Miss Universe's perspective

[Faithless]

“In Hawaii ... You don’t carry the same baggage about being Asian American because you’re never singled out,” she continues. “You have a different set of self-esteem than kids who grew up on the mainland because you’re the majority.”

Former Miss Universe Faces APA Conundrum

By Paul E. Pratt, Feb 24, 2006

Brook Lee was named Miss Universe 1997, in a historic victory for Asian Americans. The first Miss Hawaii-USA to win, Lee admits her crowning “plunged [her] into the Asian American experience.”

“Prior to [Miss USA], I had no point of reference about what being ‘Asian American’ is,” she confesses. Touring as Miss USA taught Lee what she calls “the Asian American conundrum” and how geography shapes Asian Americans’ self-image.

“In Hawaii, the head cheerleader, prom queen and captain of the football team are Japanese,” Lee relates. “We didn’t grow up with any sort of dichotomy about being American and being of Asian descent.”

“You don’t carry the same baggage about being Asian American because you’re never singled out,” she continues. “You have a different set of self-esteem than kids who grew up on the mainland because you’re the majority.”

After recognizing this, Lee better understood her significance to the Asian American community. “Little girls could see this icon of American beauty standards who was Asian,” she says, then adds dryly, “or, as they said in Shreveport, LA, ‘Oriental.’ I don’t think I’d ever been referred to as ‘Oriental’ before.”

The entertainment industry, though, taught the multi-ethnic beauty a different lesson. Lee often finds herself at auditions where she is not “Asian enough.” She recently read for television’s Three Wishes, which instead cast Diane Mizota, who Lee feels is more “traditionally Asian.”

“In Hollywood, they don’t see me as ‘Asian,’” confesses Lee, who is one-third Korean as well as Dutch, Portuguese and Hawaiian. By industry standards, Lee “looks Hispanic.” Some professional representatives over the years even suggested Lee capitalize on this, a move she declined.

Similar advice from well-known Chinese actress Joan Chen shocked Lee. Surprised to learn that Lee auditions for Asian roles, Chen suggested a more multi-ethnic approach. “She said, ‘In this industry, perception is all that matters,’” Lee recalls. The actress called the racially mixed Lee “luckier” than Asian actresses restricted to characters of specific ethnicities.

Rather than sidestep her ethnicity, Lee celebrates it. As co-producer, hostess and writer of San Francisco-based magazine-style television program Pacific Fusion, Lee showcases Asian Americans in entertainment, industry and arts.

She also sees firsthand efforts some take to distance themselves from the Asian community. Lee suspects ethnic media make some Asian Americans feel singled out. Unlike many other cultures, Lee says Asians are often taught to blend in.

“Our parents and grandparents told us not to stick out,” she says. The same predicament which leads Hollywood to “lump the Asian American dollar in with Caucasians,” Lee suggests this prevents the show from booking some guests.

“They’ve crossed over into the White media,” she notes.

Frequently Asian American entertainers popular with broader audiences decline Asian-specific media requests in an effort to transcend ethnic stereotypes. Entertainers such as half-Chinese actress Jennifer Tilly, who changed her name and passes as white, or half-Korean singer Amerie, who looks black, Lee better understands.

Others, such as Lucy Liu — who Lee says declined Asian press from the start — confuse her.

“You couldn’t be more Asian,” Lee says of the Charlie’s Angels actress. “There is no way to hide that, so I don’t understand why she would close that off. To me, it would be like Halle Berry saying no to [Black Entertainment Television].”

Regardless of career choices by others, and the suggestions of some, Lee remains true to her roots.

“If I wanted to be Guatemalan, I’m sure I could change my last name and flip to the Latina side and be perfectly fine,” admits Lee. “That’s not who I am, who I identify with or draw any of my experience from.”

[n3bulous]

Originally Posted by Faithless

“In Hawaii ... You don’t carry the same baggage about being Asian American because you’re never singled out,” she continues. “You have a different set of self-esteem than kids who grew up on the mainland because you’re the majority.”

Former Miss Universe Faces APA Conundrum

that quote. i hate her for that quote. does she HAVE TO rub it in?

in all seriousness, nice article. i have a new respect for ms. lee.

now if you'll excuse me, i need to go slit my wrists.

[eos]

yeah, this article made me feel really ugly inside and outside....like i'm living in the wrong state cuz asians were never the prom kings/queens, head cheerleaders.....hell, they weren't even on the ballot.

[Tao]

i'm glad that she identifies with her asian roots, and didn't decide to take the easy way out like a lot of other half-asian, or even full blooded asian american actor/actresses do.

[soulman386]

...In Hollywood, they don’t see me as ‘Asian,’” confesses Lee...


No wonder. She doesn't look asian. If I hadn't known I'd thought she was a latina.

[Shuriken]

Brook Mahealani Lee

[Keke]

Originally Posted by soulman386

...In Hollywood, they don’t see me as ‘Asian,’” confesses Lee...


No wonder. She doesn't look asian. If I hadn't known I'd thought she was a latina.

She's living some Barbie doll, movie star life style.... she is so out of touch from Asian people and reality in general... there is no merit or substance to her point of view.

But she has the platform to spit her venom to the public media, and have her heart break from burdens she'll never endure.

[lee duk sun]

i don't know... she looks pretty asian to me. she's obviously beautiful... and well spoken. i can't be angry with her just because she grew up in a part of the world that made her feel more comfortable...

[Player 0]

Originally Posted by Shuriken

Brook Mahealani Lee

What's most disturbing is that in this picture she looks just like me, except more slender, not as fat, and with breasts, and of course a very different point of view on things.

.....

HOORAY I'm a beauty queen

[eos]

^ ohhh....you're a pretty guy.....

[Irezumi Kiss]

Originally Posted by Player 0

she looks just like me, except more slender, not as fat, and with breasts

You now have two available options:

1) Relocate to Hawaii and find a lifetime's work in being her "stunt double"
2) Grow breasts and slim down a touch, but keep the booty fat

[Player 0]

I'm just a sweet transvestite for transsexual transylvania

XOXOX

[deez nuts]

Originally Posted by Player 0

I'm just a sweet transvestite for transsexual transylvania

XOXOX

post a pic. asian trannies and cross dressers fascinate me.

[Player 0]

Originally Posted by deez nuts

post a pic. asian trannies and cross dressers fascinate me.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Guess which one i am, TIM CURRY!!!!

[eos]

you don't look nothin like miss universe.