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ASIAMS.NET |
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, 06:00:11 PM)
We're only 4% of the population here. She needs to be marketable to the non-Asian majority in the Americas and Europe. And tons of ppl here hate us (look at the A&B scandal). So if she clings onto her Asian heritage, what message would that send to the tons of Asian-hating viewers? Yes, they will hate her too. I have a sinking realization from the A&B scandal that there's an overwhelming number of Asian-haters out there than our dismal 4% in the U.S. So who knows for sure why Kristin is rejecting her Asian roots. Maybe it's a commercial necessity. Maybe it's just true. But either way, it doesn't change her contribution to our image. She looks Asian, people see her in a positive role, and then people may start changing their negative opinions about us. Come on, she definitely looks happa!!! It's so obvious that tons of non-Asian viewers write in to ask. And then when they find out, some of them don't like her anymore. They're better off finding out later after she becomes famous. If we keep announcing her Asian roots to the world prematurely, we may ruin her career. If we must, we can announce it later after she's established. I know many of us are just so proud that we want everyone to know. But Kristin's in a tough bind. Give her a break. She needs our support. She has my support all the way.
Still a Kristin Fan
Monday, April 29, 2002 at 04:35:38 (PDT)
to "Hi".
her mother doesnt speak chinese and she wasn't raised that way. is it her fault? it doesnt mean she is a disgrace. she never said she doesnt prefer to be asian. like someone else said, it doesnt mean she's a disgrace. she also never begged asians to be her fans, so don't blame her. also, her fan base is in the US. most of her fans are white. asians arent the majority. asians cant take credit 4 her success and popularity. we're not her guardian angel.
rushluma23
Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 21:49:18 (PDT)
to "kristen kreuk is ok.she's not bad.":
she's petite n 5 foot 4. r u saying small is bad? and no, i dont see anyone around me (white, korean, or any race) who is prettier than Kristin.
lilywater47
Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 21:41:55 (PDT)
What are you talking about? You can totally tell that Kristin is a hapa! For the people who think she is denying her asian heritage, what about the several full blooded asians who don't speak their language or live out their own culture? She doesn't want to make a huge issue about her ethnicity, so why make it something big? Shouldn't we be glad that she doesn't magnify her ethnicity? I think it's rather racist to call her a disgrace. If I were an actor, I wouldn't focus on my race. This is year 2002. Stop making race an issue. And by the way, Kristin is one of the most gorgeous people on television right now.
kristin is beautiful
Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 02:37:32 (PDT)
beauty is in the eye of the beholder. if you think she's pretty that's fine, but if others think she's not really pretty, don't get your feathers ruffles. each entittled to their opinions.
no offense against her...she doesn't look majorly asian. she looks more caucasian. added to that she doesn't acknowledged herself as an asian. so generally speaking even she doesn't want to represent asians why do we have to think of her as our representation?there are a lot more asians we can think of to represent asian americans and i'm sure they can be more beautiful than kristen kreuk.
lol
Saturday, April 27, 2002 at 21:54:02 (PDT)
Lilwater: no i don't say that cos she's not all asian. each see beauty diffeently. honestly i think her face looks a bit weird and devilish. sure sge' pretty and i would be happy to have a g/f like her. but watch around you. a lot of other girls (including asians) are better looking than her. some korean gasoos and actresss certainly look better than her. btw, she looks kinda small...
kristen kreuk is ok.she's not bad.
Saturday, April 27, 2002 at 21:46:53 (PDT)
I think Kristin Kreuk is pretty! I agree
with Gerald Jamieson...blood lines don't matter. You shouldn't judge people by their backrounds. Kristin is beautiful, it makes me wanna look like her. Lol :P
Azn Gal
twirlygalaxy@hotmail.com
Friday, April 26, 2002 at 21:46:32 (PDT)
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