Numerous AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders)
celebrities have made their mark in the
Entertainment industry as well as other fields in recent years. Sandra Oh became the first woman of Asian ancestry to receive an Emmy nomination for lead actress, Kamala Harris became the first Indian-American vice president, and Olivia Rodrigo was titled the first mega-Filipina star in Western music. However, these examples are just the tip of the iceberg.
Time has changed. Several AAPI celebrities have proven to the world that their culture should be appreciated rather than demonized or the target of prejudice. Their accomplishments weren’t always simple; many celebrities at the beginning of their careers first felt ashamed of their ancestry. But as time passed, they all genuinely embraced their beautiful culture.
The moment has come to honor Asian American US superstars who have made huge contributions to pop culture, as well as setting an example for future generations. Discover 15 rising AAPI celebrities in this article.
#1 Sandra Oh
Source: Splash News
Sandra Oh starred in Grey's Anatomy, Killing Eve, and even provided the voice for Pixar's Turning Red. She won the Golden Globe for best actress in a TV drama in 2019, making her the first Asian woman to do so in 40 years. In her well-known victory speech, she famously said, "It's an honor just to be Asian."
#2 Olivia Rodrigo
Source: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
With songs like "Driver's License" and "Good 4U." Olivia Rodrigo, who had her breakthrough role on Disney's High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, has achieved actual success (and Grammy awards).
#3 Naomi Osaka
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As she stated in May 2022, professional tennis player Naomi Osaka has formed her own sports agency in addition to playing the game. With her several Grand Slam victories, Naomi is the first Asian tennis player to hold the Women's Tennis Association's No. 1 position.
#4 Jason Momoa
Source: Reuters
Jason Momoa has already made his mark on Hollywood with parts in blockbuster films like Game of Thrones and Aquaman, all the while remaining proud of his Hawaiian ancestry. He even introduced his own brand of water in recyclable aluminum cans, which was motivated by his love of Hawaii and his commitment to environmental protection.
#5 Auli'i Cravalho
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When Auli'i Cravalho was chosen to play the lead role in Disney's Moana, she was just a teenager. Now that she is 21, this native Hawaiian actress's career is just continuing to advance. She has recently featured in the adolescent rom-com Crush on Hulu, and she's always been outspoken about helping her neighborhood.
#6 Dwayne Johnson
Source: Splash News
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has always been open about his love of his native state of Hawaii, whether it be through his career in professional wrestling, Moana, or the Fast & Furious series.
#7 Ali Wong
Source: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Ali Wong's comedic career has been really spectacular. She is not only a mother and an author with several Netflix original series to her credit, but she also starred in the rom-com Always Be My Maybe. Ali was born in California, but her parents are from China and Vietnam, and she frequently makes jokes about growing up in Asia.
#8 Constance Wu
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Constance Wu is a Chinese American actress best known for her roles in the films Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat. She told The Guardian in 2019 that it was "It's exciting to see so many stories by and about Asian American people," "I'm very happy with the kind of change that's been happening."
#9 Ross Butler
Source: Rick Kern/Getty Images for The Roku Channel
Ross Butler, star of Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why, has been candid about the dearth of non-stereotypical parts for Asian actors in Hollywood. He said to Refinery 29, "We're a very underrepresented population in Hollywood, but we are the majority population of the world,"
#10 Taika Waititi
Source: Stefanie Keenan/VF22/WireImage for Vanity Fair
Taika Waititi most recently appeared in the film Our Flag Means Death, although he has long been a master actor and director. He said that being partly Polynesian made growing up in New Zealand difficult for him.
#11 Hayley Kiyoko
Source: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Hayley Kiyoko, a musician and actress who is Japanese, Scottish, and Welsh, has remarked that being multiracial "shapes you as a person."
#12 Olivia Munn
Source: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE
With her husband John Mulaney, actress Olivia Munn just gave birth to her first child. She even honored her Chinese-Vietnamese background by giving her kid the middle name Hiệp.
#13 Kamala Harris
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Kamala Harris is not just the first South Asian American but also the first Black American to serve as vice president of the United States. Despite the fact that she was born in the US, her parents are from Jamaica and India, respectively.
#14 Chrissy Teigen
Source: Splash News
Chrissy Teigen has never been secretive about her Thai ancestry and how it has shaped her life (and the recipes she shares). And as she mentioned on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she is concerned about her mother, Vilailuck "Pepper" Teigen, due to the current uptick in violence against Asian Americans.
#15 Keanu Reeves
Source: B. Cool/Splash
Keanu Reeves has talked openly about his Asian heritage. His father is Chinese Hawaiian, and he even spent part of his childhood in India. In December 2021, he stated to NBC Asian America: "My connection has always been positive and healthy with my Asian ethnicity. I adore it."