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Vishavjit Singh is the cartoonist behind Sikhtoons, and he’s also a Sikh Captain America. Gerrard Lobo is an actor who appeared on Master of None playing the role of Anush.
Here’s an idea / Let’s write poems on hotties / Best calendar ever. Yes, the lauded Haikus calendar is back for a second year, and this time, the haikus are not just with the hotties but on the hotties. Helllllo, Haikus On Hotties.
Saksham Ghai is a model and actor who recently won the 2015 Mr. India Galaxy pageant in Los Angeles. Not only did he win, but he was given additional awards for Most Photogenic Face and the People’s Choice Award. It was the first time in the pageant’s 23-year history that a contestant took home 3 awards.
The up-and-comer has walked the runway for multiple Fashion Weeks, and he says he rarely sees other South Asian American male models. He himself debated going into a field like business, before some girls he met in high school suggested that he should model. Once he started booking gigs, he never looked back.
He recently acted in the short comedy film Indian Caste System, and next summer, he’s headed to Romania to shoot his first Bollywood feature film, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi.
But what will really make your heart melt is a video on his website where Ghai talks about the sacrifices his father made for his family — and why he recently decided to take the earnings he made modeling and surprise his dad with a brand new car for his birthday.
Respect for your hard-working parents? Hot.
What’s it like to be
The year’s hottest man in the
Entire galaxy?
Saksham:
As being a normal guy.
It is just the same
Not a difference.
You also won Most
Photogenic Face. Is that
A skill or good genes?
Saksham:
It’s definitely
Good genes. All the credit goes
To my family.
What is the coolest
Thing you’ve worn while walking the
Fashion Week runway?
Saksham:
I most loved wearing
A classic golden blazer –
UK designer
Top Photo: Rob Timko Photography
Main Photo (Blue Suit): Sean Franzen
Who doesn’t love a hottie who can prepare you a delicious meal? Easy on the eyes and easy on the stomach.
Pham, the winner of 2011 Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef and three-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist, is the owner of the restaurant Forage in Salt Lake City and will soon launch a new restaurant ember + ash. Random trivia: he’s also the consulting chef at Beer Bar, a Salt Lake City bar co-owned by Modern Family’s Ty Burrell, who remembers eating at Forage and called it one of the best meals he’d ever had.
Pham is also a Food Network regular, making appearances on Food Network Star and Extreme Chef. But he might be best known for defeating Bobby Flay on the cooking competition Iron Chef America: Battle Ground Meat. Pham prepared created dishes such as soft-scrambled egg with sausage served inside an egg shell; lamb sausage and a riff on beef borscht; prawns and halibut soaked in hamburger-infused whey; and the surprisingly tasty beef fat ice cream with cherries — just try not to drool thinking about it.
As a master chef,
Tell us the ingredients
That make a hot man.
Viet:
One part passion, one
Part finesse, great sneaker game,
And must add fish sauce!
Hotter: Iron Chef
Win, or your own reflection
In the frying pan?
Viet:
Iron Chef, because
My proud parents were watching
From the stadium.
What would you cook if
Taking on the ultimate
Seduction challenge?
Viet:
Catch fish and rabbit
Roast over fire I make with
Wood I chop myself.
Photo by Cedric Angeles
You may remember him from Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, where he discussed important topics such as spelling bees and Indian Americans on TV on a segment called The KondaBulletin with Hari Kondabolu.
His album Waiting for 2042, which hit number one on the iTunes comedy album chart, is a must-listen, and he’s been on The Late Show with David Letterman and Conan.
He has a Masters in Human Rights from the London School of Economics.
And if you can’t wait for more Hari Kondabolu, he’s currently working on a new album which will be released in 2016, and he will be touring soon if you want to watch him perform live. Check out his website for updated info. Or follow him on Twitter, where he tweets like 10 jokes a minute. It’s insanity.
Speaking of Twitter, he once posted a photo with the caption: “I was at my peak hotness in 2009. RIP PEAK HOTNESS.” Not true, Hari Kondabolu. You’re hotter than ever before.
Did you start stand-up
To show the world you’re more than
Just a sexy rogue?
Hari:
Or does laughter turn
You on. Because laughter turns
Me on hahaha.
Your luscious long locks
Silky, smooth, envied by all.
Trick to soft tresses?
