About Me!
My name is Kalea Mon and I am a Chinese American woman. As an Asian American, I have always struggled with trying to fit in within my surroundings. And as a child, I never realized that I looked different from my peers. I grew up blinded by the fact that there were not many resources for me to learn more about my culture, both on my television screen and on stage. As time has passed, I've realized the importance of staying true to my identity as being Chinese. The problem with the misinterpretation and lack of Asians in the entertainment industry has led me to researching more about the main root causes of this issue. Whether it be on movie screens or Broadway stages, the portrayal of Asians has a strong influence on its audience. The downside of growing up without seeing characters and actors that looked liked me gave me the impression that I was never good enough. I would tell myself, “If people who look like me can’t become famous actors, then why should I even try?” Ultimately, I created a barrier between myself and my dreams of trying to become a performer. I believed that because there were not many Asian performers, I would not have a chance at becoming one. Because of this, I fell into the habit of becoming blind to several Asian stereotypes.
I had an experience where I finally had the courage of auditioning for a big musical. Unlike the musicals I did in middle school, I wanted to be adventurous and try auditioning for a show with a much bigger cast. Some of the previous musicals I had starred in during middle school were “The Wizard of Oz”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “The Lion King”. Although I did not have a lead role in “The Wizard of Oz”, I landed lead roles in the other two musicals. To add, I had already been taking singing and dancing lessons for many years. So, not only did I have experience, but I was also confident in myself. When I auditioned for a musical during my freshman year, I was extremely nervous. It was my first time singing, dancing, and acting for a new group of people. Once the cast list came out, I landed the part of a brainiac nerd. At the time, I didn’t realize why me and the only other Asian person participating in the musical were casted as nerds. Now, I see that it was because of the preconceived stereotype that being Asian and wearing glasses was nerdy.
Me in Footloose the Musical!
Many of the shows I watched when I was young ranged from Lazy Town to Fairly Odd Parents. During my earlier teenage years, I still watched shows that starred primarily white actors and characters. Some examples of these include Winx Club, Liv and Maddie, and Girl Meets World. There were very few shows that showcased Asian characters. An example is the show “Ni Hao Kai Lan”, a children show that shared Chinese culture and how to handle feelings. However, it was canceled in 2011 because the producers were sued.
Being the oldest of all of my cousins, I realize how important it is for Asians to be represented in all kinds of media. From the shows that they watch to the ten second videos they see on their phones, I notice how there is still a strong lack of Asians. Not only does this tie into my topic of Asians being Under and Misrepresented in Hollywood and Broadway, but it also relates to the topic of identity and culture. The constant lack of representation can lead to children from all minority ethnic backgrounds feeling invisible or unimportant. Unfortunately, seeing my cousins lose sight of their Chinese culture makes me feel like I have not been the best role model for them. Because I also lacked the representation of Asians in Hollywood and Broadway, I felt a loss of connection to my Chinese culture too.
Me with all my cousins!
Although I sometimes struggle with feeling connected to my Chinese - American culture, I still find beauty in learning more about it. I am always eager to watch more Cantonese - speaking shows, listen to Chinese music, and even learn traditional Chinese fan dancing. And by having the ability to consume more diverse content which displayed people that looked like me, especially Asian women, being authentically themselves in television shows and online, I get reminded of who I am; I am a woman of color. I am different and I take pride in my culture.