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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 school 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, 06:00:01 PM)
First of all, to answer the question is Kreuk Asian? I say "NO". If an average white person sees her as white and not Asian, then she's White regardless of her half Asian parentage.
Now the whites sees me as Asian, therefore I'm Asian. What happens if a woman was half Black and half Asian? If the whites sees her as Black, then she's Black. Besides, I don't think that Kreuk
was ever been called an immirgrant or a foreigner in her life, while I was called an immirgrant all my life. That's the difference between her and a pure Asian.
Look at Keanu Reeves? You don't see him saying he's half Asian, and you know why? Because he doesn't want to be looked at as a Asian man. It might ruin his career. And besides, all the white girls don't see him as an Asian man anyway. Tiger Woods (who's half Black and half Asian) is proud of his Asian parentage, Seems to me that hapas who look white will not mention they're half Asian while the African Americans would. Tiger Wood, welcome to our club buddy. Love ya.
Masmak
Wednesday, October 23, 2002 at 20:00:45 (PDT)
[216.244.24.16]
kristin kreuk does look asian. Look at her in sleeping beauty. She has her pale skin. In smallville she admits to using a fake tan (st.tropez) to achieve this look. Her eyes are hazel but they can look green when she uses purple eye makeup. She also has a very dark red/black tint in her hair to emphasise green look eyes and her tan, thats why she doesnt look like a typical asian.
pamela
Thursday, October 17, 2002 at 05:50:43 (PDT)
[213.122.40.230]
I agree with 'LIQUID SOUL' about Kristen being an asian "makeing it" in a culture dominated by "Whites" and "Blacks".
I am American Indian, and like Asian-Americans no one seems to take either ethniicity siriously.
I notice that Asians are rarely seen on tv, but when they are they're ALWAYS in the BACKGROUND while "Whites" and/or "Blacks" are featured prominantly.
While my people (Indians) are rarely seen on tv, asians are even MORE rarely seen. especialy asian MEN.
Perhaps THIS is why Kristen Kreuk doesn't shout from the roof-tops about her asian heritage. She's actually in the FOREGROUND. to push her ancestory forward may get her pushed backward. Back into the background where most TV show producers seem to think asians belong.
Sheesh, So much for "diversity" and "tolerance".
Thundercloud.
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at 23:35:22 (PDT)
[209.43.100.204]
The question perhaps should be, "What ethnicity does Ms Kreuk identify HERSELF?"
Alot of mixed-blood Americans ask themselves that question.
Most people with 'Black' heritage identify as 'Black'. Fine then THAT'S what they are.
I am a mixed-blood Cherokee, personaly. I identify as Cherokee. Fine, That's what I am.
Does Ms Kreuk I.D. as 'white' (dutch) or Chinese, both, neither?
Frankly, NO ONE has the right to "identify" another as anything, other than what THAT PERSON identifies themselves to be.
You know, The right to "self-determination" and all?
No, I personaly would not have took Ms Kreuk for asian. (I thought she might be one of my people, (Indian) at first.)
But what I, or any one else, "take" her to be is irrelevant. She is what she is.
And that is: what she HERSELF says she is, period.
Thundercloud.
Thundercloud.
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at 23:13:44 (PDT)
[209.43.100.204]
Like someone had already posted earlier, yes, Kristin Kreuk has the looks, beauty, and talent. Those are all appearance wise. Although she is not like 100% asian, she is still part asian. Her mother is a person too. Kristin shouldn't neglect her Asian roots though. She does not even want to be part of the Asian community. It's hard for me to see that a fellow Asian, a reknown hapa, neglects her own race. Most of us Asians here are supporting her out there yet it doesn't seem like she has no eyes on us. It is true that she does not have to be so ungrateful to the asian community who has supported her up into the top industry. This is American economy. You can't expect what you want to see all the time. In the end, I just hope that what only should matter is talent and determination in her career and making the best out of her role.
xTriNiTy927x
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at 21:53:38 (PDT)
[172.136.72.81]
Jun:
" and personally I think full blooded asians are starting to look dull, part is prettier. :)"
Wtf is that supposed to mean? I'm not doubting that mixes are pretty, not necessarily prettier though.
But full blooded asians are dull? Look at Christy Chung, Maggie Cheung, Faye Wong, Gong Li... Ohh, how hideous!