Hari:
Coconut oil, yes
You smell like a macaroon
Sexy macaroon.
What turns you on more?
Clever Twitter digs, jokes with
Subversive punchlines?
Hari:
Or deconstruction?
Deconstruct my body. Start
With my Che T-shirt.
Photo by Katy Porter
Though he may most be known for his hotness, Eugene Lee Yang is an actor and producer for Buzzfeed videos. He is part of The Try Guys, who (like the title implies) try everything. Favorite examples: “The Try Guys Try Labor Pain Simulation,” “The Try Guys Try Magic Mike Stripping,” and “The Try Guys Try Drag for the First Time.”
He makes videos that make Asian Americans laugh and cry. like “Asian Moms and Their Kids Imitate Each Other” and “If Asians Said The Stuff White People Say.”
And he’s also done numerous videos introducing American Buzzfeed readers to K-pop, so for his Haikus with Hotties calendar photo shoot, we decided to transform him into a entire K-pop band. Because what’s better than Eugene Lee Yang? 5 Eugene Lee Yangs. All singing and dancing their hearts out.
A collaboration with Buzzfeed Video (with style by Sarah Kinsumba, hair/wigs by Karen Park, and makeup by Jessica Chu), the music video can be seen below: “1 Man Transformed Into A K-Pop Group.”
A full explanation of K-pop archetypes + access to before/after transformations + gifs can be found in the Buzzfeed post.
If Eugene is cloned
To create a K-pop band,
What’s each member like?
Ko-gi (Visual):
“What’s your greatest fear?”
Eugene replied, “More of me.”
So we tortured him.
Du-bu (Maknae):
Which member would you
Netflix and chill with – Eugene
Said, “Ew none gross blegh!”
Kim-chi (Leader):
People sometimes claim
K-pop members look alike –
This isn’t helping.
Bop (Rapper):
Eugene’s mom saw this
And said, “Too skinny, weird hair,
Why you wear makeup?”
Jji-gae (Dancer):
Wanna play a game?
Which Eugene’s the evil twin?
Answer: all of them.
K-pop Photo by Craig Stubing, Unwrittenfilms.com.
Top Photo by Macey J. Foronda
Eugene Lee Yang K-pop fashion credits:
Main Vocalist
1st Look – Music video
Blazer GGIO 2 www.ggio2.com
Tank top LE BEAU www.lebeau.co
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Earring ZELLE COUTURE www.zellhaus.com
Shoes COLE HAAN at OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
2nd Look – Video white background
Blazer GV www.gvclothingco.com
Shirt AKA CLOTHING www.thisaka.com
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes COLE HAAN AT OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
Maknae
1st Look – Music video
Sweater AZUL BY MOUSSY www.azul-by-moussy.com
Shirt AKA CLOTHING www.thisaka.com
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes SCHOLL at OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
2nd Look – Video white background
Sweater off white AZUL BY MOUSSY www.azul-by-moussy.com
Shirt AKA CLOTHING www.thisaka.com
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes SCHOLL at OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
B-boy Dancer
1st Look – Music video
Sleeveless top MATIERE www.matiere.com
Chains Stylist’s own
Cap LEEF PARIS www.leef-paris.com/en/
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
2nd Look – Video white background
Tank top A.THING.THING. www.thingthing.co.nz
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
Visual
1st Look – Music video
Leather Jacket COCKPIT
Shirt AKA CLOTHING www.thisaka.com
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes JEFFREY TYLER at OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
2nd Look – Video white background
Bomber jacket AZUL BY MOUSSY
Shirt KENNINGTON
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes JEFFREY TYLER at OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
High fashion Dancer
1st Look – Music video
Coat A THING THING www.thingthing.co.nz
Faux Fur Stylist’s own
Printed Shirt AKA CLOTHING www.thisaka.com
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes JEFFREY TYLER at OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
Hat ASOS www.asos.com
2nd Look – Video white background
Coat CONTROL SECTOR www.control-sector.myshopify.com
Shirt AKA CLOTHING www.thisaka.com
Skinny Jeans JOE’S JEANS www.joesjeans.com
Shoes JEFFREY TYLER at OFF BROADWAY SHOES www.offbroadwayshoes.com
Hat ASOS www.asos.com
For those of you who appreciate hot Asian men, Daniel Henney needs no introduction. When he debuted in the Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon in 2005, he became an instant star. Since then, he’s acted in films such as My Father, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Shanghai Calling, and Big Hero 6. In 2016, he can be seen in the American television show Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
But let’s talk about Mango.
