Celebrating the Yul-tide!!

So I got a nice early Christmas gift on Sunday!

And no, I'm not talking about my night at the Carnegie Deli (with family + Woody Allen Sandwich + Strawberry Cheesecake) and Carnegie Hall (with the Vienna Boys Choir).

I'm talking about Yul Kwon's win on "Survivor: Cook Islands"!!!

Not only has someone of Asian ethnicity won Survivor-- but for the first time I can remember, there is a positive representation of Asian American males for millions of people across the country to see.

I find this to be really significant, because growing up without a father, I personally had nobody who I could look to and say, "I want to be just like you."

I am very proud to say that for at least this moment in time, young Asian American men have somebody in the spotlight for them to aspire to be: Valedictorian of his high school, Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford undergrad, Yale Law School, McKinsey consultant, Google Business Strategy Team-- Yul's got a pretty impeccable resume!! =)

And ladies-- he was one of People Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive" 2006 and he's single too!!

.....

My skydiving bud and I got into a debate over gmail chat earlier today, where she basically asked me " why does your role model have to be the same race as you?"

Here was my response:
me: "you don't necessarily have to have [a role model] be the same race as you."
me: "but it makes it more accessible."
me: "the same way that female role models make it easier for young girls to think 'maybe I can do that someday...'"
...
me: "someone once told me.
that I'm Asian.
so therefore, I can't get a 6-pack.
cuz Asian guys generally don't have 6-packs!
but 2 out of the 3 Asian guys on Survivor DID have 6-packs!
so it makes me feel like I actually can grow one now!"

So needless to say, I feel inspired!!!

However, it also made me think about myself...

As I was walking to my car yesterday morning, I remembered that I had auditioned for a reality television show before and looking back, I am quite glad I wasn't called back-- because I just realized that I would have been a horrible example for an Asian American male.

Despite that I'm a real person, I sometimes find it troubling that I embody some of the Asian male stereotypes (e.g. I am pretty good at math, am pretty slender and probably a bit awkward) and for that reason, it would probably be best to keep guys like Yul Kwon on the front line when looking for Asian American male representation.

AND Yul was also born in Queens, New York!!

WaY tO rEpReZeNt!!! ;-)

(I also wanted to give a quick shout out to Brad Virata, another Asian male on this past season's "Survivor"-- and a member of the final jury. He was a good-looking, athletic, intelligent, openly gay Asian American male and I am proud to be part of the same race as he and Yul.
And to anyone who might want to challenge Yul's representation as a part of the "Model Minority Myth"-- there's a pretty weak argument for that, considering that the model minority is more about a quiet, obedient, diligent race than about an individual who possesses strength, intelligence, morals and good looks. =P)