Article, AAPI
Celebrating AAPI Influencers Who Are Following Their Passions
Thursday, May 12, 2022
By Julie Wu
Asian representation may be hard to come by on the big screens in Hollywood, but it’s a different story on social media.
Social media sidesteps a majority of the gatekeeping issues present in other entertainment mediums. Consequently, Asian influencers have risen to popularity and are empowering a new generation. Anyone has the opportunity to be successful on these platforms by simply following their passions.
Whether you’re into comedy, art, food, or tech, you’ll find an Asian North American influencer you can look up to.
To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, I’d like to share a few of my favorite influencers who have carved their own path.
Leenda Dong
Credit: Leenda Dong
Leenda Dong is a viral Vietnamese-Canadian content creator on TikTok. You’ll find her playing an awkward and silly character who pokes fun at popular TikTok trends or engages in good old-fashioned, self-deprecating humor.
I know that I can always turn to her content to crack me up. It also helps that I’m a huge fan of self-deprecating humor and her shorts do not disappoint.
Follow Leenda Dong on:
Steven He
Credit: Steven He
Steven He is a Chinese-Irish American comedian and actor on Youtube and TikTok. In fact, you may have seen his viral emotional damage skit trending in other videos.
I love that his comedy is rooted in his Asian experiences growing up. Personally, I can relate to his experiences and know how painful they can be. Instead of reliving my #emotionaldamage, his humor turns those experiences into therapeutic entertainment.
Follow Steven He on:
Jeenie.Weenie
Credit: Sandra Jeenie Kwon
Sandra Jeenie is an adorable and hilarious Korean-American comedian on TikTok. She reenacts crazy true stories from her experience working as a flight attendant.
I can’t believe some of the horrors she’s experienced, but her hilarious reenactments make for some seriously entertaining content!
Follow Jeenie.Weenie on:
Bretman Rock
Credit: Bretman Rock
Bretman Rock is a Filipino-American beauty influencer based in Hawaii. Yes, he is talented and hilarious, but most importantly I love how fiercely and unapologetically real he is. He will tell you like it is and he will look damn good while doing it! He is always #SlayingIt.
Follow Bretman Rock on:
Dave2D
Credit: Dave 2d
Dave Lee is a Chinese-Canadian tech influencer on Youtube who reviews the latest new tech. He provides honest and straightforward feedback without any “bloatware”.
What initially drew me to his videos were his minimalist and clean aesthetic (I’m a sucker for super high quality videos), but his candid and impartial reviews left me a real supporter.
Follow Dave2D on:
Chili Pepper Cooks
Credit: Shihan Chowdhury
Shihan Chowdhury is a Bangledeshi-American home cook famous on TikTok for incorporating the Thai chili pepper into every dish he makes. Seriously, he’ll find an ingenious way to use the Thai chili pepper from hot wings and curries to smoothies and ice cream.
After following his videos, I’ve found a new appreciation for Thai chili peppers and will always try to stock up at the grocery store. I encourage you to try it, too!
Follow Chili Pepper Cooks on:
David Suh
Credit: David Suh
David Suh is a Korean-American photographer and badass posing coach based in LA. I love how silly and confident he can be at the same time.
He is my personal pocket posing coach and has shown me how to work my natural angles. He’ll truly make you feel #blessed in your own body!
Follow David Suh on:
RossDraws
Credit: Ross Tran
Ross Tran is an amazing digital artist who shares his gorgeous paintings and helpful tutorials on Youtube. His art is inspired by his love of gaming and anime, which are also two of the passions I have.
He’s so full of positive energy and love for his community. I especially adore when he finds ways to include his mom and Shiba Inu, Milo. Watching cheerful videos has inspired me to pick up a pen and start creating again.
Follow RossDraws on:
Sam Does Arts
Credit: Sam Does Art / Sam Yang
Sam is a digital artist hailing from Toronto who paints beautiful portraits of girls. I love his art style and watching him paint. He’ll often take on art challenges and show us his creation process.
Honestly, watching his videos makes me feel so inspired. He makes drawing and painting look so, so easy. I’m nowhere near his level of talent, at least not yet! His skills have been mastered over several years so there’s still time left for noobs like us.
Follow Sam Does Arts on:
Blogilates
Credit: Casey Ho
Cassey Ho is a Chinese-Vietnamese American fitness entrepreneur and influencer. She has a passion for fitness upon which she has built a successful business. In fact, you may have seen her cute Blogilates products at Target.
I have an entrepreneurial mind, too, so I was amazed and excited to find another female Asian sharing her personal journey and growth. Her posts are honestly so motivating. She not only shows her growth and results, but she shares how she does it.