Mango is a golden retriever that often steals the spotlight from her famous owner, even when he is wearing white polo shirts that showcase his “luxury brand body,” like the Korean websites like to say.
She has modeled for Elle Korea and GQ Korea. And she was both fashionable and supportive when Daniel dumped ice water on himself for charity in 2014.
If you want to see more photos of Mango (with Daniel), check out Henney’s Instagram.
If you’d rather see more photos of Daniel, check out this recent “Oh No They Didn’t” blog post titled “Daniel Henney looking all kinds of fine for Arena Magazine.”
Mango and Daniel pen deeply personal haikus below, in the most romantic of all the 2016 Haikus with Hotties Calendar exchanges.
Mango:
My dearest Daniel
Do you recall how we first
Met and fell in love?
Daniel:
Winter in Seoul years ago . . .
This girl needs a home
Then our life began.
Mango:
You weren’t yet a star
What did I teach you about
Acting and hotness?
Daniel:
Act like you don’t care
Hotness comes second to food
Eyes down, nose up, food.
Mango:
Will you thank me when
You win an Oscar playing
A sad, ugly man?
Daniel:
On the walks we take,
I find my inspiration.
Thank you, my sweet girl.
Who’s that hottie on the cover of our calendar? It’s Shannon Kook, the South African-born, Canada-raised hottie Shannon Kook, which you may recognize from the popular television series, Degrassi: The Next Generation. From 2010-11, he played Zane Park, the cute, openly gay jock with the wild, spiky hair.
The way he made viewers feel can only be properly expressed through a fan video:
He also plays Drew in the hit supernatural thriller The Conjuring, directed by James Wan, Trey in Dark Places, and Theo on the web series Carmilla. He’s currently shooting The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist, scheduled for a Summer 2016 release.
What’s it like to be
The very first Haikus with
Hotties cover boy?
Shannon:
If you can guess what
I’m thinking on that cover –
That would sum it up.
Is it offensive
To stare a little too long
At your six-pack abs?
Shannon:
I’m sprawled across a chaise lounge –
Stare till it feels wrong.
“Wrong” is our theme song.
What did you learn from
Your research? Does sex appeal
Affect poetry?
Shannon:
Your beauty lies not
In the reflection of eyes
But the voice inside.
Photo by Lane Dorsey
For more info, check out his interview with Audrey Magazine online!
How often is it that two brothers are so equally hot that — even though individually, they reach a heart-pumpingly dangerous temperature that threatens to scorch your eyeballs — together, they achieve a state of thermal equilibrium that magically allows you to see past the model good looks and discover the most down-to-earth, fun-loving jokesters you’ll ever meet?
I don’t know, but when you find this endangered species of hotness — as we did with actor-stuntman Yoshi Sudarso, who played Koda in Power Rangers Dino Charge (above left), and actor Peter Adrian Sudarso, who together film everything from backflip tutorials to mockumentaries to comedic videos involving whipped cream on their YouTube channel, Apartment 210 — you politely ask them if they will emerge out of the ocean, Daniel Craig-style, wearing kiddie floaties. And collaborate on some haikus.
Sudarso haikus
Who counts syllables, and is
shirtlessness required?
Yoshi and Peter:
Who said anything
About counting syllables?
We’re no good at math!!
Life-saving floaties:
The new essential fashion
men’s accessory?
Yoshi and Peter:
To be dead honest
We have no real good answer
They were cute and fun!
Does good emoting
come from the heart, the soul or
those hot pink swim trunks?
Yoshi and Peter:
It comes from long hours
Spent on selfies on our phones
But the trunks did help!
This article was originally published in the Fall 2015 issue of Audrey Magazine.
Photos by Craig Stubing, Unwrittenfilms.com
The latest hottie in our insightfully mediocre poetry series knows how to rock the white button-down shirt, skinny tie and khakis. It’s the dreamy, bespectacled Chris Dinh, who has captured hearts of YouTube fans everywhere as a writer and actor for the popular Asian American channel Wong Fu Productions.
