Kristin Kreuk: Next Asian American Beauty? | Asian American Issues

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Kristin Kreuk: Next Asian American Beauty?
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:00:01 PM)

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 Kreuk

     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

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I think that no matter what, she is still asian and should be classified as one. I am full Japanese and a lot of people tell me I look like her. SO even though I am full asian, I still look like her. And she is a Canadian, I also agree that it is okay to consider them "honrary americans" such as American Chick said. I think that her being asian will definately show people that they can take asians seriously.
Asian American
Wednesday, October 30, 2002 at 18:11:56 (PST) [24.234.14.188]

Mark Garcia,

Do you think Fiona Braidwood looks Asian or Caucasian? I don't know what she looks like in person but in the pictures she sometimes looks Asian and other times Eurasian. I wouldn't have said oh my, she is half chinese and half English. You just can't peg the exact ethnicity of Eurasians. She's very pretty. I bet she'll be gorgeous when she's 30. She still looks like a kid just like Kristin kreuk.

I wonder what's up with Julia Nickson (mixed Asian and English). She is beautiful

I hate to say this but in Hollywood you just don't have famous Asian beauties that look like the "average" asian. I mean Sandra Bullock and Reese Witherspoon aren't drop dead gorgeous white women. They look like "average" women but their looks still appeal to the public. I love Reese.

But in Hollywood the Asian beauties like Lucy Liu, Joan Chen, Bai Ling don't have the average Asian features. Lucy Liu has freckles and the other actresses have bigger eyes and noses that aren't as flat.

I would love to see a Full-bloodied Asian actress with a moon face and small eyes and wider nose become famous who can be called beautiful alongside the likes of Lucy lui, Joan Chen, or Bai Ling.
not to be pegged
Wednesday, October 30, 2002 at 10:18:40 (PST) [208.14.6.170]

hi, i'm an asian,half filipino and half espanyol and i think that as long as the blood flows through her veins she is still entitiled to be one of asia and america's finest.kristine's looks are definitely of an halfasian 'coz we asians are mostly half blooded and that's what make them really a sight for sore eyes.take for example Fiona braidwood you can never tell that she's half chinese and british.
"kristine kreuk is a sighting that comes only once in millenia(not that i'm a fan)but she really deserve's the role of an asian american beauty."
Mark adrian garcia
ruenstern@hotmail.com Tuesday, October 29, 2002 at 17:46:58 (PST) [202.69.164.89]

Masmak,

I don't care if Kristin or others think she's Asian. I am not desperate to have a beautiful Asian represent the community. Kelly Hu is gorgeous. Isn't that enough! Or what happened to TAmlyn TAmita. She's a beauty. I think all types of women are gorgeous regardless of ethnicity, coloring, or weight.

Looks aren't everything. Personally I don't see what is so gorgeous about Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan but the public loves them. They both have beautiful smiles. I like Andie McDowall or Salma Hayek's looks.

Anna May Wong is (was) a role model for Asians and I admire her but I don't think she was physically attractive but others do or did.

masmak, you must also bear in mind many Hispanics look Asian. They aren't Asian. Quite a few Asians look Hispanic but they aren't. Some "full" caucasians look like they are mixed with Asian or Black. It's a mixed world out there.

Some are "obvious" like Jackie Chan or that korean-american comedienne. She's really famous but I don't remember her name. But others aren't as specific looking or can be done with makeup. Like Barbara Luna, a very mixed Caucasian-Asian actress. You could play with her face with make-up. Even Tia Carrere, France Nuyen, Sandrine Holt...with the right make-up or coloring can be made to look less Asian. Now someone like Ming Na-Wen or ANna May Wong it would be harder.

That's just my opinion. As a final note, if I were an actress I would not disclose my Asian background even if someone kept insisting I was. I do have an Asian "look" but like I said it's not so pronounced that people wouldn't believe I was something else. There just aren't roles out there. The Tilly sisters did not disclose their ethnicity until they were established. Jennifer Tilly was someone I kind of looked up to because I always thought she was Eskimo but I never knew she was part Chinese because she is in Hollywood.
Not to be pegged
Tuesday, October 29, 2002 at 10:25:01 (PST) [208.14.6.170]