Follow Blogilates on:
Article, AAPI
Celebrating AAPI Influencers Who Are Following Their Passions
Thursday, May 12, 2022
By Julie Wu
Asian representation may be hard to come by on the big screens in Hollywood, but it’s a different story on social media.
Social media sidesteps a majority of the gatekeeping issues present in other entertainment mediums. Consequently, Asian influencers have risen to popularity and are empowering a new generation. Anyone has the opportunity to be successful on these platforms by simply following their passions.
Whether you’re into comedy, art, food, or tech, you’ll find an Asian North American influencer you can look up to.
To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, I’d like to share a few of my favorite influencers who have carved their own path.
Leenda Dong
Credit: Leenda Dong
Leenda Dong is a viral Vietnamese-Canadian content creator on TikTok. You’ll find her playing an awkward and silly character who pokes fun at popular TikTok trends or engages in good old-fashioned, self-deprecating humor.
I know that I can always turn to her content to crack me up. It also helps that I’m a huge fan of self-deprecating humor and her shorts do not disappoint.
Follow Leenda Dong on:
Steven He
Credit: Steven He
Steven He is a Chinese-Irish American comedian and actor on Youtube and TikTok. In fact, you may have seen his viral emotional damage skit trending in other videos.
I love that his comedy is rooted in his Asian experiences growing up. Personally, I can relate to his experiences and know how painful they can be. Instead of reliving my #emotionaldamage, his humor turns those experiences into therapeutic entertainment.
Follow Steven He on:
Jeenie.Weenie
Credit: Sandra Jeenie Kwon
Sandra Jeenie is an adorable and hilarious Korean-American comedian on TikTok. She reenacts crazy true stories from her experience working as a flight attendant.
I can’t believe some of the horrors she’s experienced, but her hilarious reenactments make for some seriously entertaining content!
Follow Jeenie.Weenie on:
Bretman Rock
Credit: Bretman Rock
Bretman Rock is a Filipino-American beauty influencer based in Hawaii. Yes, he is talented and hilarious, but most importantly I love how fiercely and unapologetically real he is. He will tell you like it is and he will look damn good while doing it! He is always #SlayingIt.
Follow Bretman Rock on:
Dave2D
Credit: Dave 2d
Dave Lee is a Chinese-Canadian tech influencer on Youtube who reviews the latest new tech. He provides honest and straightforward feedback without any “bloatware”.
What initially drew me to his videos were his minimalist and clean aesthetic (I’m a sucker for super high quality videos), but his candid and impartial reviews left me a real supporter.
Follow Dave2D on:
Chili Pepper Cooks
Credit: Shihan Chowdhury
Shihan Chowdhury is a Bangledeshi-American home cook famous on TikTok for incorporating the Thai chili pepper into every dish he makes. Seriously, he’ll find an ingenious way to use the Thai chili pepper from hot wings and curries to smoothies and ice cream.
After following his videos, I’ve found a new appreciation for Thai chili peppers and will always try to stock up at the grocery store. I encourage you to try it, too!
Follow Chili Pepper Cooks on:
David Suh
Credit: David Suh
David Suh is a Korean-American photographer and badass posing coach based in LA. I love how silly and confident he can be at the same time.
He is my personal pocket posing coach and has shown me how to work my natural angles. He’ll truly make you feel #blessed in your own body!
Follow David Suh on:
RossDraws
Credit: Ross Tran
Ross Tran is an amazing digital artist who shares his gorgeous paintings and helpful tutorials on Youtube. His art is inspired by his love of gaming and anime, which are also two of the passions I have.
He’s so full of positive energy and love for his community. I especially adore when he finds ways to include his mom and Shiba Inu, Milo. Watching cheerful videos has inspired me to pick up a pen and start creating again.
Follow RossDraws on:
Sam Does Arts
Credit: Sam Does Art / Sam Yang
Sam is a digital artist hailing from Toronto who paints beautiful portraits of girls. I love his art style and watching him paint. He’ll often take on art challenges and show us his creation process.
Honestly, watching his videos makes me feel so inspired. He makes drawing and painting look so, so easy. I’m nowhere near his level of talent, at least not yet! His skills have been mastered over several years so there’s still time left for noobs like us.
Follow Sam Does Arts on:
Blogilates
Credit: Casey Ho
Cassey Ho is a Chinese-Vietnamese American fitness entrepreneur and influencer. She has a passion for fitness upon which she has built a successful business. In fact, you may have seen her cute Blogilates products at Target.
I have an entrepreneurial mind, too, so I was amazed and excited to find another female Asian sharing her personal journey and growth. Her posts are honestly so motivating. She not only shows her growth and results, but she shares how she does it.