The latest hottie in our insightfully mediocre poetry series is Randall Park, an actor who’s been working in the entertainment industry for over two decades. You might recognize him as Lt. Danny Chung in Veep, “Asian Jim” in The Office, father Martin Fukanaga in Nickelodeon’s Supah Ninjas or Chris Park, a “Dog Daycare Owner” in the Chase Ink business card commercials.
Our latest Haikus with Hotties poet is the Taiwanese American piano prodigy turned American Ninja Warrior competitor Yen Chen. He’s part of an esteemed group of athletes on the hit NBC obstacle course competition show, based on the Japanese sports entertainment television special Sasuke.
We’re excited for our latest haiku exchange with Filipino American hottie Dante Basco, not only because we know him from characters including Rufio from Hook, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ben Mercado from The Debut, breakdancer Ramos in Take the Lead, “Dante Basco” in Hang Loose with KevJumba, and an evil version of himself in the upcoming web series Awesome Asian Bad Guys (AABG) — which you can read more about it here — but also because it’s the first time we’ve had a real poet for Haikus With Hotties.
After last issue’s inaugural haiku exchange with our ultimate Smoking Hot Asian Guy (SHAG) Godfrey Gao, who could possibly follow but über-popular YouTube star, filmmaker and former competitive gamer Freddie Wong, otherwise known as FreddieW?
In our very first haiku exchange, model and actor Godfrey Gao (The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones) gamely responds to our lyrical inquiries through Japanese haiku.
In Asian TV dramas, the male protagonist is often a young, arrogant, rich kid who’s about to have his world turned upside down by the wholesome, down-to-earth female who finally makes him want to be a better person. To set this up, there’s often an obligatory scene where a crowd of girls lunges themselves at the leading man, causing your average feminist viewer to roll her eyes.
But when Godfrey Gao, dressed in an all-white suit, makes girls’ hearts go aflutter in the first episode of the 2010 Taiwanese drama Volleyball Lover, it seems quite realistic. Or perhaps, your eyes are too stunned to roll.
Last year, a genius idea was formed in Haikus With Hotties, where a group of gorgeous Asian-American men came together to have their photos taken and answer questions with haikus. This year, they’re taking it even further–Haikus With Hotties is now Haikus On Hotties, and sees the guys wearing their poetry on their bodies. Luckily for us, that usually involves them taking clothes off.
You need to click on this post. There is a video with impressive slow-motion effects.
Who: Jake Choi
Month: December 2017
Hottie Bio: Actor Jake Choi (Front Cover, Younger) has always been outspoken about the need for diversity in Hollywood, and he’s determined to combat stereotypes about Asian American men, one half-naked photo at a time. Also yes, this naughty elf stole the cookies from Santa and no, he doesn’t feel bad about it.
More: Jake Choi is a Korean American actor, born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, New York. He’s been acting and modeling around the country since 2011, working in various plays, TV shows, feature films, and national commercials.
Salon interview: “Asian men in media are so desexualized”: Rising star Jake Choi fights the Hollywood odds against Asian American actors”
Twitter @thejakechoi, Instagram @thejakechoi
Photo: Craig Stubing
Who: Gerrard Lobo
Month: November 2017
Hottie Bio: Gerrard Lobo is most known for his role as Anush in Master of None, where he stole many scenes with his shiny muscles and comic timing. He’s also starred as Romeo off-Broadway, and what’s hotter than a dreamy Romeo who invites you on a romantic getaway to “brown town?”
More: Brown Girl Magazine “‘Master of None’ Gerrard Lobo Speaks on His Experience of Acting From a South Asian Perspective”
Twitter @GerrardALobo, Instagram @gerrardalobo
Photo: An Rong Xu
Who: Sean Miura
Month: October 2017
Hottie Bio: Sean Miura makes hearts go aflutter as the producer of Los Angeles’ legendary Asian American open mic night, Tuesday Night Cafe. Though he is a bonefide pageant winner (Mr. Hyphen 2013), he’s most irresistable when he seduces with his words on his blog Down Like JTown.
Twitter @seanmiura, Instagram @seanmiura
Photo: Leo Wu
“Haikus With Hotties,” the magazine feature that became a calendar in 2016 is expected to make a return next year featuring more haikus, more hotties, and a twist, according to its creator.
