With today’s amazing technological advances, it’s easier than ever for talented people to gain widespread fame. Among these professional athletes, singers, and cinematographers, several Asian-Americans (American-born Asians) have earned their fame. They have vast fan bases beyond the U.S., and have become the subject of trendy conversations.

    Many Asian-American singers have risen to stardom thanks to online video-sharing communities. Clara Chung, born to South Korean parents, has produced three albums so far and won many competitions with her music, which carries the style of those like singers Sara Bareilles, John Mayer, and Feist. David Choi, another singer-songwriter of Korean descent, has had his music appear on many television shows, commercials and even news channels. His videos have amassed over 117,000,000 views. Kina Grannis, a YouTube celebrity, is half Japanese and half European. Like Chung, she has won many music contests, and has even been covered by the Wall Street Journal.

    American/Taiwanese filmmaking group Wong Fu Productions is also successful thanks to their online videos. The independent production company was established by three college friends Ted Fu, Philip Wang and Wes Chan. Wong Fu Productions has produced countless feature-length films, short films, and music videos. The quality and depth of their videos have touched the hearts of over 1 million fans worldwide.

    Professional basketball player Jeremy Lin is another Asian-American who has won wide acclaim. Born to Taiwanese immigrants, Lin is one of the few Asian-Americans in NBA (National Basketball Association) history and the first Taiwanese to play in the league. After being signed with the New York Knicks basketball team, a global following known as “Linsanity” developed, and Lin skyrocketed to fame, supported in particular by Asian-Americans. He has since been named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine.

    These talents are just a fraction of the incredibly gifted and renowned Asian-Americans reaching success today. Undeniably, more Asian-Americans are gaining worldwide recognition for their work. While classic Asian celebrities like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee still hold a special place in many hearts, the younger, multicultural stars are quickly catching up.

    Merry Gu (辜子蕊)

    is a Grade 9 student at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova, Pennsylvania. She lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, a suburb near Philadelphia in the United States.