The Big Move.
Asians are Hereto Conquer
Photos by
Xander
Angeles
blktnk.
www.blacktankcreatives.com
Asians are Here to Conquer.
the
Big
Move.
It’s no secret that Hollywood and the rest of the entertainment world have continuously whitewashed the industry to fit the norm. Casting people of color and other races has always been frowned upon, and as a result has limited the opportunities of these individuals who work tediously to chase their passion in life. But to quote Sandra Oh at the 2019 Golden Globes, “But right now, this moment is real. Trust me, it is real.” And no truer words have ever been spoken.
Photographed by
Xander Angeles
Written by
TJ Zialcita
Change has always been scary, but it is also good. And one of the most remarkable changes that has occured over time, is how gradually the face of the industry is changing. As we continue to progress, we witness acceptance at its finest. Every day, more and more people of different lineages and color grace the covers of magazines, billboards and our television screens. Not many will understand why this is considered to be a big deal, but to the minority, this has always been a day they never thought they would live to see. But here we are– this moment IS real.
And in the interest of fully embracing this turn around in not just the industry, but society as a whole, we delve into a little Q&A with Taiwanese model Jessica Yang as she makes the big move to conquer Europe and continuously hone her craft.
Jessica started catching the industry’s eye when she was still in school. She didn’t choose the Philippines to get her big break, but the Philippines did choose her. And she isn’t complaining, because she has actually enjoyed settling in here. She enjoys basking under the sun, and loves that the people are just as warm and friendly. Her only complaint, as she said, would be the traffic. (LOL same Jess, SAME.)
Now, for those of you who don’t know, Jessica is not a one-trick pony. Beyond modeling, she has also immersed herself in the world of making music. That’s right, she has taken a liking to her own style of music and even writes her own lyrics!
“I get my inspiration from my experiences. I write a lot of phrases in my notebook as I travel or go about my day, then when I feel like it’s time to make a song, I combine them with my producer.”
I think that goes to show that even though you’re excelling in a certain craft, it doesn’t mean that’s all you can do. Like Jessica, you can be an artist in multiple ways. There is no such thing as having too many dreams. Which is why it comes as no surprise that this feisty lady is ready to set sail and conquer more of the world. She doesn’t just have her eyes set on London in particular.
“I actually wanna stay in Europe for a while. I wanna do Turkey, Greece and then maybe end with Dubai this year. That’s my main focus. I am just really using modeling as an excuse to travel and experience life! And that’s me since day 1. I never really modeled, modeling is always a fun game for me. Just happened that I earn from it and it’s my main source of income.”
What’s most admirable about Jessica in this light is that, she’s true to who she is. She’s honest that modeling has helped a great deal in her plans, but that she’s still well on her way to figuring out more about herself. And more than anything, I think the world really needs that kind of authenticity today.
Fortunately enough for Jessica, she has yet to encounter any forms of discrimination in the industry.
“My experience, always been pretty open!!! I never encountered racism. But I’m not saying there is none. I still hear stories about it. But luckily it just never happened to me.”
It may also be that she has learned the art of accepting any form of rejection gracefully. Jessica has shared that in her experience, instead of thinking that brands may not book her because of her race, it’s more on that they are just simply looking for something else. If it’s not meant for her, she takes this in stride and continues to still try for other projects. There is really no putting a good spirit down. To quote Jessica,
Indeed, life can be seen as a game. Sometimes, you win, sometimes you lose. But what matters is that you try. Despite what others may think, you should go after the things that make you feel alive. Don’t let the color of your skin and the standards of society define your capabilities. Jessica Yang teaches us to be fighters, whether we want to model or go after a music career, it is not impossible so as long as you believe in what you do.
bt.mag
www.blacktankcreatives.com