Who: Vishavjit Singh
Month: September 2017
Hottie Bio: Vishavjit Singh may smolder as his alter ego Captain Sikh America, inspiring ordinary citizens to fight intolerance with compassion, but his “Clark Kent” is just as magnetic: he’s the handsome cartoonist behind the popular comic series, Sikhtoons.
More:
Vishavjit (Vish-va-jeet) Singh is a New York City based cartoonist, writer, performance artist and creator of www.Sikhtoons.com who was born in the nation’s capital. He began cartooning during the hate/bias crime-wave following the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks. In the midst of being targeted with fear and intolerance from fellow Americans, Vishavjit armed with turban, beard and humor creates art to build bridges connecting not just with those who empathize with his plight, but also those who judge him based on his countenance & perceived immigrant roots. His work is guided with the deep belief in the inter-connectedness of our stories.
Vishavjit has traveled across the U.S. as a speaker, hosting pr12esentations and workshops at universities, schools, libraries, museums, and film festivals to challenge stereotypes and expound the core virtues of our nation’s diversity. In order to challenge what it means to be ‘American,’ he has donned the uniform of quintessential American superhero, Captain America, on the streets of many American cities. He was also the subject of a widely acclaimed short film, ‘Red, White & Beard,’ which launched online in early 2015. He has been featured in Facebook and AdCouncil campaigns. His message and work has been covered by a number of news outlets, including the New York Times, NPR, BBC, The Atlantic Monthly, Huffington Post, The Guardian and Time Magazine.
Twitter @sikhtoons, Instagram @sikhtoons
Photo: An Rong Xu
Who: Joseph Vincent
Month: August 2017
Hottie Bio: Joseph Vincent is the always adorable singer/songwriter that continuously makes you believe in love again. He may or may not have been wearing pants when he recorded his latest EP, Here’s 2 You… just for you.
More:
Joseph Vincent is an acoustic singer-songwriter who was born and raised in heart of the San Fernando Valley in Southern CA. Growing up Joseph’s ear for music extended to all genres, from hip-hop to pop to rock to folk. Picking up his first guitar at the age of 15, Joseph started playing covers of two of his main musical influences (Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz) which sparked his passion and interest for creating his own music. As an early adopter of new media, Joseph’s YouTube channel has received over 556,000 subscribers with over 100 million video views. In 2009. Joseph went on to enter Kababayan Superstar, a contest produced by Southern California’s local Filipino news station Kababayan LA-18, and took the top prize. After launching an online voting contest, Australia-based Star Central Magazine named Joseph “Youtube Artist of the Year 2009” In April 2010, Joseph was featured on NBC’s The Ellen Degeneres Show for their “Wonderful Web of Wonderment” segment, where he performed his acoustic cover of Iyaz’s “Replay.” Just weeks later, he was invited back as the featured artist to perform Mike Posner’s “Cooler Than Me” for Ellen and her nationwide audience. In 2012 Joseph released his debut album, Blue Skies, which contains 11 songs all written and composed by Joseph. He has put out several singles since then (such as “All I Wanted”, “Stardust”, & “Our First Song) and is currently working on his follow up EP “Here’s 2 You” which will be released later this year.
Twitter @Josephvincent12, Instagram @josephvincent, YouTube Joseph Vincent
Photo: Melly Lee
Who: Michael Bow and Dan Matthews
Month: July 2017
Hottie Bio: Wouldn’t those Carl’s Jr. commercials be so much hotter if they starred Michael Bow and Dan Matthews? Mike is known to Wong Fu fans as “the hot best friend,” while rapper Dan Matthews (danAKAdan) routinely works crowds into a frenzy, while he’s not filming documentaries about his experience as a Korean American adoptee. Together, they are the faces of ISAtv.
More:
Michael Bow is an actor, known for The Maze Runner, Comfort and Yellow Fever 2 . He is a host at ISAtv and produces videos on his YouTube channel, MikeBowShow. He starred in the Wong Fu Production video “My Best Friend Is Hot,” which has garnered over 1 million views.