To Lilywater 47, Not to be pegged & KK Fan. I've read all of your comments and they all have good points. For Lilywater,if Kreuk doesn't speaks Chinese and she looks more white than Asian, does that make her white? Yes. I read the Sunday LA Times (not last Sunday) it had a special article about minorities on TV. They mentioned Keiko Aguna from the Gilmore Girls as an Asian-American actress, but they didn't mention anything about Kreuk, because to the general public she's not Asian. Just for the fun of it. I'd asked all of my non-Asian friends that there are some Asians who considers Kreuk an Asian-American actress because she's half Asian. They all laughed saying "No way! She doesn't even looked Asian." Can you believe that?! (I guess some people are blind) The only people that consider her Asian are the Asians themselve. So, I guess she is white regardless if she speaks Chinese or not. Just like a hapa who looks more Asian but doesn't speaks Japanese is still Asian. Just because he/she looks more Asian and only speaks English doesn't make him/her English or white. They are still Asian. You got to remember, if you look Black, you're Black. If you look Asian, you're Asian. I don't think language has anything to do with it. Actress Linda Purl speaks Japanese fluently, but she's white. Does that make her Asian? No. All the American see's is a white woman who speaks Japanese. But you still made a good point.
To Not to be Pegged. Your right. Everybody's opinion should count, including mine. Most opinions from my white, Black & Latino friends told me the she looks white and can't understand how some Asians thinks she's Asian.
For KK Fan (and you too "Not to be Pegged). My non-Asian friends also told me, "Where did you get this info from"? I explained that they are Asians who is so hung up about wanting Kreuk to be considered an Asian-American actress, just because her mother is Asian. Then they told me why is it so important? I told them because they are some Asians who are so desperate to have a pretty actress as their own, even though Kreuk herself doesn't want to be consider Asian. I personally agree with you, KK Fan. Why is her being half Asian so important and why are we making a big deal about it. It's because for some Asians, if a good looking white person happens to be half Asian, the Asians wants him/her to be part of them. Even though he/she doesn't want to deal with anything Asian. To me she's an actress who I don't considered Asian, because one, it doesn't manner and two, she doesn't want to be considered as an Asian. We should go by what Kreuk wants to be, not what some Asians want her to be.
Masmak
Monday, October 28, 2002 at 18:26:11 (PST) [216.244.25.92]

KK fan... she owes her full half of her ethnic heritage to be proud of it or else she is denying the other side of humanity she has. She doesn't have to go and proclaim she is part Asian but it would be nice if she acknowledges it if the opportunity arises and is proud of it. =)
ABC college guy
Monday, October 28, 2002 at 17:04:33 (PST) [65.184.91.9]

how could I email Kristen if that is possible I like her on smallville and never have seen her on edgemont , actually never even heard of it. sorry Kristen but I think that you are so cute and pretty and would like to mayeb email you sometime and maybe become friends. by the way my email address is not my age I just turned 21 like a week ago honest to God just to let you know
Ryan
RyanCase43@hotmail.com Monday, October 28, 2002 at 13:09:17 (PST) [198.236.63.11]

I think kristen kreuk is soooo beautiful (im not gay) that she can star in ne magazines she wants!!...just wanted to say that...even my hunny thinks shes soooo beautiful!!
Angel and im filipino
xoswt_babygurlox@hotmail.com Sunday, October 27, 2002 at 17:20:10 (PST) [24.153.18.63]

Why is it so important for Kristen Kreuk to identify with the Asian community, or to speak Mandarin, for that matter. I am half Ukranian but I have no particular fondness for the "homeland" nor did I ever feel the need to learn the language, even though my father speaks it.

Kristen Kreuk is a beautiful and talented young lady who doesn't owe the Asian community anything.
KK fan
Sunday, October 27, 2002 at 01:29:56 (PST) [131.243.3.221]

Masmak,

People are not always what they look like. Some people think I'm Eurasian, Asian, Southern mediteranean White, Hispanic, or Native American. 100% of the world doesn't not see me as one particular race. Some see features that others don't. Some people think Kristin looks only white. Others think she looks mixed. While others just think she looks Asians. We don't all have the same eyes.

I lie to people sometimes and say I'm Armenian, Nepalese, Italian, Thai, Polynesian, Hungarian, and you know what... most don't question me. Granted if I said Norweigan there would more questions but except for most of "black" Africa and Nordic and Anglo Europe, I can get away with a lot because I don't have a "particular ethnic" face like you may have.

Lastly doesn't the opinion of an Asian or Black count? Some whites think I look Asian, some Asians think I look white. Who's right? I think both but your statement made it sound like the Asians opinion doesn't count. Can you elaborate on why the white opinion is more important than an Asian's or Black's.
Not to be pegged
Friday, October 25, 2002 at 23:30:47 (PDT) [208.14.6.170]

to masmak:
so if a hapa speaks chinese and is cultural but looks white is she/he stilll white regardless? if a an asian looking hapa dint speak chinese and isnt cultural is he/she still asian on ur terms?
Lilywater47
Friday, October 25, 2002 at 18:38:47 (PDT) [66.243.96.104]

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