I was stunned by the power of her voice and intrigued by the possibility that she was Asian (scroll below for specific heritage).  Hill had a duet with MJ and it was fascinating to see the process of rehearsal and how such a show becomes a show…and how such creativity emerges…

So definitely worth seeing…you might toss and turn in your seat a bit because the movie’s two hours…but stand in the side aisle and boogie if you need to…


Also…probably not the best to idea to watch a movie after a night of debauchery…even if it’s after brunch…I’m just sayin’…

Judith Hill was born in LA and grew up in a family of musicians.  Her mother was an immigrant from Japan who met her African-American father in a funk band in the 70’s.  Dig it.



Hill seems to look back on her bi-racial experience with love and a matured, evolved sense of appreciation: [via her website]

“I was a skinny mixed kid with a lot of hair that I didn’t know what to do with (and still don’t know what to do with it). And my mom could not help me with it!”

She lived in a Christian home and embraced Jesus Christ at an early age. She comments, “I had a pretty good life in my childhood. Me and God were friends since the beginning. That helped a lot. But, it didn’t save me from walking a path of pain and asking the deep questions of life.

I was a philosopher as a kid, and in school you could find me in the library.” She admits that she never “fit in”. Depending on the social circle, she was labeled “too quiet”, “too loud”, “too black”, “to asian”, or too something. Judith expresses, “I was a traveler, kind of a drifter. But, looking back I see how all of those experiences, friends, and cultures made me who I am today.”

A sample of her talent below…

Related Posts below “Permalink”
Keywords: Asian woman in This Is It, vocalist in this is it, black asian woman in michael jackson movie, asian woman in michael jackson movie, black asian woman in mj movie, asian african american woman in this is it, woman who sang at mjs memorial, judith hill in mj memorial
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4

Tickets were still available as of 2:30pm today, Saturday, November 7th. 

Stephanie Reese

“…is the third Filipino solo performer, after pop singer Regine Velasquez and Broadway star Lea Salonga to sing at the famed [Carnegie Hall].”  [via]

Reese wowed Pattie La Belle, Natalie Cole, Earth Wind and Fire, Jamie Foxx, and Will.I.Am (of the Black Eyed Peas, who boasts Filipino group member APL), when she performed powerful renditions of Classical Broadway and Opera songs to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the famous Beverly Hills Crustacean Restaurant in June 2008.   

Oliver Stone, Angela Basset, Magic Johnson, San Fransisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom, Michael Bolton, and Paris Hilton were also among the crowd who stood to applaud, cheer, and throw flowers at Reese’s feet before she even finished singing. 

Patti La Belle was so impressed that she invited Reese to dine with her in the VIP room.  They sang the end of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma together, at La Belle’s request, and brought the crowd to screams and cheers once again.  (Read more about Reese taking Hollywood by storm.)

Here is a Reese rendition of the above mentioned aria.  Performed July 4, 2009 at the Fil-Am Friendship Day at Redwing Park Virginia Beach, VA. 




Keywords: Filipino opera and Broadway singer performer, Stephanie Reese performs at Carnegie Hall in NYC November 7, Reese at Carnegie Nov 7, Gawad Kalinga

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. 

David Chang

is the chef/owner of the rave reviewed NYC Momofuku eateries Noodle Bar, Ko and Ssäm Bar, Milk Bar, and Ma Peche in New York City.  Food & Wine touts Chang as having “sparked a craze for bar dining and snagged every award and accolade in the process” further adding that the young chef serves “hearty, inventive Asian-inspired food at great prices”.

The New York Times and New York Magazine food critics agree and patron review sites such as Yelp and Urban Spoon branded Chang’s restaurants with excellent reviews.  Alas with any sought-after restaurant in NYC serving delicious foods at affordable prices, the wait could seem interminable.  Be patient and nimble, says the New York Times, and be forewarned.

You could try making the recommended Ramen and Korean BBQ stuffed pork buns yourself since Chang’s

Momofuku cookbook is being released today, October 27th

Available on Amazon.  Also see him as a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight at 12:30am/ET on NBC. 


The highly recommended pork ramen dish from Chang’s Momofuku Noodle Bar 



Born Aug 5, 1977 Chang’s descent is not stated anywhere, though Wiki tags his profile  with “Korean-American”.   Chang majored in religious studies at Trinity College and later trained at the French Culinary Institute.  More about Chang on Wiki, an interview with Food & Wine, WSJ review of his cookbook. 


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Keywords: Korean American chef, Momofuku restaurants, chic noodle bars