Twitter @mikebowshow, Instagram @mikebowshow
DANakaDAN is an alternative hip hop artist based in Los Angeles, CA. He recently produced a documentary series detailing his very personal journey with meeting his biological family for the first time, including an identical twin brother he never knew about (who also raps). The documentary was produced alongside Mayrok Media+Arriang TV and has been released via ISAtv, Hulu, and Drama Fever. Dan also released a companion full length album, “Stuntman,” which chronicles his experience with adoption, addiction, self, and identity. It features appearances by Kero One, Clara C, David Choi, AJ Rafael, Priska, Paul Dateh, Paul Kim, and Travis Graham. He currently works as the Director of Productions at International Secret Agents, an Asian American media network founded by Far East Movement and Wong Fu Productions.
Twitter @DANakaDAN, Instagram @DANakaDAN
Photo: Craig Stubing
Guest post by Ada Tseng
Who: Justin Kim
Month: June 2017
Hottie Bio: This hottie made headlines as the first Asian American male contestant on America’s Next Top Model. He hopes to change the way Asian American men are perceived in the media, but first, he needs help drying all the rainwater off his body. Volunteers?
More: NBC: “Justin Kim Goes From Small Town, USA to ‘America’s Next Top Model”
Twitter: @Seoulful_J, Instagram @justindkim
Photo: William Mathieu
Who: Jose Antonio Vargas
Month: May 2017
Hottie Bio: A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, activist, and co-founder of Define American, Jose Antonio Vargas embodies hotness to the core, getting down and dirty as he shifts the conversation about immigrants in America.
More:
Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, filmmaker, and media entrepreneur whose work centers on the changing American identity. He is the founder and CEO of Define American, a non-profit media and culture organization that seeks to elevate the conversation around immigration and citizenship in America; and the founder of #EmergingUS, a media start-up that lives at the intersection of race, immigration, and identity in a multicultural America. #EmergingUS is the first-ever media property owned by an undocumented immigrant.
In June 2011, the New York Times Magazine published a groundbreaking essay he wrote in which he revealed and chronicled his life in America as an undocumented immigrant. A year later, he appeared on the cover of TIME magazine worldwide with fellow undocumented immigrants as part of a follow-up cover story he wrote. He then produced and directed Documented, a documentary feature film on his undocumented experience. It world premiered at the AFI Docs film festival in Washington, D.C. in 2013, was released theatrically and broadcast on CNN in 2014, and received a 2015 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary. Documented is now available on various digital platforms.
In July 2015, MTV aired, as part of its “Look Different” campaign, White People, an Emmy-nominated television special he produced and directed on what it means to be young and white in contemporary America.
The media’s evolution and the rise of the digital era has guided his career. He has written for daily newspapers (Philadelphia Daily News, San Francisco Chronicle) and national magazines (Rolling Stone, The New Yorker), and was a senior contributing editor at the Huffington Post, where he launched the Technology and College sections. Prior to that, he covered tech and video game culture, HIV/AIDS in the nation’s capital, and the 2008 presidential campaign for the Washington Post, and was part of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize for covering the Virginia Tech massacre. In 2007, Politico named him one of 50 Politicos to Watch. His 2006 series on HIV/AIDS in Washington, D.C. inspired a documentary feature film, The Other City, which he co-produced and wrote. It world premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and aired on Showtime. He has appeared on an array of television programs, including: Good Morning America, The O’Reilly Factor, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Colbert Report, Univision’s Aqui y Ahora, and The Filipino Channel’s Balitang America.
Among other accolades he has received are: a Public Service Award from the National Council of La Raza, the country’s largest Latino advocacy organization; the Salem Award from the Salem Award Foundation, which draws upon the lessons of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692; the Freedom to Write Award from PEN Center USA; and an honorary Doctor of Letters from Colby College.
He is a very proud graduate of San Francisco State University (‘04), where he was named Alumnus of the Year in 2012, and Mountain View High School (‘00).
He lives in Los Angeles, California.
Twitter @joseiswriting, Instagram @joseiswriting
Who: Yoshi and Peter Sudarso
Month: April 2017
Hottie Bio: What can we say about the Sudarso brothers that isn’t already apparent by the fact that they’ve clearly won the genetic lottery? The Power Rangers Blue Ninja – the role which Yoshi handed over to Peter this year – has never been so crush-worthy.
More:
Actor/Stuntman/Model Yoshua “Yoshi” Sudarso is a Chinese American born in Indonesia and moved to Los Angeles at the age of ten. He and his brother, Actor/Model Peter Adrian Sudarso, developed a fan base through social media by creating YouTube videos, doing fashion blogging, and cosplay. He has done commercial work for Samsung, Sony; and stunt work for multiple films including The Maze Runner, Dark Rising, Masterless, etc. Having discovered his passion for martial arts watching Power Rangers and Jackie Chan movies, his starring role in Power Rangers Dino Charge as the blue ranger “Koda” is a perfect addition to his acting resume.
