#163 - Evolving Beauty Standards with David Yi (Very Good Light)

First of All

Beauty can be such a fun way to channel your self-expression, try new products/personas/looks, practice self-care, and get in touch with your innermost confidence. It can also be overwhelming and painful trying to keep up with societal standards that feel rigid, unattainable, and downright dehumanizing at times. In this week's episode, Minji sits down with David Yi, a beauty expert and passionate advocate of examining and redefining beauty as a concept, practice, and culture. David has spent most of his life breaking down stigmas and stereotypes by asking “SAYS WHO?” through his work as a journalist, his industry-disrupting beauty products and his new book Pretty Boys. Together they go beyond skin-deep in their discussion about what beliefs and paradigms they've subscribed to and how that impacted their sense of self. Both host and guest question ideas and gatekeepers, and how we can move forward being seen and empowered for who we truly are at every age, gender, and identity we embody.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/seoulcialite/
https://verygoodlight.com/
https://bookshop.org/books/pretty-boys-legendary-icons-who-redefined-beauty-and-how-to-glow-up-too/9780358410683
https://asianpacificfilmexperience.com/

Follow Minji On:

• Twitter (@minjeeeezy)
• Instagram (@minjeezy)
• Clubhouse (@MinjiChang)

▫️ Music featured in this episode include "Uzutrap" by Uzuhan and “A Thousand Cuts” by Ruby Ibarra
▫️ Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter and support our Patreon
▫️ This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Produced by @marvinyueh & @AnnaSun
Supported by @JulianaDeer
00:00:00 - Ways to support the pod
00:00:30 - Intro’ing the topic + guest
00:05:51 - How David introduces himself
00:07:24 - Has David considered becoming an accountant?
00:09:25 - The Han is very potent
00:11:00 - Minji’s contrasting childhood
00:13:25 - To feel seen in media
00:16:54 - The standard of beauty in America
00:19:01 - David never wanted to feel beautiful
00:21:02 - “Says Who?” = the essence of David and Minji
00:25:21 - Being the only Asian in the room
00:31:52 - Hire someone who can do Asian eyes and Asian hair, damnit!
00:34:56 - Beauty is preserving your essence
00:36:55 - BREAK - [Books and Boba Podcast]
00:39:12 - How Very Good Light got started
00:41:18 - Pretty Boys is a culmination of life’s work
00:43:57 - “Beauty” has been manufactured
00:48:35 - What do you mean “feminine” v “masculine”? Get specific.
00:51:12 - First memories of beauty
00:58:23 - When your family pushes plastic surgery
01:07:59 - FOA Questions for our guests!
01:09:51 - Outro + leave a 5*Star Review :D
01:12:14 - [Modern Minorities Podcast]

Mentioned in this episode:

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"Inheriting" is a show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families, which explores how one event in history can ripple through generations. In doing so, the show seeks to break apart the AAPI monolith and tell a fuller story of these communities. In each episode, NPR’s Emily Kwong sits down with one family and facilitates deeply emotional conversations between their loved ones, exploring how their most personal, private moments are an integral part of history. Through these stories, we show how the past is personal and how to live with the legacies we’re constantly inheriting. New episodes premiere every Thursday. Subscribe to “Inheriting” on your app of choice

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