🎨 Lucy Liu and... who? AAPI representation in the '90s and y2k
the most memorable asian characters from growing up
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Here’s a look at the notable Asians I think of from growing up (90s/2000s). There weren’t many so this will be a quick roundup.
Lucy Liu is on here twice cuz things were very “1 famous Asian allowed at a time.” She wore the J’adore Dior shirt in an episode of Sex & the City where Samantha tries to get a Birkin for herself using Liu’s name. She’s 56 and reminds Asians aging is hot!
Nicole Bilderback: also featured twice! She’s the y2k teen movies Asian. You know her from Clueless and Bring it On. She walked so Ashley Park could run! She was in Can’t Hardly Wait, Legally Blonde 2, and some Dawson’s Creek episodes. She’s a Korean adoptee1 raised in Dallas.
Margaret Cho: still the only famous Korean-American standup comedian. Let’s not forget her Emmy nomination for playing Kim Jong-Il on 30 Rock.
Yes, the Ninja Turtles count. Bonus points: they’re adopted - Hi, Splinter!
Cassandra and Rufio from Hook weren’t in a band but they should’ve been!
Yes, it’s Channel One News-era Lisa Ling! Did you know that’s where Anderson Cooper started?2 Look how young they were.
Connie Chung: still goated, I think?
Kristi Yamaguchi felt like “America’s Favorite Asian” in the early 90s, therefore the most famous Asian EVER. As a kid, I thought she was Korean because of how much adults talked to me about her. Like I was gonna start double axel-ing my way to gold too (LOLOLOL I have zero athletic bones in my body).
Jennifer Tilly is half-Chinese and deserves her own Bravo show. Thanks to a great divorce lawyer, she owns part of The Simpsons: “I’m not buying diamonds with Chucky money. Chucky money pays for my snacks.”
Claudia Kishi, The Babysitter’s Club: I was initially gonna include the 1990 tv version of Claudia but I couldn’t confirm if she’s Asian (it was the actress’ only role). To be safe, I went with the book. Truly the first Asian teenage girl representation I ever remember.
Thuy Trang aka Yellow Power Ranger, Trini Kwan: very problematic casting color, but she and Ghostwriter’s Tina Nguyen (played by Tram-Anh Tran) were the only Asians on daytime television.
It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month. How are you celebrating?