Twitter @yoshi_sudarso, Instagram @yoshi_sudarso
Peter Adrian Sudarso Preston on PRNS2017 Christian aspiring actor/hobbyist. 1/2 of Sudarso Blue 1/6 of Apt. 210 YouTube channel
Twitter @PeterSAdrian, Instagram @petersadrian
Photo: Melly Lee
Who: Sean Rameswaram
Month: March 2017
Hottie Bio: This devastatingly charming public radio personality was the host of the popular pop culture podcast, sideshow, and nowadays, he contributes his hotness to Radiolab’s More Perfect.
More: Sean has made radio for the CBC, NPR, and WNYC, which he joined as a Studio 360 producer in 2012. He created, produced, and hosted Studio 360‘s sideshow podcast, which was widely regarded as one of the most devastatingly charming popular culture programs in the history of audio. Sean continues to cover culture at WNYC while also reporting for More Perfect, Radiolab‘s new podcast about the Supreme Court of the United States.
Twitter @rameswaram, Instagram @rameswaram
Listen:
More Perfect, Episode “Object Anyway”
sideshow: Episode “#26: Kickstarting The Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan 1994 Museum”
sideshow: Episode “Giving the Perfect GIF”
Photo: An Rong Xu
Who: Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco
Month: February 2017
Hottie Bio: These dapper gentleman, known as the National Film Society, star in YouTube videos where they stare into the camera and try not to blind you with their beauty. They also created the super sexy web series, Awesome Asian Bad Guys.
More: The National Film Society is a digital movie studio co-founded by filmmakers Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco, who decided to take their talents to YouTube. With a uniquely brainy and offbeat style, NFS produces original content, collaborates with talented creators and explores the world of pop culture. Part of PBS Digital Studios. NFS raised over $54,000 on Kickstarter for their feature film Awesome Asian Bad Guys, an action-comedy about a motley crew of washed up Asian bad guy actors that joins forces to take down Los Angeles’ most nefarious mob boss. It celebrates the Asian villains Patrick and Stephen grew up watching on TV and in movies and is available to watch here.
National Film Society: Twitter @NatFilmSociety, Instagram @NationalFilmSociety
Awesome Asian Bad Guys: Twitter @AwesomeBadGuys
Patrick Epino: Twitter @PatrickEpino, Instagram @patrickepino
Stephen Dypiangco: Twitter @dypiangco, Instagram @dypiangco
Photo: Craig Stubing
Who: Ronnie Woo
Month: January 2017
Hottie Bio: This delicious chef is most known for hosting LOGO’s cooking show Food to Get You Laid, but he’s also one of the experts on Home Made Simple on the OWN Network, which means your mother will love him too.
More:
Ronnie Woo is an accomplished professional chef and culinary personality celebrated by his fans and peers alike for his infectious personality, knowledge on dating & relationships, and creative perspective on familiar flavors and dishes encompassing cuisines from around the world.
In 2011, Ronnie completed a culinary program in association with the Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver while simultaneously creating his food blog, The Delicious Cook. Within a handful of months, Ronnie began receiving requests for dinner parties and larger events, and so began his career as a private chef. Ronnie’s unique mix of charm and charisma, professionalism and culinary skill has made him one of the most highly regarded private chefs in Los Angeles.
Ronnie holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as a Masters in Business Administration. His education significantly bolstered his business acumen while also enhancing his ability to connect with others. In addition, Ronnie’s experience as a model for Wilhelmina and Ford provided him an early glimpse into the inner workings of the entertainment industry.
