This article is part of Mochi’s fall 2024 issue on Resilience, redefined as “finding agency in adversity and fighting for radical change.” We highlight the strength of individuals and communities and their courage in dismantling systems of injustice. Our hope is that you will feel the strength pulsing through these stories and that you also are inspired to pair resilience with actions that lead to real, necessary, and revolutionary change.
Infamous Asian beauty trends are all over our Instagram and TikTok feeds, but beyond the personal color analysis, what is the internet really advertising to young Asian women? Step by step “glow up” tips and tricks can feel nearly impossible to achieve. Everyone deserves to feel confident in their skin, but these standards can have long-lasting consequences. Unrealistic expectations of our bodies, along with societal pressure, can negatively affect one’s self perception and image.
Oftentimes, Asian women are criticized for not only their looks, but how they dress. When she’s “look-maxing,” Asian women are described as “trying too hard” — or if she’s simply running errands in a casual outfit, somehow she’s “letting herself go” or labeled as a “mess.”
Despite societal norms and pressures to dress modestly, not stand out, or draw attention to ourselves, Asian American women should be free to dress to impress. The clothing we wear as Asian American women can be empowering. It can symbolize who we are as individuals – as powerhouses. As such, we are seeing Asian American women redefining what it means to feel confident and beautiful through their fashion statements.
Growing up as the only Asian girl in my high school in Northwest Indiana caused a lot of emotional turmoil and self-image issues. I was always told that I was too loud, too big, and too much for an Asian girl. People had an outdated perception of how an Asian girl should act — soft-spoken, agreeable, and polite, even in…
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