Asians in the mainstream

Growing up, there were not a whole lot of Asians on tv or in magazines. We had Lucy Liu, and that was about it.

I still love you, Lucy (source)

There was no one to emulate for hairstyles, for makeup...it's no wonder I spent the better part of my childhood wishing I were blond. (I actually realized this childhood wish sometime in college...but that's another story.)

Recently, however, there has been a genesis of eastern features into the limelight, especially on the modeling front. I first noticed it in my daily Victoria's Secret catalog (for some reason, they think that if they send me not one, but TWO catalogs in the mail everyday that I will be more inclined to buy fancy underwear) with Jarah Mariano.

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I did a double take when I saw this East Asian model trying to sell me underwear. Granted, she's only part Asian, mixed with other ethnicities more known for churning out models, like French, Italian, etc. But it's a start!

Then there was the introduction of several Chinese, Korean and Japanese models in the December 2010 edition of the famed fashion epitome, Vogue. (Sidenote: the one with Angelina Jolie on the cover--doesn't she look fab??) In their spread "Asia Major", Vogue exposes the newfound interest in exotic looking beauties from the east.

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Despite the controversy this article spurred regarding what was perceived as a callous lumping together of all East Asian models, I think it's fantastic that such different features are finally being accepted on a mainstream platform. Click here to read the Vogue article.

The newest addition to this influx of Asians is the new face of Louis Vuitton's 2011 menswear ad campaign, Godfrey Gao.

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Unlike the female models in the Vogue spread, Gao's Asian features are not played up as much, and upon cursory glance, he appears as well groomed and metrosexual as any other man with a Louis Vuitton manbag ("It's a European carry-all!!!").

While I am definitely not attracted to Asian men (they remind me of my dad--that may be TMI), I think Gao looks great and fits in perfectly with mainstream models. To me, it's less about him being Asian, and more about him having that typical plastic, hollowed out model stare. (Blue steel?)

What do you think of Gao and this new Asian assault on mainstream media?
[Inspiration article]