Follow Blogilates on:
Article, AAPI
Celebrating AAPI Influencers Who Are Following Their Passions
Thursday, May 12, 2022
By Julie Wu
Asian representation may be hard to come by on the big screens in Hollywood, but it’s a different story on social media.
Social media sidesteps a majority of the gatekeeping issues present in other entertainment mediums. Consequently, Asian influencers have risen to popularity and are empowering a new generation. Anyone has the opportunity to be successful on these platforms by simply following their passions.
Whether you’re into comedy, art, food, or tech, you’ll find an Asian North American influencer you can look up to.
To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, I’d like to share a few of my favorite influencers who have carved their own path.
Leenda Dong
Credit: Leenda Dong
Leenda Dong is a viral Vietnamese-Canadian content creator on TikTok. You’ll find her playing an awkward and silly character who pokes fun at popular TikTok trends or engages in good old-fashioned, self-deprecating humor.
I know that I can always turn to her content to crack me up. It also helps that I’m a huge fan of self-deprecating humor and her shorts do not disappoint.
Follow Leenda Dong on:
Steven He
Credit: Steven He
Steven He is a Chinese-Irish American comedian and actor on Youtube and TikTok. In fact, you may have seen his viral emotional damage skit trending in other videos.
I love that his comedy is rooted in his Asian experiences growing up. Personally, I can relate to his experiences and know how painful they can be. Instead of reliving my #emotionaldamage, his humor turns those experiences into therapeutic entertainment.
Follow Steven He on:
Jeenie.Weenie
Credit: Sandra Jeenie Kwon
Sandra Jeenie is an adorable and hilarious Korean-American comedian on TikTok. She reenacts crazy true stories from her experience working as a flight attendant.
I can’t believe some of the horrors she’s experienced, but her hilarious reenactments make for some seriously entertaining content!
Follow Jeenie.Weenie on:
Bretman Rock
Credit: Bretman Rock
Bretman Rock is a Filipino-American beauty influencer based in Hawaii. Yes, he is talented and hilarious, but most importantly I love how fiercely and unapologetically real he is. He will tell you like it is and he will look damn good while doing it! He is always #SlayingIt.
Follow Bretman Rock on:
Dave2D
Credit: Dave 2d
Dave Lee is a Chinese-Canadian tech influencer on Youtube who reviews the latest new tech. He provides honest and straightforward feedback without any “bloatware”.
What initially drew me to his videos were his minimalist and clean aesthetic (I’m a sucker for super high quality videos), but his candid and impartial reviews left me a real supporter.
Follow Dave2D on:
Chili Pepper Cooks
Credit: Shihan Chowdhury
Shihan Chowdhury is a Bangledeshi-American home cook famous on TikTok for incorporating the Thai chili pepper into every dish he makes. Seriously, he’ll find an ingenious way to use the Thai chili pepper from hot wings and curries to smoothies and ice cream.
After following his videos, I’ve found a new appreciation for Thai chili peppers and will always try to stock up at the grocery store. I encourage you to try it, too!
Follow Chili Pepper Cooks on:
David Suh
Credit: David Suh
David Suh is a Korean-American photographer and badass posing coach based in LA. I love how silly and confident he can be at the same time.
He is my personal pocket posing coach and has shown me how to work my natural angles. He’ll truly make you feel #blessed in your own body!
Follow David Suh on:
RossDraws
Credit: Ross Tran
Ross Tran is an amazing digital artist who shares his gorgeous paintings and helpful tutorials on Youtube. His art is inspired by his love of gaming and anime, which are also two of the passions I have.
He’s so full of positive energy and love for his community. I especially adore when he finds ways to include his mom and Shiba Inu, Milo. Watching cheerful videos has inspired me to pick up a pen and start creating again.
Follow RossDraws on:
Sam Does Arts
Credit: Sam Does Art / Sam Yang
Sam is a digital artist hailing from Toronto who paints beautiful portraits of girls. I love his art style and watching him paint. He’ll often take on art challenges and show us his creation process.
Honestly, watching his videos makes me feel so inspired. He makes drawing and painting look so, so easy. I’m nowhere near his level of talent, at least not yet! His skills have been mastered over several years so there’s still time left for noobs like us.
Follow Sam Does Arts on:
Blogilates
Credit: Casey Ho
Cassey Ho is a Chinese-Vietnamese American fitness entrepreneur and influencer. She has a passion for fitness upon which she has built a successful business. In fact, you may have seen her cute Blogilates products at Target.
I have an entrepreneurial mind, too, so I was amazed and excited to find another female Asian sharing her personal journey and growth. Her posts are honestly so motivating. She not only shows her growth and results, but she shares how she does it.
Follow Blogilates on:
