The only thing that was sort of Asian was Hello Kitty. I don't want to model myself after Hello Kitty. She has no mouth

The only thing that was sort of Asian was Hello Kitty. I don't want to model myself after Hello Kitty. She has no mouth

Margaret Cho, a trailblazing comedian and actress, has long been an outspoken advocate for Asian representation in the entertainment industry. In a world where Asian stereotypes are all too common, Cho has used her platform to challenge these misconceptions and celebrate the diversity of Asian culture.

When Cho made the statement, "The only thing that was sort of Asian was Hello Kitty. I don't want to model myself after Hello Kitty. She has no mouth," she was highlighting the lack of authentic Asian representation in mainstream media. Hello Kitty, a popular Japanese character, is often seen as a symbol of Asian culture, but Cho's point is that she is a fictional character with no voice or agency. Cho, on the other hand, is a real person with a unique perspective and a powerful voice that deserves to be heard.

By rejecting the idea of modeling herself after Hello Kitty, Cho is asserting her own identity and refusing to conform to stereotypes. She is not interested in being a silent, passive figure like Hello Kitty; instead, she wants to speak out and challenge the status quo. Cho's refusal to be defined by a simplistic, one-dimensional image of Asian identity is a powerful statement that resonates with many Asian Americans who have long been marginalized and stereotyped in the media.

Cho's comment also speaks to the larger issue of representation in the entertainment industry. While characters like Hello Kitty may be seen as symbols of Asian culture, they often perpetuate harmful stereotypes and fail to capture the complexity and diversity of Asian identities. Cho's refusal to model herself after Hello Kitty is a rejection of these stereotypes and a call for more authentic and nuanced portrayals of Asian characters in media.