First Filipino American Miss USA winner R’Bonney Gabriel wins Miss Universe 2022
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ ‘RRR,’ ‘Pachinko’ win at Critics Choice Awards
“Asian Americans recorded the fastest population growth rate among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, study finds.”
While this statistic may seem optimistic, there’s more to the story. The growth of the Asian American population in the U.S. has occurred in tandem with increased reports of discrimination and violence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
As our community grows, we are getting louder, we are telling our authentic stories…and we are making news headlines.
So welcome to Crushing the Myth, a weekly newsletter that breaks down the latest AAPI news & newsmakers.
Explore achievements from our community, videos to keep you on the edge of your seat, new Asian celebs to stan, and a whole lot more.
🏆 The Headlines — “All We Do is Win”
First Filipino American Miss USA winner R’Bonney Gabriel wins Miss Universe 2022 — The 28-year-old beauty queen bested 85 other contestants from around the world in New Orleans on Saturday night
R’Bonney Gabriel, the first Filipino American winner of Miss Texas USA, was crowned Miss Universe 2022 over the weekend.
Gabriel, 28, bested 85 other contestants from around the world to win the 71st Miss Universe pageant at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans on Saturday night.
Speaking to Thai TV network JKN18 following her coronation, Gabriel thanked her Filipino fans for their continuous support throughout her beauty pageant journey.
“The support is everything,” she said. “I feel it [in] my heart. I heard it in the room. It was an amazing energy. The Filipino blood is so strong. We are hardworking, we’re fun and we’re determined, and I’m so proud to be half-Filipina.”
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ ‘RRR,’ ‘Pachinko’ win at Critics Choice Awards — Leading the nominees with 14 nominations, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" won five awards in total on Sunday night.
A24’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (“EEAO”) won big at the 28th Critics’ Choice Awards on Sunday night.
“EEAO” notably received 14 nominations in total. The critically acclaimed film ultimately won Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Editing (Paul Rogers), Best Director (co-directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) and Best Original Screenplay (Kwan and Scheinert).
“This award is dedicated to my dad, a Taiwanese immigrant who worked himself into an early grave,” producer Jonathan Wang said as part of the cast’s Best Picture acceptance speech. “And this is really dedicated to the Evelyns, the Waymonds, the immigrant parents who would kill themselves for us immigrant children to give us a better life.”
Co-director Kwan gave an emotional thank you to his mother in his acceptance speech for Best Director.
“This is dedicated to my mother, who not only inspired the movie, but was the first person to plant the seed in my head that I could be a director. She told me, maybe the first Asian American immigrant mother to tell her son to go to film school,” he said.
Blackpink Set to Become the First Ever K-Pop Group to Headline at Coachella — For the first time ever, making history is the K-pop girl band BLACKPINK, slated to perform on April 15 and 22. Another first-time headliner is Bad Bunny, the first Latin musician to perform here.
This sensational South Korean band comprises members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. They were the first K-pop group to perform on the Coachella stage in 2019 and will be returning as headliners in 2023. They indeed have come a long way since their debut album in 2016 called Square One. This indeed is a proud moment for them and their fans because they will be joining the prestigious list of female stars headlining one of the biggest music fests in the world. This includes Björk, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish.
The band has been getting a lot of love from their fans as they have been on a world tour which kickstarted in October 2022. The girls covered important destinations in Europe and North America, with shows in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand that have been planned for 2023, as a part of this tour.
As previously announced, the festival takes place across two weekends: April 14-16 and 21-23.
👏 Who’s on our team this week?
Netflix — they announced the 'biggest-ever lineup' of Korean films and series
Biden — his admin released the first plan to support Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian communities
The Fashion Industry — ring in Lunar New Year with some of the latest fashion collections
👎 Thumbs Down
David Chang to rotisserie chicken — he said he’s disgusted by Costco’s ‘inedible’ rotisserie chicken
The AAPI community to Gwen Stefani — she made claims saying 'I'm Japanese' in response to cultural appropriation accusations
Uncle Roger to Gordon Ramsay — the comedian slammed Gordon Ramsay’s Thai papaya salad in new video
Gen Z to Mindy Kaling — Gen Z Scooby-Doo fans are upset as Mindy Kaling allegedly uses ‘Velma’ to ‘insert’ herself into series
✊ Stop Asian Hate
Asian Americans exposed to racism may experience ‘multiple medical symptoms’: study
Indiana University student targeted in bus stabbing for being Asian, police say
Purdue’s 1st Asian American president takes office weeks after school official mocks Asian languages onstage
🍿 #Trending
✍️, Lea @ Crushing the Myth