table of contents
FEATURES Marie Digby: Charming Her Way to the Top of the Charts The YouTube sensation has proven she’s made for both the screen and the stage. Nomi Network Continues Battle Against Sex Trafficking A non-profit provides wages, health benefits, childcare and insurance for former Cambodian sex workers. Not Another Teen Star: Anna Maria Perez de Tagle A look into the “Fame” star’s life of crazy work days, glamorous premieres and upcoming projects. ‘SYTYCD’ star Karla Garcia on Her Future in Dance What sets her apart and where her talents are taking her.
HEALTH One Asian American Teen’s Experience With Anorexia How a Mochi writer battled with everyday pressures and cultural expectations of slimness. Mochi Survey: Attitudes Toward Asian American Cosmetic Surgery Is cosmetic surgery part of modern life or does it impose beauty standards? Know Before You Go: Common Plastic Surgery Questions Plastic surgeon Dr. Haowen Liu answers who qualifies and explains procedures and restrictions. Diagnosing the Asian American Eating Disorder How race, mainstream media and current research methods play into eating disorders. Maximize Your Workout Good exercise habits for the best results.
BEAUTY Banish the Winter Beauty Blues Five solutions for the common seasonal beauty issues. Best of the best Our picks for this season’s hair care, skincare, fragrance and makeup.
FASHION Photoshoot: The Sky’s the Limit Four body types, infinite style. Fashion Quick Fixes: Small Chests, Dress Codes and More Snap solutions for your most aggravating fashion issues.
FOOD From the Mochi Test Kitchen: Dorm-style Asian Food Deliciously easy dishes you can whip up in any kitchenette. The Most Delicious (And Healthy!) Asian Dishes Mom Used to Make Seven traditional dishes that are great for your body. Is the “Asian Diet” Inherently Healthier? Why Asians are generally more slender than Americans
RELATIONSHIPS Meet Chris, the New Mochi Boy The Harvard grad speaks out on his ideal girl and corny pick-up lines.

Dear Readers,

How do you feel about Mochi’s new look? For our winter body-themed issue, we’ve given ourselves a makeover as well. This season, with the cold weather making us sluggish and a little lazier than usual, we’ve turned our minds to all things body- and health-related. We talked to a range of celebrities to weigh in on body image—singer-songwriter Marie Digby, “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant Karla Garcia and “Fame” actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

We wanted to bring attention to issues close to our hearts: one Mochi staffer shares her own struggle with anorexia while another explores why Asian Americans seem largely ignored in the conversation about eating disorders. We’ve gotten the low-down on cosmetic surgeries popular among Asians, such as eyelid or nose surgery. And we met a pair of young women who are making strides in the battle against sex trafficking by employing and empowering former sex workers.

On a lighter note, we found four up-and-coming Asian American models to star in our fashion shoot, which features tips for dressing four different body shapes in this season’s hottest styles. Of course, we can’t ever talk about body issues without mentioning one of my favorite topics: food. We’ve looked into whether the typical “Asian diet” can really be more healthful, and found some dorm-friendly recipes for chili noodles and veggie fried rice that you can make in any kitchenette.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed producing it. Sit back with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and browse through our new website. And as usual, if you happen to have any questions, comments or suggestions along the way, you can always reach me at steph@mochimag.com.

Happy holidays,

Steph