Cheerios
Monday, October 14, 2002 at 21:24:07 (PDT)
[216.254.195.7]
Hey Ed, you should make a new category for people like Kristin. They aren't Asian as most people know Asian people. I have cousins who are Korean-Scot-German mix and I'm sure that they see themselves as truly unique.
Call it "Eurasians" or something.
Jay
Monday, October 14, 2002 at 14:14:42 (PDT)
[65.58.227.39]
[We have a Hapas (Eurasians) page. --Ed]
cmon stars are stars
talents are talents
no one can say n e thang bout that
she deserves it!
hard luck to others
try harder next time
she deserves it no matter the background
or race/nationallity
plz
appreciate the talent she has
ok
Akira_Gana
projectakira_gana@hotmail.com
Sunday, October 13, 2002 at 08:18:51 (PDT)
[219.92.60.133]
you say she has no 'obvious Asian facial features'? i don't think so. the very first time i saw her on smallville, i immediately thought to myself: 'she looks asian. her parents [in smallville] didn't look asian, so should her character really look this asian?' this question led me to this site, where you're debating on whether she looks asian or not? all i can say is YES! she IS an asian with the most beautiful eyes and dimples ever.
cutie patootie
Friday, October 11, 2002 at 21:04:00 (PDT)
[202.163.243.66]
kristin was one of the most beautiful girl a evr seen in this planet. i think with her look and supermans popularity smallville is gonena be a blast!!!!!!!
arman
arman_claudio@yahoo.com
Thursday, October 10, 2002 at 20:20:21 (PDT)
[216.226.242.7]
Hey Hawaiian girl I NEVER stated Tia Carrere was Canadian. I obviously and correctly stated that she is American...meaning from the United States.
American chick
Thursday, October 10, 2002 at 09:15:28 (PDT)
[12.13.178.126]
kristin may not be full asian, speak her ethinic languages, or scream out to the public that she is half asian; but that is irrelevant to the fact that no matter what she will always be part asian. i’m proud that there is someone out there who is asian making it big. here in the U.S.; asians being in the entertainment business we are the minority. there may be some but not many. a lot of other asians go out there and get to a point where they are known, but never to the point where they become a house hold name. kristin’s out there doing her thing, she’s beautiful, successful, and intelligent. therefore why should we keep looking down at her; why not just support her? kristin just being out there and being who she is, is enough representing.
liquid soul
shortaypynay@msn.com
Wednesday, October 09, 2002 at 22:48:34 (PDT)
[63.187.233.97]
Her mother is a Chinese from Indonesia. Most likely a refugee. Chinese people were killed by the hundreds of thousands in the 1960s. During another pogrom in 1998, 100s of Chinese women and girls were gang-raped and murdered by radical muslim gangs. Indonesia has muslim majority. The Chinese there are mostly Christian or Buddhist.
If Kristin were there at that in 1998, a similar fate could have befallen her.
So we should be upset at Kristin for not speaking Indonesian?
MrChinaMan
MrChinaMan@email.com
Wednesday, October 09, 2002 at 09:55:06 (PDT)
[24.147.137.249]
I am fourth generation japanese, and I don't know how to speak it....so does that make me a disgrace? B/C that is what everyone is saying....since you can't speak your language then your a disgrace. That is the dumbest thing I have heard. If you don't think that she is representing enough for the asian community, Then get your asses up and start representing for us, instead of talking about kristin kreuk you do something. I mean if you don't think she is doing a good enough job, stop your freaking crying and you try to become a big a star as her and you try to represent. I personally am proud of her and the fact that she is asian....there aren't that many asian stars out there as big as Kristin.
aznboi
Wednesday, October 09, 2002 at 09:17:25 (PDT)
[32.101.251.23]
hey American chick...for your information, tia carrere is american!!! she's from the hawaii...not canada
hawaii girl
Wednesday, October 09, 2002 at 02:56:53 (PDT)
[168.105.119.19]
I dunno what the intention is or was, but this is nonsense. For those of you who commented on her asian identity, this is just wasting your stupid dumb sterotypical time. She's human, for god's sake, why do we have to make such a huge deal about what race she is. Shouldn't we judge others by their personality instead of something they are born to and have no control over. And by the way, Canadians are also Americans and to be specific North Americans. please notice the continent we live in before you comment. thank-you
DKC
Wednesday, October 09, 2002 at 01:32:27 (PDT)
[24.205.139.127]
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