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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Kristin Kreuk: Next Asian American Beauty?
t isn't a question of droolworthiness. Her looks are dazzling enough to have locked up a lead role in each of her first three auditions, including the title role in an upcoming TV movie. It's more a question of whether most of us would identify hazel-eyed Smallville heartthrob Lana Lang as a fellow Asian.
Kristin Laura Kreuk was born to a Chinese mother and a Dutch father on December 30, 1982. She grew up in Vancouver, Canada. Kreuk, 5-4, had decided to go to college to study forensic pathology until, in her senior year, her drama teacher suggested she go to an audition for a new Fox Family series called Edgement. She was promptly plucked out of the open audition to play a Chinese Canadian high scool student named Laurel Yeung. Even as she won fans in the role, she landed the Lana Lang role for WB's dramatization of Superboy's life as Clark Kent, then the role of Snow White in the ABC TV movie set for release in 2002. Kreuk's star-quality was obvious to all who tuned in for Smallville's premiere last October. Some even proclaimed her the show's main attraction.
But many Asian American viewers didn't even suspect Kreuk's Asian ancestry. Even those who learned of her mother's nationality questioned whether she can be claimed by Asian Americans. Without an Asian surname or obvious Asian facial features, they argue, Kreuk's success would do nothing for the image of Asians in the American media. Others might argue that most African American stars are, in fact, only fractionally of African descent.
Should we claim Kristin Kreuk and other hapas like her as Asian American celebrities? Or should that designation be reserved for those with a more obviously Asian identity?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:00:21 PM)
Asian Americans need to start supporting their own people in the entertainment arena. To heck with hollyweird shoving down our throats what they consider to be asian and what they consider to be beautiful.
We don't need to claim any of these cookie cutter types. We can promote and support our own peoples.
not fooled part 2
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 02:39:48 (PST)
The last question on this editorial post asks, should we claim Kristin Kreuk and other hapans like her as asian american celebrities?
The answer is obvious, only those so starved to find asian anything in hollyweird or in life will claim her as asian. Probably the same delusional folk that claim Keanu as Chinese America/asian. Yea, right, and I'm Jackie Chan.
What I find inherently disturbing is how hollyweird has subtly shaped the standards of beauty in America. Notice that mainstream ameriKKKa/hollyweird considers the "ideal" standard of minority beauty to be one where the individual is either half white or has white features. This is despicable. I mean, look at what hollyweird considers the ideal black woman. Their vision of a black woman is light skinned and looks nothing like a true black woman from Africa (i.e., Beyonce Knowles, Vanessa Williams, etc. etc.). And so it goes with asians. Lucy Liu is gorgeous, but no way will the average studio head pick Lucy over someone like Kristin when it comes to a leading role in a romantic/sexy movie.
It had gotten so bad that even some asian american beauty pageants consistently picked hapas over full blooded asians as their reigning queen (this is utterly disgraceful).
My point is, I have nothing against hapas. But to think that Kristin or Keanu are asian american role models or the great yellow hope is pathetic, because all it does is promote hapas over full blooded asian americans that toil day in and day out struggling to make it in hollyweird.
not fooled
Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 02:37:42 (PST)
GDS KA, Mssrs. Editors:
More useful would be role models who encourage Americans of Asian ethnicity to hold up their ancestral culture, learn about its' values, and form an identity based on real Asian culture, regardless of whether they have epicanthic folds, black hair, cool clothing, and support the proper popular political issues. Would be far better than assimilating into this AA whining culture which just obsesses endlessly about race, appearance, and public image, and has nothing to do with real Asian culture or real, self-confident Asians.
AC Dropout:
Two part equation. First, she has to be ready to claim her heritage. Simple enough. Second, she has to be ready to uphold and represent it, since this is what is demanded of an minority ethnic public figure in the US. Also it's where the real troubles come in.
