Photo Credit:Warner Bros. Pictures

I still vividly remember walking out of the theater after watching Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle. I was with a group of friends of various ages, and those of us too scared for the horror movie next door decided to watch two stoners on their quest for hamburgers. I left the theater 88 minutes later with residual pains in my stomach from laughing so hard—and a stark realization that I had just watched the funniest movie I’d see in a long time. I couldn’t remember ever hearing an audience howl like that.

But what I didn’t realize for a long time afterward was just how novel the movie was and what a breakthrough it was in Hollywood. The writers reportedly wrote the two leading roles specifically for Asian American actors—literally unheard of at that time, especially with a movie that wasn’t set in Asia or didn’t include some type of martial arts sequence.

Photo Credit:Warner Bros. Pictures

When first movie came out, John Cho, who plays Harold, was unsure of how the Asian American community would react. “We weren’t traditional cinematic heroes,” he says of the characters. “We were stoners, an odd couple. That’s not what the ideal Asian American characters would have been if you polled people at a film festival. But over the years, it feels like the community has really warmed to what we are doing.”

Fast forward seven years. The Harold and Kumar franchise has become a smash hit, two stoners are household names and they’ve paved the way for minority actors and comedians to play leading roles in projects that are not ethnicity-focused, no longer always relegated to the bit parts of sidekicks, immigrants or exotic objects.

Kal Penn, the man behind Kumar, agrees that the movie was a step forward for the industry. “I remain honored to have the chance to play this character,” he says. “But it’s not about me. It’s about the risk that Warner Brothers took [in casting two Asian American leads], and I hope there are more movies that continue to be made like that.”

Photo Credit:Warner Bros. Pictures

There’s certainly a reason why audiences can’t get enough of the franchise. In college, my Indian roommate and I discovered our mutual love for the movie when she hung the poster above her bed our freshman year. We immediately decided that we were a female version of the duo, one brown and yellow face, taking on the four-year adventure of college. Perhaps, somewhat subconsciously, it was the thrill of seeing faces like ours on the big screen, as rebels of a sort, proving that we could be ambitious like Harold but also fun-loving like Kumar at the same time. We dressed as Harold and Kumar one Halloween, watched the second movie together, looked up the lyrics to the Pi song and reveled in the way we saw ourselves represented in them, despite the fact that neither of us ever seriously dreamed of becoming surgeons or bankers, smoked weed or ate at White Castle.

This week, the third movie of the series comes out. Cho and Penn, the unlikely A-list pioneers of Asian Americans in Hollywood, are back in their most famous roles despite the four-year hiatus they spent filming other projects and advising the President of the United States (Penn was previously an associate director working in outreach for the Asian American Pacific Islander and arts communities for the White House). This time around, they are almost thirty. Harold and Maria have married, and the bond between Harold and Kumar has faded, as friendships are wont to do. A series of unfortunate events (isn’t it always?) brings them back together, in an effort to please Harold’s father-in-law, on a Christmas adventure that includes a Ukranian mob boss, a robot that makes waffles and, of course, Neil Patrick Harris.

Above all, the movie is a celebration of friendship—director Todd Strauss-Schulson calls it a “bromantic comedy.” According to Cho, the biggest challenge of the movies is making sure that Harold and Kumar are believable as friends. “I think most people have a straighter side and a wilder side,” he says. “That’s why the Harold and Kumar movies work to a certain extent. That’s why the Odd Couple format, which is what we’re copying, works so well. Everyone has both in them.”

Perhaps the biggest advance the movies have made is in making a pair of stoner rebels (regardless of their ethnicity) unlikely role models for a true friendship. I can’t count the number of times I’ve met best friends of South and East Asian descent—like my roommate and I—who believe, from the bottom of their hearts, that they are Harold and Kumar.

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“Aiyah,” she said. “You are getting fat.”

I am Whasian: half-Chinese, half-Caucasian. My father, a (now retired) diplomat, met my mother in Hong Kong, and the two of them globe-trotted their way to a family. I grew up predominantly overseas, in both Western and Asian countries. Learning to reconcile my two cultural sides has always been a part of the package. And of all the differences and similarities between Chinese and American culture, the one that has shaped my life the most is the pervasive desire to be thin.

My DNA may have “Chinese” written on half of it, but my body type was undoubtedly inherited from my father’s side of the family. I am 5’9″ with long legs, broad hips and an ample chest. In retrospect, I know that I was most decidedly not a fat child. I was perfectly average well into adolescence. Sure, I went through my baby-fat phase, and at some points I was slightly more rotund than at others, but for the most part, there was really nothing wrong with my weight. I, of course, did not see it that way. From the minute I hit puberty, I was simply too fat. And that mentality is harmful enough in a US middle school, where despite the media’s emphasis on celebrity-thinness, you’re still likely to have classmates of all shapes and sizes. So you can probably imagine what happened when I moved to Taipei for high school. Suddenly, 90 percent of my classmates were more Asian than me and most of them smaller and thinner than me. See you later, self-esteem!

So began my toxic relationship with food. I loved food, but it was also responsible for making me “fat.” I couldn’t understand why so many of my friends at school could eat whatever they wanted and still be pencil-thin—though I understand now that for many, it was simply a genetic disposition. I began turning to food to both comfort and punish myself, feeling guilty when I ate and hating myself for my lack of self-control and naturally, the pounds starting piling on. My disordered eating and dangerous diet habits continued through high school and college where, depressed and obese, I topped out at my highest known weight of 246 lbs.

Luckily, my story has a happy ending. Last August, I made the decision to stop my self-destructive behavior and started my blog, Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! to chronicle my efforts and keep me accountable as I went on my final diet. Since then, I have lost over 60 lbs and am still going strong. Starting my blog and immersing myself in the healthy living blog community has helped me discover so much about myself. My body type is never going to be a size 2, and I’m okay with that. Health and beauty are not strictly defined terms, and being Whasian does not mean I have to look like Maggie Q (not that I’d mind if I did, of course! Just not at the expense of my physical or mental health).

Unbeknownst to many, there is a significant Asian presence in the healthy living blog community, that is slowly (and perhaps subconsciously), dispelling myths about the ways Asians “should” look. I invite you to check out some of the following blogs in addition to my own:

Live, Laugh, Eat

Burp & Slurp

My Little Part

Jeanette’s Healthy Living

My weight-loss journey is not over, but for once I feel good about finally making it there because I am doing it for the right reasons, and I am done hating myself for not fitting a certain stereotype. Now, that’s a good feeling.

Gretchen blogs over at Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! She invites you to read more about her 60 lb weight loss, history with disordered eating, kitchen misadventures and adorable miniature schnauzers there! Please feel free to follow her on Twitter or Facebook, or email her at gretchen@honeyishrunkthegretchen.com.

All photos courtesy of Gretchen Powell

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Photo Credit: Ning Chao

Ever since she was young, Ning Chao has been obsessed with makeup. “I always wanted to be a makeup artist,” said Chao, who is currently the beauty director of social-networking site Beautylish.com. “I would do my mom’s makeup, I would do my friends’ makeup. But I never had a really steady hand, and my parents, being Asian, made me go to college. That was the end of the makeup artist dream.”

In college, at Columbia University in New York, Chao was introduced to the magazine industry, though the initial idea was met with skepticism from her family. “Because there weren’t any Asian American role models in the editorial world, my parents weren’t convinced that it was a field I could crack,” she recalled.

When she graduated from college and accepted her first job at Glamour, she knew that she was taking a huge risk. “I learned early on that I could not talk to my parents about work,” Chao said. “Their solution was always to go to grad school for engineering, even though it didn’t make any sense.” But it was a risk that paid off well. Chao rose quickly through the ranks, moving through a variety of positions at top fashion magazines in the nation—among them InStyle, Vogue and Elle—before landing as the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire.

Despite the senior-level position she had reached, Chao continued to push herself and eventually left the somewhat cushy magazine lifestyle for the online world at Beautylish.com, an up-and-coming beauty-based social networking site where members post reviews, tutorials and pictures of beauty products and comment on other posts.

“It’s hard to ignore that our whole world is shifting in a digital direction. No matter how much I love magazines, I knew it was time to learn about online media,” Chao said. And when it comes to online media, Beautylish is a community that is pushing the frontier of social networking in respect to beauty.

“Other sites have a little of this is and a little of that. Beautylish is an online beauty portal where you can find everything you’d want to know about beauty,” she said. “I think the Internet has replaced the traditional makeup counter as the go-to destination to learn about beauty. There’s so much beauty information at your fingertips, and Beautylish makes it even easier to find exactly what you’re looking for.”

Rather than being just a place for beauty forums or a blog for reviews, Beautylish focuses on building a community of members who both contribute to and gain from the site, offering a rich array of multimedia. A post might be as simple as a photo, or a link might lead to a set of short reviews on the same product from different members. When it comes to beauty products, people naturally want to share what they think and what works for them. That, Chao explained, is the backbone of Beautylish.

“Being the first of a kind is a hard position to be in,” she said. “Because there’s nothing like it, people have a hard time understanding what it is. It’s like when Facebook, iTunes or Twitter first came out. But you’d be surprised how fast people come around.” And for a company that was founded in 2010, Beautylish is growing and making a name for itself quickly. The site currently holds over 70,000 user-posted videos, and its Twitter account alone has over 200,000 followers.

As a beauty maven who understands the industry like the back of her hand, Chao is quick to explain the difference between her old and new jobs. She describes magazines as a one-way relationship, where there is little chance for readers to interact with what they are reading. Beautylish, on the other hand, is built on the idea of community. “Our stories are a jumping-off point for stating a conversation,” she said. “The story is the catalyst for the conversation, as opposed to the whole conversation.”

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Photo Credit: Pichet Ong

Math and English literature double major, Masters in Architecture and… renowned chef? The last achievement on this list might seem like an anomaly, but all three are among Chef Pichet Ong’s many accomplishments.

Growing up, Ong always loved food and had a knack for cooking. When most of us were still learning to boil water, he was making cookies by scratch at the age of eight, thanks to shadowing his mom and housekeeper and learning his way around the kitchen. It’s no surprise, then, that he wanted to pursue a career in the world of food.

Instead of culinary school, however, his parents strongly emphasized higher education, especially with his great grades. But Ong maintained a connection to food at Brandeis University in Massachusetts by working in the school cafeteria, just as he pursued part-time work at different restaurants, including Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse, during graduate school in Berkeley, CA.

As fate would have it, his part-time positions in California led to him becoming a full-time pastry cook at San Francisco’s La Folie. When a position for head pastry chef opened up, he dove head first into professional cooking and hasn’t looked back since.

“My parents were surprised and their initial reaction was disappointment,” Ong says of his decision to pursue a career in food. “But they treated me like a grown-up and viewed my master’s degree as a safety net.”

Throughout his career, Ong, who is best known for his desserts, has always stayed true to his mix of Western and Asian techniques, focusing on Asian pantry ingredients like coconut and tapioca. But it wasn’t until he worked with Jean Georges Vongerichten at SpiceMarket and 66 that the Asian influences in his cooking took center stage. Under the direction of the acclaimed French chef, Ong began to explore savory flavors and opted to become a fish cook. And despite not having the formal culinary education many chefs have, Ong has since enticed loyal crowds with both delectable desserts and savory dishes.

After 16 years of working in kitchens with culinary luminaries, Ong branched out on his own to open P*ONG, an innovative dessert-focused restaurant.

“I like to strike while the iron is hot,” Ong declares, attributing the success of P*ONG to the following he cultivated during his many years in the business.

With rave reviews and devoted followers, there was business as soon as he opened the doors. A few years later, he followed up with Spot Dessert Bar, in the Asian-heavy St. Mark’s area of New York City.

With his newest restaurant, Qi Bangkok Eatery, Ong continues to explore the marriage of sweet and savory with a unique management style. Rather than asking his chefs to strictly follow his recipes, he encourages innovation and is open to adjustments. “I believe I can get the best out of people by giving them a chance to express themselves,” he says.

By being open to experimentation, he’s found opportunities to improve many of his winning dishes. After spending 10 years making sweets and another 10 years whipping up savory dishes, he’s excited to continue blurring the lines between the two tastes. The fascination is largely inspired by his upbringing, where his parents never told him to first finish his meal before indulging in sweets.

“We had no preconceived notion of how a meal should be coursed out,” Ong says, sharing how his family meals featured spicy curry alongside shaved ice.

For a chef who unwinds after a long day with instant noodles and ice cream—mango, strawberry, cherry vanilla and raisin rum are some of his favorite  flavors—it’s no surprise that he’s bringing sugary-salty goods to the masses in his next cookbook. While many of the recipes are Asian-inspired, he also draws inspiration from various cuisines, including dishes such as fried chicken with maple syrup and sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping. And as long as he continues to push the boundaries of a meal’s sequence and range of flavors, who knows what Ong will cook up next.

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Vivian Weng, Co-Founder of FashionStake.com

In high school, blending into the crowd can seem like the most important thing of all. But as we grow up, true fashionistas know they have to create a style that is uniquely theirs. While most of us will always have a special place in our hearts for cheap chic establishments like Forever 21 and H&M, at one point or another, we start craving a little individuality and novelty in our clothing.

Enter FashionStake, an online emporium of independent fashion vetted by industry experts and ultimately handpicked by the community. It’s a trendsetter’s haven for stunning alternatives to mass-produced goods, but on the other side of the business equation are the independent designers who have struggled to share their talent—until now.

“We are not a traditional retailer,” emphasizes FashionStake co-founder Vivian Weng, “but a marketplace and platform for designers to reach an audience that they typically don’t have access to.”

Launched just a year ago, the company is the brainchild she hatched with Harvard Business School classmate Daniel Gulati. With experience in mass retail at McKinsey & Co. prior to grad school, Weng had always loved fashion. Gulati brought an entrepreneurial background to the table, and the two of them began discussing business opportunities in what’s largely been a slow-changing industry.

“One of the biggest trends we saw was an opening up of the industry,” Weng says. “Shows like Project Runway give the average Americana peek into an industry that has traditionally been very closed. Bloggers today are sitting in the front rows of fashion shows, and big luxury houses are streaming their fashion shows online when they used to be strictly invitation-only.”

Jumping on this movement, Weng and Gulati wanted to find a platform to help emerging designers connect with hard-to-reach customers. What started out as a Kickstarter-esque model for fashion, where users chipped in to fund lines they liked, evolved into a voter-based retail site.

Each week, three selected designers are showcased in the Voting Booth, where users decide who will be sold on the site.

“To find designers, the FashionStake team is constantly scouring trade fairs, showrooms, and markets,” Weng explains. “We work with bloggers, PR reps, and different magazines that have local connections to up-and-coming designers.”

The company has also been receiving a high volume of requests from designers, thanks to snagging InStyle’s Best of the Web award earlier this year. Leveraging the expanded knowledge of promising artists from its network, FashionStake now features over 200 designers from more than 16 countries.

“We want to become an online destination where people shop and explore really exciting, cutting-edge new fashion,” Weng says.

But more importantly, FashionStake is aggregating the “long tail” of independent designers, connecting these fresh perspectives with customers who otherwise would have never heard of them. Before the advent of online shopping, department stores and boutiques could only support a limited number of designers due to space and budget constraints. In today’s digital age, FashionStake provides a free e-commerce solution so designers no longer need to worry about building a website or driving traffic. As a one-stop shop for inspired creations, the site helps designers gain attention in the very cluttered web space.

A quick glance at where FashionStake’s designers have landed makes it clear that it’s not just a shopping site, but a venue through which new talent really can grow. After being featured on the site, independent designers have gone on to show at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion—where influencers like Zac Posen and Phillip Lim first showed. Among Weng’s favorite Asian American designers to watch out for on FashionStake are Ann Lee, a Michigan native who was one of the designers at Gen Art, and Yoonmi Lee, whose beautiful craftsmanship caught the eye of InStyle editors working on the web awards.

At the end of the day, Weng emphasizes that when you’re carving out your own path, nothing should be too big or too small for you to take on. Aside from helping designers on the side while she was at McKinsey, Weng actually quit her job early before going to business school to intern at Elie Tahari and Escada.

“I spent some days just steaming clothes or dressing models, but the hands-on internships were the greatest learning experiences,” she said. “You have to have no ego. Just jump into it.”

We’re sure designers and shoppers alike are quite glad that she did.

Click through for a slideshow Weng put together of her current “obsessions,” all available at fashionstake.com

3/4-Sleeve Ruffled Shirt (http://www.fashionstake.com/3-4-sleeve-ruffled-shirt-black-lurex.html): Alice Ritter, of the CFDA Fashion Incubator, is one of my favorite designers. She has this amazing French sensibility that is coy and cool.

3 Colored Shawl (http://www.fashionstake.com/3-colored-shawl.html): I think oversized neckwear gives an instant dose of “downtown cool” to any outfit. This is such a cozy accessory for winter.

Lucky Red Dress (http://www.fashionstake.com/lucky-red-dress.html): I’m really into long-sleeve dresses right now. They’re the perfect day-to-night choice–totally office appropriate but chic too.

Elica Navy Lace Dress (http://www.fashionstake.com/elica-navy-lace-dress.html): I love how this lace dress is made modern and fresh by a contrast back zipper and removable belt. It’s super ladylike.

Coraluxx Necklace (http://www.fashionstake.com/coraluxx-necklace.html): What a unique statement piece. Elvira Sazesh, the designer, uses suede, leather, and rope to create these little pieces of wearable art.

A.S. High Sneaker (http://www.fashionstake.com/a.s-high-sneaker-navy-red.html): I got a pair of these retro-inspired high-tops for my boyfriend, but wish they came in women’s sizes too! This brand has a great history and was originally a classic canvas shoe from Shanghai before it was revived by a French company.

Make Babies Tag Necklace (http://www.fashionstake.com/make-babies-tag-necklace-gold.html): This cheeky necklace is the perfect layering piece

Vivian Weng, Co-Founder of FashionStake.com

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There’s been some controversy over what dietary foods can really affect PMS. A systematic review in 2009 identified at least 62 herbs, vitamins and minerals that were supposedly beneficial for alleviating symptoms. But calcium was the only mineral that consistently was researched using the most reliable method of randomized controlled trials. Another study also found calcium supplements to help decrease symptoms like tiredness, appetite changes and depression.

So how much of calcium do you really need, and where can you get it? Generally, girls 9-18 years of age should consume about 1300 mg of calcium a day, while girls 19 and up should consume 1000 mg. These might sound like big, abstract numbers, but there are a variety of healthy foods out there that are good sources of calcium and other nutrients. A typical cup of milk contains about 300 mg of calcium, for example, as well as vitamin D to help the body absorb that calcium. If you’re lactose-intolerant, like many Asians become as they get older, look for soybeans, calcium-fortified orange juice, tofu or even vegetables like broccoli and bok choy in your local supermarket.

The real health concern, however, is the loss of blood and the iron it contains during menstruation. Eating a combination of meat and vegetables can help increase iron intake and replenish what’s lost. When it comes meat, go lean and help yourself to a 3-ounce portion, which is about as big as your palm and as thick as your little finger. This provides about 3 mg of iron, which you can also get in a half cup of spinach. If you’re not a spinach lover, don’t fret: the leafy green shrinks a lot when it’s cooked, so a half-cup is really barely one mouthful! The recommended daily iron intake for girls 9-13 years old is around 8 mg, 14-18 years old around 15 mg and 19-30 years old around 18 mg).

It’s also important to know that there are two types of iron, heme and non-heme, depending on where the iron is coming from. Heme iron, the type in our blood, is found in raw meat like turkey, chicken, beef and seafood like oysters, clams, tuna and shrimp. Non-heme iron comes from lentils, vegetables like spinach and broccoli, and most types of beans (black, pinto, lima, kidney).

The problem with non-heme iron (and one that many vegetarians may run into) is that it is less easily absorbed by the body than heme iron. You may eat more of non-heme iron-rich foods, but you won’t be getting the same recommended daily intake as if you were eating meat with heme iron. So if you’re not big on meat, add more vitamin C to your diet, which helps with iron absorption. Good sources of vitamin C are fruits—especially citrus fruits, kiwi and strawberries—as well as vegetables like green peppers, sweet potatoes and, of course, the all-mighty broccoli.

Next time those pesky symptoms come around, you’ll know what to stock up on. But PMS or not, these are great guidelines to follow in general: a nutrient-rich diet will always make your body stronger and benefit your health in the long run.

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Starting your own business

Maybe you want to start your own graphic design business or you’ve got a knack for making handcrafted jewelry that you want to sell. First, you should speak to as many people as possible in the field and learn as much as you can. Ask about their experiences and challenges, tips on cost-related factors and how they price and market their product.

Make sure you’re 100 percent committed to your idea and that you have seed money to start out with, then don’t be afraid to dive in. (Bake sales are a relatively easy moneymaking option, and garage sales also clean out your closet!) If you’re still in high school, consider taking an introductory business course at your local community college. There are also great resources available on the Internet, such as bplans.com and free online money-tracking platforms like Indinero.

Recording your own CD

Who says you can’t be the next Taylor Swift? You don’t need to spend a fortune on booking a recording studio or buying fancy equipment to produce a quality CD. GarageBand, which comes with all Apple computers, is a fun and user-friendly program that includes both arrangement and recording capabilities. You can plug in a microphone, bass or guitar on top of a range of built-in instruments for back-up. If you need more direction, check out some of the hundreds of free tutorials on YouTube or stop by an Apple retail store.

For PC alternatives, try Cakewalk Music Creator ($50), which comes with over 1,000 music loops, built-in instruments, project templates and instructional videos. All you’ll need are a microphone and blank CD.

Getting a law passed

If you have great ideas on an issue you’re extremely passionate about, don’t be afraid to make your voice heard by contacting the local congressional member in your district. Simply look up their name online to find their congressional website, with details on their stances on different issues as well as their contact information.

Make sure to thoroughly research the issue you are concerned about and carefully craft the message that you will be sending. Not sure where to start? Professional templates can help guide you in structuring your letter.

You can also create a group to support your cause and encourage others to write to the area’s political representative. Be sure to consult house.gov regularly to check that there isn’t an existing or upcoming bill that is similar to what you might be advocating for.

Making a movie

The centerpiece of a good movie is a well-written script. Screenwriting is very different from creative or academic writing because it focuses heavily on dialogue, character actions and scene structure. Have others read your script to give you feedback or even act out the scenes to provide you with better direction.

For filming you’ll need a director (probably yourself!), actors, a video camera, a tripod, microphones, lighting equipment and a few volunteers to help set up between scenes. Depending on how professional you want your movie to look, try filming each scene from multiple angles and shots.

Once you’re done filming, the fun begins. Final Cut Pro is an easy and user-intuitive video-editing program. Make sure to remove any sequences that aren’t entirely captivating, experiment with cutting scenes, add music where appropriate and add a title and credits.

Starting a charity

If you want to give back in your own way, get involved in related organizations at your school and in the community to best identify where your interests might meet a specific need. If you’re interested in education, volunteer as a teacher’s assistant. If you’re an advocate of health issues, see where you can help out at your local hospital or community health center.

Also research similar organizations to figure out what your charity will potentially bring that is different and get ideas for how to possibly structure your organization. If you‘re serious about obtaining non-profit or 501(c)(3) status for your organization—meaning your organization will be exempt from IRS taxes—you’ll want to get a parent or adult mentor involved to help guide you through the appropriate paperwork. The IRS website is a good starting point, and keep in mind that requirements vary by state.

Have you done something incredible? Email us at info@mochimag.com if you’ve got a project you’d like to see featured on Mochi.

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Photo Credit: Joanna Lee

Everyone can be a blogger these days, but how many of us can claim the attention of President Obama? What started out as an online space for 33-year-old Phil Yu to vent has now gained nationwide recognition in the form of Angry Asian Man, a website that dedicates itself solely to Asian American issues. Assertive and sometimes aggressive, Yu makes it clear that Asian Americans are a growing community that deserves to have a voice and be heard. Though he’s celebrating Angry Asian Man’s tenth anniversary this year, Yu is just getting started.

It all began one day with Yu simply expressing his anger over the unacceptable discrimination and racism that’s become too pervasive in our society.

“I had no plan; no real grand design. I was just doing it out of a desire to really express myself and put my opinions out there,” Yu recalls. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to read it.”

The site is exactly what its name describes, a place where Yu articulates his indignation of the discrimination evident in pop culture, politics and any form of media.

“The same kind of stuff keeps happening,” he says, of why it’s necessary to continue being angry. “You think people are past the idea of racism, but we’re totally not. I feel like there are so many instances where you have to stand back and go, ‘What the hell? We’re still dealing with this?’ It’s frustrating.”

It was clear from the beginning that Yu was not alone in his frustration. He began to receive hundreds of submissions for his blog, as well as recognition in the press. More impressively, his posts have made a difference in the actions of politicians and individuals, and, above all, served as a role model to his readers.

Over time, Yu’s accepted his newfound influence and the responsibility that goes with it.

“I still have the same opinions about a lot of things, but I’ve embraced and recognized that I have a voice and that people are looking to this blog for information and an idea about Asian America,” he says.

But beyond the powerful tool that he unwittingly created, Yu is also a perfect example of what can happen when someone dives into his or her passions head-on. Yu, as a blogger, is a wildcard in the game of taking traditionally accepted paths. Yet the risk he took has not only made him a great leader but also benefited angry Asian Americans everywhere by giving them a voice.

“People should follow what they’re passionate about and embrace that,” he says, acknowledging the severe academic and professional pressures for young Asian Americans today. “There’s a lot of pressure to go this way or that. When it comes to careers, follow the area you want to go toward. Don’t be influenced by outside factors.”

“It needs to be reinforced that Asian Americans need to follow their passions,” Yu adds. “You have to figure out what you want to give a damn about. Once you figure that out—it might take a while—just go for it. Follow your dreams.”

And no, Yu is not always angry. In fact, there are plenty of things that make the Angry Asian Man happy.

“Seeing achievements and people getting recognition for what’s really special in the Asian American community is important,” he says. “You see the pioneers making headways in areas that have never been made before. Doors are being opened up everywhere, from main stream culture to politics, when Asian Americans break out of traditional roles.”

And we know when that happens, Yu will be the first one with something positive to say about it.

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Joseph Vincent is exhausted. But if there’s anyone who deserves a break, it’s him.

Photo Credit: Garrick Fujii theyshootfilm.com

In just a few short years, Vincent has grown from receiving his first guitar at the age of fifteen and posting simple covers on YouTube to recently completing an exhilarating tour throughout Australia—which is why he was catching up on some much needed rest at home in Southern California when Mochi spoke with him.

What’s particularly notable and refreshing about Vincent’s rise to fame is his unassuming approach: in his whole life, he has never taken a singing or guitar lesson. Fate struck when his parents bought him a guitar for Christmas when he was fifteen, and from there he began learning songs by ear.

With his smooth vocals, acoustic chops and laid-back charm, the Filipino-American singer-songwriter has already garnered over 50 million views and 220,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. Labeled “YouTube Artist of the Year 2009,” Vincent has broken out of the YouTube community and performed twice on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with a forthcoming mix tape and solo album due next summer.

“There was no strategic planning,” Vincent says of organically growing his career by first showcasing videos of his musical chops. “People ask me, ‘What songs do you choose?’ I just choose what I like to sing.”

From Iyaz’s “Replay” to Owl City’s “Firefly,” Vincent has covered a range of top hits in various genres. He has also branched out to writing his own music, including the breezy, Jack-Johnson-esque “If You Stay” and his most recent single on being “stung” by love, “Bumblebee.”

For aspiring musicians, the music industry may seem particularly daunting to break into. But Vincent stresses that as long as artists can stay true to themselves, success will come.

“The music industry is changing, and it’s not what it used to be,” he explains. “You could and you’re actually better off as an independent artist than as a major label artist trying to push to be the next Lady Gaga, or the next Justin Bieber–because it’s hard to get to that level. Being in music–don’t think about the business. Do it because you want to do it. Stay true to yourself and to your music. It’s that simple.” Certainly, there are plus sides to being independent—namely, the freedom to choose what type of music you record.

Vincent also finds support in the tight-knit APA YouTube community, where he counts fellow musician Clara C and makeup guru Michelle Phan among his friends. “Everyone has each other’s back,” he says. Clara collaborated with him on a cute cover of the Plain White T’s “Rhythm of Love” and also featured him in her music video for “Heartstrings,” and Michelle Phan invited him to be filmed in her love story/makeup tutorial “Catch My Heart.”

“Michelle and I are really great friends, and working with Clara, she’s such a talented artist,” Vincent says of his friends. “Everyone is just trying to get to the same goal and, you’d think that would make it competitive, but it’s not.”

In terms of what inspires Vincent’s own music and songwriting, he says it all boils down to one thing: love.

“When I’m writing my music, it’s usually based off of experiences in my life and driven by love, love for your girlfriend, love for life,” he says. “Love is usually the main driving force behind the way people work and function. They do something because they love it, they stick with someone because they love it.”

So is there a special someone in Vincent’s life?

“No, not right now,” Vincent says with a smile in his voice. “I stay focused on my music.”

Despite his fame, Vincent is a normal guy who enjoys snowboarding and Korean BBQ. Perhaps most refreshingly, he remains down-to-earth and grateful for everything that’s happened to him, especially towards his fans.

“Thank you for all of your love and support,” he says. “Without all of you I wouldn’t be able to make my dream a reality.”

Learn more about Joseph Vincent at josephvincentmusic.com.

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Photo Credit: Anna Park

At 24, Anna M. Park was living a life that most Asian parents dream of for their children. She was working as an attorney in downtown L.A., making good money, and on paper, living a life of prestige. But after six years working in law, she quickly found herself approaching 30 lost and unhappy.

“Growing up, I loved writing, I loved fashion and I loved to travel,” she said. “But never in a million years did I think any of those passions could lead to a viable career. In our immigrant household, law and medicine were the two choices. And I couldn’t stand math.”

Park made up her mind to quit her job, packed her bags and headed for Asia, where she spent time hiking remote mountains, island hopping in the Philippines, exploring Medong Delta in Vietnam and climbing the Great Wall. She landed a writing job at an English-language travel magazine in Seoul and freelanced for KoreAm Journal, a magazine dedicated to Korean Americans. Then, Park received a call from Audrey magazine publisher James Ryu that changed her career forever. The magazine was just launching and he asked Park to hop on board. “Writing and fashion—it was pretty much a dream job for me,” Park said.

Today, Park is editor-in-chief of Audrey magazine, where we have seen countless leading Asian and Asian American actresses grace the cover, including Frieda Pinto, Olivia Munn, Glee’s Jenna Ushkowitz and Chinese superstar actress Li Bing Bing. The magazine launched in 2003 and publishes four to six times a year. It features a range of topics and tackles common Asian American issues such as body image, dating and relationships, stereotypes, career changes and family. Audrey is one of the very few print magazines dedicated to Asian American women, and in a competitive industry, it’s hard to keep up with mainstream magazines that mostly target white women.

“I always hear people say, ‘If only there was a magazine like this when I was growing up.’ I completely relate. I grew up on Seventeen and Vogue with Caucasian standards of beauty ingrained in my head. If nothing else, I want readers to have a place to go where they see women like themselves, they read about experiences that reflect their own, and they find role models that they can relate to,” Park said.

Let’s face it: Asian American women have different pressures than the average white, American woman. It’s ingrained in our culture to be the face of perfection. Whether it’s our jobs, body image, love or family, Asian American women are in a constant pursuit for perfection—to be the best and somehow do it all.

Photo Credit: Anna Park

“From the American perspective, not only are we members of the ‘model minority,’ we are women who are expected to do it all—have a career and children, and still be a size 6. From the Asian perspective, we’re expected to abide by patriarchal cultural norms—be chaste, submissive, strong and so on—while still excelling in all areas of mainstream society. It’s a paradox that we often internalize—we are our own harshest critics, and our self-esteem is shot,” Park said.

Park lived in Seoul for a year and half and experienced the cultural and societal differences between Asian and Asian American women. Many Asian American women who were raised in the United States have become more independent and strong-minded. Asian American women also have a different experience with Asian culture. We don’t identify with it the same way that Asian women do. Sure, we may have similar tastes in fashion and follow the same beauty trends, but we might not always have matching approaches to our careers or family values. For instance, most of my cousins in the Philippines got married in their early twenties. I’m single and moved out of my parents’ house to live in an apartment in New York City. My situation would be almost unheard of in Asia.

“In some ways, I feel that Asian American women are more stifled by their parents’ immigrant values than modern Asian women are. So many countries in Asia have modernized and advanced so much, but we Asian Americans only know Asian culture through our immigrant parents’ or grandparents’ eyes. Depending on when we first immigrated, that could mean growing up with 1970s Asian values! On the other hand, you can tell the difference between an Asian American woman and an Asian woman walking down the street. It’s the American in us–the sort of ’swagger’ or confidence endemic to a country that has always been on top and is generally self-absorbed,” Park said.

As reigning editor-in-chief of Audrey, Park meets and interviews strong, smart and beautiful Asian American women who are great role models. She is constantly scouting out the next big actors and actresses. While her life may seem glamorous, Park says it’s not always about the fashion and celebrity.
“Publishing’s a business–we still have to consider who ‘sells.’ That’s why when we get the opportunity to showcase someone who we think has substance and is marketable, that’s when we strike gold. Case in point: our next super-talented covergirl, actor, writer, author and executive producer of ‘The Office,’ Mindy Kaling,” Park said.

For anyone who dreams of a job in journalism, magazine writing or fashion, Parks says passion, perseverance and a good work ethic is the recipe for success. Her law degree and six years of working as an attorney may have been unrelated to the field of magazine writing and journalism, but it taught her to go after her true passions and find a career that could both challenge her and keep her happy.

“Nothing is too small time or ‘beneath you’ when it comes to experience and going after what you’re passionate about,” she said. “People ask me all the time–don’t you miss the money, or don’t you feel like you’re wasting a hard-earned law degree? My answer: No amount of money is worth waking up every morning and dreading going to work–it’s where you spend the majority of your adult life. And all the time and money and stress spent on my legal career was a necessary learning experience for me to be able to fully relish what I do now–poverty and all.”

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Photo Credit: Tyson Mao

It was a Thursday—July 24, 2003, to be exact. Tyson Mao distinctly remembers that it was on this very date that he learned how to solve the Rubik’s cube. Eight years later, he is smashing world records and organizing nationwide competitions without breaking a sweat. Mao is a prodigy in the circle of cubing enthusiasts, with an uncanny ability to pinpoint the colors on a Rubik’s cube without even seeing them.

Mao was 10 years old the first time he touched a Rubik’s cube. But it wasn’t until nine years later in 2003, when his younger brother went to a summer program and learned how to solve the puzzle that Mao picked up the skills with his help.

“When I first started, it was about discovering this new thing and discovering that I could get really fast at it. I could quantitatively measure how fast I was, so it was really cool to see my progression,” Mao said. “I put in hours of practice and I went from 40 seconds down to 30 seconds down to 20 seconds. It was definitely exciting to be at the forefront in pushing the limits to what was possible.”