Chef Ronnie has been sponsored by numerous companies, including Fiat, Pompeian, Tobasco, Smithfield, and Chosen Foods, and has helped represent their brands across multiple media outlets. Moreover, Ronnie has traveled extensively around the world acquiring new techniques and recipe ideas from both his personal experiences and the chefs with whom he’s worked. These experiences continue to influence his culinary creations and cooking style on a daily basis
Ronnie’s culinary creativity and intense knowledge of food, relationships, pop culture, and entertainment make him a valuable asset to the world of culinary entertainment and food presenters. Ronnie has an ever-growing list of high-profile clients, which includes Jessica Alba, Charlie Sheen, Kathy Griffin, Holly Robinson Peete, Dita Von Teese, Nancy O’Dell, Vanna White, and Gilles Marini. His brand new cooking & relationship show, Food To Get You Laid, just finished airing it’s first season on the LOGO Network. In addition, he has made other appearances on numerous shows, including FABLife, Home & Family, and Home Made Simple on the OWN Network and is a regular contributor to Good Day LA. Ronnie was also chosen to be the featured chef in Sony’s The Talented Project. He has appeared in US Weekly, BELLO Magazine, Angeleno Magazine and LA Weekly, along with countless online publications as well, including HuffingtonPost.com & Out.com.
Not only is Ronnie a talented chef with a unique educational background, his made-for-TV looks and big personality make him a valuable asset to media outlets and a wide array of brands. Ronnie’s modern take on food coupled with his background in psychology has helped him capture audiences from all demographics around the world, as evidenced by his ever-growing followers across all social media channels.
Twitter @ronniecwoo, Instagram @ronniecwoo
Photo: Rikki Ronae
Who: Kenta Seki
Cover 2017
Hottie Bio: Kenta Seki is a celebrity trainer (Just Jillian, FitFusion) most known for his work with fitness icon Jillian Michaels. He was the winner of an online vote to determine whom fans most wanted to see on the cover of their 2017 Haikus On Hotties calendar. It’s important to note that Kenta’s hotness goes well beyond his muscles, which he often puts on generous display. He’s all about motivating people to live a happier and healthier life.
More: Kenta Seki is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor based out of his hometown of Los Angeles. His whole life pretty much involves health & fitness, and always has since he first discovered it when he was a kid. His first love was Yoga- he got into it when he was around 9 years old. One of his first jobs was a Yoga instructor, he became a personal trainer, then got into fitness modeling and was fortunate enough to book all kinds of fun jobs with some of the biggest companies in the industry. But he’s most proud of his work with fitness icon Jillian Michaels, who he’s proudly been working with for over 6 years.
Twitter @kentaseki, Instagram @kentaseki, Youtube FitFusion videos
Photo: Jeffrey Andre
But to many, Tseng is known as the woman behind the infamous Haikus With Hotties series, a silly-but-clever idea that featured attractive Asian-American male stars and their handwritten haikus among the pages of Audrey Magazine; it gained so much popularity it was turned into a smokin’-hot calendar, à la Sports Illustrated.
Now, if the producer of Asian-America’s pre-eminent news and pop culture site deems something #veryimportant, I of course have to click to find out more. Also — OK, fine — maybe it had something to do with the picture attached to the tweet: two shirtless men lounging at the beach with neon floaties hugging their tanned, chiseled abs.
We’re talking to people who refuse to live within a stereotype: the creator of a calendar featuring hot Asian men; a researcher who’s attempting to prove the Asian model minority stereotype holds other minorities down; Google’s “chief education evangelist,” who still considers himself an outsider and questions things like dress codes; and an MIT professor who teaches people they need to change their idea of what a professor looks like.
In 2015, one woman made it her mission to spread Asian hotness around the world in a project called Haikus with Hotties – where the author “asks hot Asian men to exchange poetry.”
The 2016 Haikus With Hotties calendar is the perfect gift for your best friend who gets that daze in her eyes whenever Daniel Henney is mentioned; your smart cousin who wishes you read real poetry but loves you for the pop culture junkie you are; your co-worker who needs a killer white elephant gift to match the Justin Bieber doll he brought to the office party last year; or anyone with eyes who thinks it’s pretty hot when attractive Asian men don’t take themselves too seriously.
I wasn’t trying to make a statement, but I do think that the reason people like it is because there aren’t enough well-rounded portrayals of hot Asian men in mainstream media and everyone is hungry for more.
This week, Marvin and Minji are joined on the KollabCast by seasoned journalists Ada Tseng and Reera Yoo. Together they delve into the origin story of Ada’s Haiku for Hotties Kickstarter and discuss what makes an Asian Hottie, as well as Asians in showbusiness, how millenials get their news, and pop culture gaps!
A Very Important research project featuring hot Asian guys and poetry.