T.H. Lien
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 21:37:10 (PST)
Kristin Kreuk is Kristin Kreuk. Why do we need to categorize her into an asian/non-asian stereotype?!!
Do you want to be stereotyped or discriminated against just because of your ethnicity? Personally, I've been discriminated against because of the way I look. It sucks. You be yourself and you let her be herself. Leave it at that.
Sick of Stereotypes and Categorizations!
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 19:08:56 (PST)
Hmm. A lot of people here seem to think she looks white. Personally, the first time I saw her on TV I knew she was part asian. I can't quite quantify which parts of her facial structure identified her to me as asian...but I can still appreciate the beautiful blend of both worlds. So in the end, I don't think either of the parts of her heritage dominate the other.
KM, 24
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 19:01:37 (PST)
just as Keanu reeves has a chinese father he is seen as a white american actor, To be asian you must be percieved as asian.
Shes in the glamour business,
I don't expect her to be political and stand up for asian issues.
When you are in the glamour biz it really comes down to Money, friends and a elitist lifestyle, I know because thats what I want too!
Jook seng doy
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 18:39:02 (PST)
my gosh people! she doesn't even look asian. when i first say smallville, i didn't even know that she was part asian. "asian american" hmmm, i think not.
peace
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 17:40:37 (PST)
Yes, she is classified as Asian because in Asian beauty contests, the only requirement is that the contestant is only 1/4 Asian. She looks Chinese to me. I knew from the very first time I saw her that she was at least part Asian. So, some people say if you don't look Asian, you can't be called Asian? Well, both my parents were born in China, and I don't look 100% Chinese. So, I'm not Chinese either?
If you watch Edgemont, you can definitely tell. On Smallville, it's hard to say because the character is not supposed to be Chinese. You can turn any race into another race by the magical use of make up. Ever heard of blackface?! Snow White has been out a long time, although not in the States. I think it showed in Australia over a year ago. It was filmed when she was 18 or something.
Toi San Jai
Eric@KristinKreuk.net
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 15:10:51 (PST)
When I saw Kristen, I told my brother she looks kind of chinese (really meaning asian) and it turned out I was right.
hapa boy
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 14:51:58 (PST)
Why not claim her as an Asian??!! If her father was Chinese and her mother was Dutch, this wouldn't even be a discussion. All of you would consider her Asian. A person whose half black/white will always consider themselves black. Alicia Keyes does not have the stereotypical look of a black woman(because she's mix) but she is seen as a black female by herself and other black people. Why do Asians always dispute the race of people who are half white/Asian??!! You people are so hooked on Kreuk's physical appearance(eye color,hair color,her surname) Yet I don't hear anyone saying Apolo Ohno is white. Does Ohno really look Asian??!! If you met him on the streets and you didn't know who he was, you would assume that he was white or Hispanic. But there's the "Last-Name-Factor." Maybe it's the last names that are throwing you people off. So does a last name distinguish a persons race?? It is very hypercritical to consider someone like Apolo Ohno Asian and Kristen Kreuk not Asian. Both of these people are half white and half Asian.They don't really look Asian.Yet one is more Asian than the other??!! Am I missing something here??!! Or maybe you people think White father/Asian mother=white kids and Asian father/white mother =Asian kids??!!Are you people high??!!
what's wrong with u people??!!
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 11:37:18 (PST)
I think Kristin should identify herself with both races. Not doing so would be a great diservice to both . One thing that i don't agree with is the statement by Chinaman ,"Even when her asian ancestry is revealed, people would still mostly think it's her white ancestry that makes her pretty". There are alot of pretty asians out there that don't have a drop of white blood in them. If you think race playes a big part in determining a person's looks then you gotta hit the books bro. It has more to do with a person genes, so if you look good then your kids would too. Here's a scenario for you : how about mixing lyle lovette or russel simmons with one of our own. Could you even conceive what the kids would look like?
asian dude that has no problem getting some
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 11:26:10 (PST)
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