Courtesy of Alison Berlinski

Did you grow up wishing you looked like Barbie? Many Asian Americans grow up confounded by our idea of beauty. We see girls with blonde hair, blue eyes, and pointed noses grace the covers of magazines and pick up roles for popular TV shows. For Alison Berlinski, author of A Beautiful Mess, the struggle was seeing beauty from an Asian American and Polish perspective. To her, being biracial was like straddling two worlds, never identifying with just one race.

“When I was younger, I took up acting. However, having a Polish name and Asian face can be very confusing to casting directors, who hadn’t the slightest clue how to cast me. ‘Oh she’s not white? Send her to this other commercial; they need a Chinese kid. Wait, she can’t speak Chinese?’ And so on, and so on. Seeing people’s confused reactions only compounded my questions about my identity since I didn’t really feel Filipino or Polish either,” says Berlinski.

Being biracial not only affected her self perception, but her relationship with her parents, friends, boyfriends, and the people around her. Her life stories are what inspired her to write a memoir of her personal struggles with identity and race. But after some soul searching in Spain, Berlinski gained newfound confidence in herself and found an appreciation for both her Asian and Polish heritage as well as her American background.

“This book was inspired by a series of really bad break ups. The first was with my ex-boyfriend who also happens to be a celebrity, which sounds super cool, but was actually hell. Still, the second breakup with my mother was by far the worst breakup I’ve ever had.  It’s a very American concept to “divorce” your parent. Culturally, I struggled with it for a long time because in the Filipino culture, it’s something you just don’t do. Writing this book helped me to heal emotionally, while simultaneously pursuing a dream/passion of mine,” says Berlinski.

Berlinski’s book A Beautiful Mess can be purchased through publush.com, and be sure to check out her interview on YouTube, where talks about the inspiration behind her book http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dtO1RgbHYCI.

Photo via AllKPop.com

After months of anticipation, the Wonder Girls are finally coming to American entertainment. On February 2, the one-hour special Wonder Girls at the Apollo will premiere on Teen Nick, 8pm EST. The girls were recently interviewed by Access Hollywood about the movie’s charms. They say, “You get to see scenes about friendship, sisterhood, cat fights, and maybe a little bit of a romance!” Their English has improved a lot since the last time I heard them open for Jonas Brothers a couple of years ago. Glad to see they’ve been working hard. Moreover, the single they released is on the movie’s soundtrack is quite catchy as well. The track is called “The DJ is Mine” and features their on-screen rivals, American girl group School Gyrls. It’s a very upbeat dance song, perfect for attracting new and old fans alike. The song also hints at the romantic plot for the movie with cute DJ in the music video.

Photo via ViennieV.com

Although Viennie V released her first album Nightmare or Dream in September 2011, she already has something in common with pop sensation Justin Bieber: they both got their start by gaining attention on YouTube. The Los Angeles singer has quickly become viral (she became the number one musician on YouTube just a week after she premiered her first video). Viennie V names artists who like to push the envelope, such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna, as her musical influences.

The rising star has recently released her third music video “For You,” which details her mortifying, yet amusing dating life. After a series of bad dates Viennie finally finds her dream man after “wishing on a falling star” as she fittingly watches a shooting star whisk by at the end of her perfect date.

“For You” was not Viennie’s first attempt at humor. She originally caught attention with her song “Nightmare or Dream,” a parody on the recent vampire craze, and followed her success with her second video “Thinking of You,” which details Viennie’s own take on Britney Spear’s “Baby One More Time” video.

Whether you like her music or not, the pop singer seems to be on to something—both videos gained over a million views and were in the top ten most viewed music videos on YouTube less than a week after launching. Check her latest video out here and see what all the buzz
is about.

Photo via CNN.com

In a thrilling five set match, Kei Nishikori defeated world number six Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to become the first Japanese male to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, one of the four premier tournaments of tennis, in over 75 years. In addition, he is the first Japanese male to reach the quarterfinal stage (8 players left) of a grand slam since 1995.

“It’s an honor to make a lot of histories, to be the number one player in Japan,” said Nishikori in a quote from CNN. “But that never gives me pressure.”

He also said that he wishes to inspire Asian men’s players, and hopefully echo the success that China’s Li Na had in the past year, which included her run to the final of the Australian Open and a tremendous championship win at the French Open.

Nishikori, who is 22-years-old, has arguably played the best tennis of his career in the last year by notching up huge wins against top-ranked players. The highlight came this past October, where he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in Basel.

Although Nishikori lost 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to Murray in the latest round of the Australian Open, there’s no doubt we’ll see more of him in the future. His tenacity and athletic prowess are a testament to his budding success.

Photo via RideLust.com

?What happens when you put the words stewardess, salt flats, paratroopers, sushi and falcon together and use them in a promotion ad? You get a very random commercial. Mini Cooper asked their customers to describe “The Best Test Drive Ever. Period.” in six words and the winning entry was made into an ad to promote the new Mini. I guess making the flight attendant Asian had something to do with the sushi part. Besides that, the ad is pretty entertaining.

