Celebrating AAPI Accomplishments
Michelle Yeoh
Malaysian, Actress
In 2023, Michelle Yeoh made history as the first Asian-identifying woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once." A pioneer of action cinema, Yeoh rose to international fame through films like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and has long championed nuanced representation of Asian women in Hollywood.
H.E.R.
Black-Filipino, Singer-songwriter
An acclaimed singer-songwriter, H.E.R. has earned both Grammy and Academy Awards for her genre-blending music and powerful songwriting. Known for using her platform to spotlight social justice issues, she continues to advocate for racial equity and uplift marginalized voices through her art and activism.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Korean American Olympian
In 1948, Lee made history as the first Asian American man to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States, taking home gold in platform diving at the London Games. The son of Korean immigrants, Lee trained in a sandpit because he was denied access to public pools due to segregation. He went on to win a second gold in 1952 and later coached Olympic champions. Lee’s perseverance in the face of racism turned him into a symbol of both athletic excellence and civil rights resilience.
Chloe Kim
Korean American Olympian
A two-time Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding, Chloe Kim made history in 2018 as the youngest woman to win Olympic gold in the halfpipe. Beyond her athletic achievements, she’s been a vocal advocate against anti-Asian racism and speaks candidly about mental health challenges faced by young athletes in elite sports.
Jackie Chan
Chinese, Actor, Director, Martial Artist
His contributions to the entertainment industry span more than 60 years, from "Big and Little Wong Tin Bar" to "Rush Hour" and the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise. The multi-hyphenate, who was given an honorary Oscar in 2016, is skilled in martial arts and does many of his own stunts.
Ali Wong
Chinese American, Actress
Comedian, writer, and actress Ali Wong made history as the first Asian woman to win a Primetime Emmy for Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Netflix’s Beef, which she also executive produced. Known for her breakout stand-up specials like Baby Cobra and her bestselling memoir Dear Girls, Wong has become a trailblazer in comedy, celebrated for her fearless humor and cultural commentary.
Sandra Oh
South Korean American, Actress
Mostly known for her longstanding role on "Grey's Anatomy," which earned her a Golden Globe in 2005. The "Killing Eve" star later became the first Asian woman to host the Golden Globes in 2019; that same year, she became the first woman of Asian descent to rack up multiple Golden Globe trophies with her win for best performance by an actress in a television series, drama.
Vera Wang
Chinese, Fashion Designer
At 23, designer Vera Wang became the youngest fashion editor at Vogue, having been hired right after graduating from college. She went on to work for Ralph Lauren before branching out at 40 to become the wedding dress mogul she is today. Wang, who was a figure skater in her earlier years, is also in the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame for her costume designs for the Winter Olympics.
Simu Liu
Korean, Actor
In 2021, Simu Liu made Marvel history as the lead in the studio's first Asian superhero-led movie "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." Prior to his titular role, Liu had a longstanding part in the Canadian sitcom "Kim's Convenience," which centered on a Korean-Canadian family's convenience store in Toronto.
Angela Perez Baraquio
Filipino American, Educator, Miss America
Achieved many first in pageants: She was crowned Miss America 2001, making her the first Asian American and first Filipino American to win the contest.
Jon M. Chu
Chinese, Director
Best known as the director of 2018's box office hit, "Crazy Rich Asians," led a majority Asian cast. Chu has also directed other high-profile feature films, including Justin Bieber's concert movies "Never Say Never" and "Believe," several "Step Up" installments and the upcoming "Wicked," starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Nor Lum “Awkwafina”
Chinese & Korean, rapper and actress
She is the star of “Awkwafina is Nora From Queens,” a show that encourages its Asian cast members to play against stereotypes. “It’s never been written for them before, to play these other roles, like a lot of the Asian-American characters that they’ve played before might have been what people thought Asian-Americans were,” she said.
Ellison Onizuka
Japanese American, Astronaut
In 1985, Ellison Onizuka made history as the first Asian American and first person of Japanese descent to travel to space, serving as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Born and raised in Hawaii, Onizuka was also a U.S. Air Force engineer and test pilot. His groundbreaking career was tragically cut short when he perished in the 1986 Challenger disaster.
Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu
Chinese-American, Physicist
In a field historically dominated by men, Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu shattered barriers as one of the most influential experimental physicists of the 20th century. Wu played a critical role in the Manhattan Project. She conducted the landmark Wu Experiment, which disproved a fundamental law of physics known as the “law of parity.” Despite her groundbreaking contributions, she was overlooked for the Nobel Prize—though her legacy as the “First Lady of Physics” continues to pave the way for women and AAPI scientists worldwide.
Patsy Mink
Hawaiian, Politician
In 1964, Patsy Mink made history as the first woman of color and first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Representing Hawaii, Mink was a fierce advocate for civil rights, education, and gender equality. She was the co-author of Title IX, the landmark legislation that transformed educational opportunities for women and girls across the U.S. Her trailblazing career redefined what leadership could look like and opened the doors for generations of women in politics.
Dr. David Ho
Chinese American, Physician & Virologist
In the 1990s, Dr. David Ho emerged as a global leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, pioneering the use of combination antiretroviral therapy that transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable condition. Ho was named TIME Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1996 for his groundbreaking medical contributions. His work has saved millions of lives—and continues to shape how the world responds to pandemics.
