Mai Khoi - Bad Activist?

I went into Mai Khoi and the Dissidents' show “Bad Activist” only knowing that she had a crazy back story, was a refugee from Vietnam, and that she was very talented (like everyone Joe’s Pub has!). What I didn’t expect to experience was an incredibly educational, cultural, and art explosion! Mai Khoi walks us through her story, and the story of many Vietnamese who criticize their government, through spoken word, music (most that was sung in Vietnamese with translations on a video above her), costume changes, and visuals.

Art, Editor's Pick, zIssue 53Jejeune MagazineFebruary 6, 2024refugee, Refugee, singer song writer, singer, Art, vietnam, activist, Joe's Pub, review, live shows, nyc, Obama, asian artist, asianComment

Enjoying ‘Peeled Fruit’ With Xavi de Guzman

Actor cum writer, Xavi de Guzman has a flair for bringing people together through shared experiences — his acting, book ‘Peeled Fruit’, his Non Profit ‘The Play On Foundation’, and through food. Xavi’s book is a sweet culmination of his childhood memories and the immigrant experience. It will leave you thinking of family, community, and a little hungry. Let Jejune Magazine introduce you to the writer that is Xavi de Guzman.

Art, zIssue 46Tejasvi PradeepNovember 28, 2022writer, Actor, screenwriting, screenplay, Non-profit, book, asian, asian artist, asian canadian, family, philippinesComment

The Tita Collective Is Representing The Family

What is better than your favorite funny aunt? How about a whole collection of them! Let me introduce you to the Tita (aunt in Tagalog) Collection. This theatrical hilarious group of Filipina-Canadian artists is here to entertain and tell us some new stories, not the same boring ones about some white guy in the same-old same-old situation. To learn more about this troupe and find out where you can catch them next, please read on!

The Queen of Comedy - Jiaoying Summers

Jiaoying Summers is more than a pretty face! She is a comedian, producer, CEO, and Founder of Summers Media. She does philanthropic work uniting Asia and the USA and is also a spokesperson empowering women and providing a safe space for all black, all women, all Latino, LGBTQ, and Asian to be themselves on her two open mic clubs in LA and Pasadena. Summers became a sensation on TikTok during the pandemic and talked with Jejune about giving a voice to the minority and the misrepresentation of the Asian community, and much more. Keep reading to know more about the Queen of Comedy.

The Re-Debut of the Multi-Talented Elisa Nicolas

Elisa Nicolas is a Canadian-born, Ohio-based Asian-American songwriter. For three decades, she has been observing, experimenting, and translating the human experience into song. Elisa’s musical talents extend beyond songwriting, as she is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. Since writing and recording across numerous styles including rock, jazz, country, pop, and R&B, this critically acclaimed Asian-American LGBTQ alternative artist makes her re-debut after a 12 Year hiatus. Her latest song “No Answers” is the leading single of her new album, Year of The Locust, which was released early November. In addition to her musical devotion, she is committed to giving back in her community. Elisa spends time at her local foodbank, MidOhio Foodbank, and dedicates time each year to building houses for Habitat for Humanity. Continue reading below to learn more about the multi-talented woman, Elisa Nicolas!

Xavi de Guzman Trains His Mental Fitness

Xavi de Guzman is a power house! His aptitude for sports fueled an athleticism that led him to a professional career in boxing. This beast of a man went as far as to win the 2008 lightweight championship title in Canada. Unlike most actors, Xavi received his first on-camera role without any acting experience – ABC’s “Rookie Blue” as a boxer. Since “Rookie Blue”, Xavi has appeared in numerous productions including The CW’s ‘The 100’ and ABC’s ‘Take Two’. Now you can check out his most recent project on Netflix, where he takes on the role of Ethan in the miniseries "Maid". In addition, Xavi is a huge advocate for mental health! Through his experience as a professional boxer, he learned the importance of taking care of one's mental health. He founded of the Play On foundation and created a talk titled "You Can't Be Out of Shape to Chase Your Dreams". Read on to learn more about Xavi de Guzman journey as an actor and advocate for mental health.

The Fantastical Mind of Benjamin Von Wong

Bringing an idea to life takes innovation, passion and a whole lot of patience. What's more powerful is if the creation brings people to another world for just a moment and sparks a new notion in the viewers. None other than Benjamin Von Wong is doing it as we speak. The Canadian-born artist is a big advocate for Ocean Plastics and has been creating art pieces to bring awareness to the most critical issue faced today — Pollution. Known for his environmental art installations and hyper-realist art style, he recently launched a new campaign, Turn Off The Plastic Tap. Jejune got the opportunity to converse with Von Wong to learn more about his creative endeavors and mission to make positive impacts unforgettable.

Art, Zissue 37, Editor's PickRachel LaiNovember 2, 2021Art, asian artist, save the planet, recycle, plastic-free, environment, earth, trash, artist, save green spaceComment

Beverley Huynh - Telling Diverse Stories As A Costume Designer

What does it take to create the right aesthetic for super heroes, post-apocalyptical villains, and pop culture icons? As a costume designer for shows like Flash, Arrow, and The 100, Beverley Huynh knows how to make costumes stand out in binge-worthy media. We were excited to speak with Beverley and get her perspective of costume design in relation to representation. Beverly’s main focus is using her her platform to tell her story about needing to have more women of color in entertainment in front of and behind the camera. In all of her career as a costume designer she has always been one of very few minorities in "the room" making decisions, which is where the real power of Hollywood is. Until there are more people of different cultural backgrounds holding power there will always be an uneven balance in the industry, and that is what Beverley is fighting to change. For more on Beverley, please read our exclusive interview below.