Since then, Mao has become the first person to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded in less than two minutes, among other records. But aside from his skills and wins, his most notable achievement is bringing the Rubik’s cube community together by being the first to organize competitions.

“No one else was holding competitions anywhere else in the world—formalizing that process and setting regulations and a way to keep records,” he said. But once they were set in place, the events drew its participants into a more cohesive group. “When you go to competitions, especially international competitions, you meet people from Europe, Asia, and these people become a part of your life,” Mao said. “People come in and out of cubing, but the friendships you make remain.”

True to his fascination with self-improvement, Mao’s quick to point out that these races are different from most others. “It’s not really about competing against another person,” he said. “It’s more about competing against yourself.”

His success at solving the Rubik’s cube has taken him down several unique paths, including assisting with the production of Will Smith’s “The Pursuit of Happyness” movie. Both Mao and his brother were on set a few days a week to make sure that Smith knew the beginner techniques to solving the cube. “It was a lot of fun,” Mao recalled. “Will Smith is a very nice guy. He’s not demanding at all and was very easy to work with.”

Not that it was Mao’s first Hollywood experience. He’s also been featured in shows like “Anderson Cooper” and “Beauty and the Geek.” Mao says of his reality TV experience: “I was very fortunate that the season I was on, it was a nice show–it wasn’t ‘Jersey Shore’ or ‘A Shot of Love with Tila Tequila.’ It fit my personality, and it was a nice break away from the academic world of college.”

At the end of the day, this game-changer is motivated by whatever happens to take hold of his life, be it a puzzle or a career path. “A lot of times, people come up with ideas but don’t get past that stage. With the Internet these days, it’s not that hard to take it one level past that,” he said. For those who like to dream big, Mao has some simple advice: “Take your own ideas seriously. Do your research, see what it means, and make it happen. Ideas are good but they need to be acted on.”

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It’s been said that life is a series of decisions. Most decisions—what am I going to wear today? What will I have for lunch?—are largely inconsequential, but most people do not expect everyday choices to change their lives, even though it’s almost always a combination of such decisions that do.

Mochi’s latest issue is dedicated to pioneers: those who, perhaps unknowingly, have changed their respective industries—entertainment, fashion, social media, food and more—for the better.

Our cover stars, John Cho and Kal Penn, not only destroyed the squeaky-clean image of Asians for a huge mainstream audience, but also paved the way for studio heads to see that Asian American actors could headline a non-ethnic movie and generate a smash hit. A professor in college told me she had written her graduate thesis in Asian American studies about the first “Harold & Kumar” movie. I was floored that a movie so enjoyable could be ripe for academic analysis—that one movie could have such an impact of Asian American popular culture.

Some of our other stars have been pioneers in their own way—Tyson Mao, best known for mastering the Rubik’s Cube at a young age, has brought together the cubing community like no one before, Phil Yu started Angry Asian Man, a blog that gave voice to frustrated Asians everywhere, Vivian Weng founded FashionStake, a website that puts retail decisions in the hands of consumers—and that’s just a few examples of amazing men and women featured in this issue.

Last month, Mochi put together our first-ever party, where almost 200 people gathered in SoHo for a sneak preview of this issue, celebrating with makeovers, a photobooth, and shopping. During a brief speech, I told the audience what inspired me to become part of Mochi, in hopes of imparting the most important piece of advice I’ve ever received to a few others: You can truly do anything you want, if you put your mind to it.

While working on this issue, deputy editor Christine Wei told me, “You can never tell someone to follow their dreams enough times.” With that in mind, what decisions will you be making tomorrow?

- Steph

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1. Bian Dang (twitter.com/#!/biandangnyc) – New York City
Bian Dang, formerly known as NYC Cravings, serves Taiwanese-style entrees. The pastel blue truck serves lunch boxes (bian dang in Mandarin) with ample portions of treats like fried pork chop over rice with their specialty sauce. The menu also features zongzi, a sticky rice dish wrapped in bamboo leaves with peanuts, dried shrimp, pork, Chinese sausage and veggies—offered without meat for vegetarians too.

2. Chairman Bao (twitter.com/#!/chairmantruck) – San Francisco
Besides its flashy red-and white-striped panda truck, Chairman Bao is known for its baked and steamed buns. A top seller is the pork belly buns—one bite offers you a taste of crispy, juicy meat paired with hoisin sauce. Other popular choices include the people’s buns (a baked bun with sesame chicken, scallion and bok choy) or the crispy garlic tofu bun with miso greens.

3. The Flying Pig (twitter.com/#!/FlyingPigTruck) – Los Angeles
Focusing on French and Pacific Asian Rim fusion food, the Flying Pig is known for its tamarind duck taco: slices of duck confit with mandarin orange, pickled red beets, radish sprouts, toasted almonds and tamarind gravy. Other tasty fare from this food truck includes the pork belly, a hearty dose of braised meat with vegetables and death sauce (hoisin with a punch of spiciness) on a Chinese bun.

4. India Jones (twitter.com/#!/indiajonesct) – Los Angeles
The only thing that will make you smile more than this Indian food truck’s tongue-in-cheek name is its refreshing and tasty offerings. During a hot afternoon in Southern California, cool down with the mango lassi, a smoothie made of mango, yogurt and ice. The curry menu at this truck covers a variety of flavors such as chicken tikka masala and lentil or the bean du jour.

5. Kogi BBQ (twitter.com/#!/kogibbq) – Los Angeles
Korean American Roy Choi’s upbringing heavily influences his culinary fusion of Korean and Mexican flavors, the trait that Kogi has become famous for. If you’re ever unsure of what to order, short rib tacos, filled with succulent meat and topped with a mix of fresh veggies and a tangy sauce, is the way to go. If you’re still hungry and have room for dessert, the chocolate tres leches cake has just enough sweetness to be the grand finale to your meal.

