We Are Not a Monolith

I was commissioned by Ulta Beauty to create an illustration that celebrates the diversity within the AAPI community and honor its beauty and breadth.

For this illustration, I wanted to show the diversity of different Asian cultures, as well as the beauty and strength of Asian women. Asian women in the U.S. have faced a long history of hyper-sexualization and fetishization, and for Asian American women, misogyny and racism are inseparable. The stereotype that Asian American women are hypersexual, meek, or submissive is harmful and leads to violence, such as the horrific shooting in Atlanta. We are so much more than these reductive stereotypes, and I wanted to express that in my illustration.

I also wanted to honor each culture and their rich history through their traditional clothing. However, I wanted to convey that while we are Asian, we are still American, which is why I chose red, white, and blue as the color scheme. We belong here just as much as anyone else. This is our home too.