Photo via PopTower.com

CBS comedy “2 Broke Girls,” has been called one of the hits this season, but recently, the show has come under fire for its stereotypes—especially the portrayal of Korean immigrant Han Lee (Matthew Moy), who speaks in broken English and owns a diner. Apparently, even before the pilot aired there were signs that Han was going to be a horrible character and treated as such.

TV critics have caught on and at the CBS portion of the Television Critics Association tour on Wednesday, executive producer Michael Patrick King got blasted about Han, when the event should have been about the positive aspects of the show. King was not happy and got defensive in his responses to critics’ questions.

All I have to say is that I applaud the critics for taking a stand and fighting for equal opportunity on the small screen. What’s strange is that just this past Monday, a casting call has been put out for a “hot Asian male” for the show.

Hmmm…now why would the casting director do that?

Photo via. TIME.com

From all of us at Mochi Magazine, we wish you and your family a Happy Chinese Lunar New Year! This year is the year of the Dragon, a symbol of ethnic identity and authority. While the year of the Rabbit was sweet and kind to us, we hope that the Dragon will bring us good change and strength. As you gather with your family for a traditional reunion dinner and exchange hongbao and presents, remember what this holiday is meant to be—a celebration of peace, happiness, success, and good health for everyone. So let go of those grudges, make your peace, and start the year anew. Here is a special message from President Obama to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, wishing us peace, prosperity, and good health. In his message, he reminds us how much stronger our country is because of our diversity in culture and history. So while your family might not celebrate the Lunar New Year, know that it’s a celebration of good luck and prosperity for everyone.

Photo via UCI.edu

The University of California (UC) school system is known for enrolling a large proportion of Asian Americans. However, in the wake of state budget cuts to education, the number of Asian Americans attending UC schools is actually on the decline.

Increasing numbers of out-of-state and international students are replacing Asian Americans on California campuses due to their ability to pay nearly twice as much as in-state residents. At UC San Diego, the number of freshmen from China increased from 16 in 2009 to 200 in 2011, while the number of Asian American in-state residents fell 29 percent from 1,723 to 1,230. At UC Berkeley, non-resident students brought in $80 million in 2010 compared to $54 million in 2009.

This shift is understandably raising controversy and animosity in the Asian American community, since the purpose of state schools should be to educate in-state citizens, not international students. More and more highly qualified students with great SAT scores and high grades are being denied college spots.

However, it’s very important to consider the facts before becoming outraged or jumping to conclusions such as reverse-discrimination to explain why Asian American enrollment is falling. The truth of the matter is that the UC system is increasing nonresident enrollment from 6.6 to 10 percent, which means that spaces for all in-state students are declining. Additionally, the numbers often just don’t add up – according to 8asians, Asian American enrollment dropped 22 percent at UC Berkeley from 2009 to 2010, Chinese students increased from 55 to 96, and white enrollment dropped by 29 percent.

So, what can students do? For one thing, they can certainly stay on top of the news and stay informed about California’s budget matters. In situations like these where multiple factors are at play, sometimes the best thing we can do is educate ourselves on the issue first, then start a dialogue on how we should approach it.

Photo via CNNGo.com

Leave it to Korean cosmetic companies to be the pulse on beauty trends in Asia. The latest phenomenon: snail cream. Although this news isn’t earth-shattering—Europeans have used snail mucus in their products for years—snail cream has become ever popular in Korea and there’s a big reason why: the secret is in the slime. Korean cosmetic companies claim that snail guts contain skincare benefits, keeping skin youthful, soft, glowing, and dewy. News first spread about the benefits of snail slime in 2006 when Chilean farmers who were handling snails for the French food market touted how smooth and soft their hands were after working with snails. Since then, beauty products and face creams that contain snail extract have been selling quickly. Some Korean BB creams now also contain snail extract. Like any fad beauty product, there’s solid scientific assurance that snail cream is a heaven-sent secret to beautiful, youthful skin, but many people who have tried it find that it has helped improve the texture and appearance of their skin. What are your thoughts on snail cream? Have you tried any?

Photo via Blisstree.com

It’s been two weeks since Kim Jong Il died and a week since his fiasco funeral, but questions about what kind of man he truly was still remains. Like any rogue state, there is no way of knowing what really goes on in North Korea. A cultish nation driven by unrelenting admiration and devotion for their “Dear Leader” is all we know of North Korean culture. Unlike their southern neighbors, there aren’t any North Korean pop stars, models, or actors; we don’t know what kind of music they listen to, the clothes they wear, or the books they read. Much less, we can’t quite pinpoint North Korea’s nuclear activities, but their crying fits, hysterical weeping, and overwhelming grief were heard around the world the day of Kim Jong Il’s funeral. So what does Kim Jong Il’s death mean for North Korea? Well, it doesn’t necessarily mean that things will get better for the lives of North Koreans, that relations will improve other Asian countries and the West, or that even Kim Jong Il’s son and successor Kim Jong Un will rule with a lighter iron fist. Kim Jong Un, who is in his late twenties, is inexperienced in dealing with the country’s economic hardship, international relations (or lack thereof), and food shortages. But North Korea has already glorified him, naming him the “Supreme Commander.” Just last year, he was made into a four-star general and vice chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Workers’ Party. Share some of your thoughts on Kim Jong Il’s death and what you think the future holds for North Korea.