6. Korilla (twitter.com/#!/KorillaBBQ) – New York City
In a city that has seen it all before, Korilla provides Korean BBQ with a twist. Its Chosun bowls provides a multitude of options, with four different kinds of kimchi and three different sauces you can enjoy over a heap of filling veggies. In the mood for a taco or burrito? Try one with bulgogi, pulled pork, chicken or tofu and a side of BKFR (otherwise known as bacon, kimchi, and fried rice). Korilla has caught the eye of Food Network executives, and is currently on the Great Food Truck Race, hosted by Tyler Florence.

7. Momogoose (twitter.com/#!/momogoose) – Boston
Offering Southeast Asian vegan and non-vegan cuisine to Boston and Cambridge, Momogoose offers a selection of soups, baguettes and bowls. The much-loved Ga Nuong features lemongrass chicken on a bed of rice noodles and leafy greens. The Three Sisters, a combination of three veggie crispy rolls, rice noodles and vegetables, provides a vegetarian option. As if great food weren’t enough, Momogoose charitably donates a meal to the United Nations World Food Program for every meal the truck sells.

8. Nong’s Khao Man Gai (twitter.com/#!/Nongskhaomangai) – Portland
Portland, Oregon has become another hub for food trucks, and Nong’s Khao Man Gai is at the center of it. Khao Man Gai, a popular Thai dish of chicken and rice, is the only item served at this food truck. Similar to Hainan chicken from China, Khao Man Gai is poached, cooked in herbs and accompanied by a pungent soybean sauce with garlic, ginger, sugar, vinegar and Thai chilis.

9. The Nom Nom Truck (twitter.com/#!/NomNomTruck) – San Francisco & Los Angeles
After participating in the first season of Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race, Nom Nom became a household name by serving fresh banh mi, a Vietnamese baguette sandwich. At this bright, green truck called the Nominator, choose between lemongrass chicken, lemongrass tofu or honey grilled pork with daikon, cucumber, cilantro, carrots, jalapenos and mayonnaise. The Nom Nom truck recently expanded to serve fans—fondly dubbed nomsters—in both northern (twitter.com/#!/NomNomTruckSF) and southern California.

10. Phamish (twitter.com/#!/eatphamish)
Make sure to arrive famished at Phamish—you’ll definitely leave full. Puns aside, Phamish is beloved for its offerings of Vietnamese dishes like pho, vermicelli and spring rolls. The variety of dishes at Phamish is amazing, and it’s great to have all the options in a Vietnamese restaurant rolled up in one food truck.

Got a favorite we didn’t include? Leave a comment below.

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Photo Credit: Cedric Bihr

Whether you’re a “Grey’s Anatomy” fan or someone who enjoys hanging out at cafés, chances are you’ve heard Priscilla Ahn’s whimsical and soft voice. Aside from her musical style and lyrical depth, the 27-year-old’s shameless confessionals have caught the attention of many loyal fans.

Much of Ahn’s childhood was dedicated to finding out who she was because she felt so different from everyone else. Perhaps that is why her lyrics demonstrate an uncanny ability to look into everyone’s souls and force us to examine our lives. Ahn, who is half Korean and half white, grew up in a predominately Caucasian town but still practiced Asian customs. “We took our shoes off in the house and my mom cooked tons of Korean food,” recalls Ahn. “Korean culture was a big part of my life growing up and I really embraced it. I’ve tried to incorporate [the culture] in how I live today.”

Coming to terms with being the misfit in a group has inspired more than one wonderful tune from Ahn. She revisits this journey in “Elf Song,” from her latest album “When You Grow Up.” “I really enjoyed writing this one. It’s similar to ‘Wall Flower,’ and I imagined this elf girl who feels so gawky compared to all these other elves. Maybe a part of that is me because in my teenage years my feet were huge and I had long arms—I was not put-together like the other girls.”

In a generation where mainstream music has become sex-centric, Ahn is a breath of fresh air from the many messages telling women and young girls that the only way to be happy is to find a man and fit in with the norm. “Even though the girl [in the Elf Song] is so gawky, she’s a beautiful person and a beautiful soul.”

This positive message is one that Ahn tries to convey in all of her work. Ahn believes that everyone should remain true to themselves and that no one should ever settle for anything less than their own definition of happiness. “What I would love to tell everyone is that you’re not alone. Even though your situation is so unique, we all go through similar kinds of feelings of loneliness and pain,” says Ahn, “I know my music isn’t mainstream in any way, but I’m way more proud of that than selling out or writing hits to make money or be popular.”

Photo Credit: Henry Diltz

For someone who used to stare out her window at the moon, wanting to get out of the small town she grew up in, Ahn’s certainly come a long way. But this doesn’t mean she’s stopped growing yet. “In the past five years, I’ve done a lot of self-reflection on my childhood and my life, and how I got to where I am,” says Ahn. And it’s these experiences that she shares in her music—her life experiences and struggles—that provide a way for listeners to relate to the spectrum of emotions that come with adult life: loneliness, hopefulness, and the giddiness and comfort that comes with finding someone special.

Ahn specifically opens up on her struggles in relationships, especially in the beginning. “The big thing for me was fear—fear of being hurt, opening up yourself too much, and this person might not be someone you can trust,” she says. “The [Korean] culture has very restrained love; that’s how I approached my relationships. I wasn’t physically affectionate and a part of that was because I didn’t know that growing up. It was scary for me to do that and open myself up that way.”

The musician sagely notes that all relationships, good or bad, take much effort. “It’s a lot of work to listen to someone who is not happy with something you’re doing. It takes a lot of strength and courage to sit there and listen.” She’s learned that “if you’re really invested in it, it’s going to require work on both sides. Communication and listening is key, and so is trusting each other and opening up that soft side.”

Ahn’s determination to stay true to her voice in conveying such experiences sets a moral standard for an industry that is continuously making way for superficial values. “The pressure is on to sell new records. That’s not why I came into any of this,” Ahn asserts. “I stand up for my music and what I believe in.” Refusing to become a stereotype that the music industry demands today, she’s a positive role model for not only aspiring young artists but also for anyone who wants to be comfortable in his or her own skin.

Wallflower or star, she has us leaning forward in our seats, anticipating what she has in store for us next.

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