Voxcali

Asian-interest sororities are creating spaces where culture, identity, leadership and sisterhood can co-exist with Greek life.

These sororities are not just about big letters and endless traditions. They are also built on representation and Asian identity with goals of shaping sisterhood around the globe.

First up is the only international Asian-interest sorority, alpha Kappa Delta Phi.

Founded in 1990 at Berkeley, aKDPhi has established 67 chapters across the United States and Canada. The fourteen founding sisters wanted to give Asian American women the opportunity to be a part of Greek Life and at the same time form a legacy of love, friendship, and sisterhood that would last forever. aKDPhi is known to give women a place to find cultural identity and mentorship on college campuses, a place where Asian representation in the Greek system was rare.

For the last 25 years, aKDPhi has been spreading awareness and raising over $1.1million towards the fight against breast cancer as their national philanthropy. Through charity runs and service events, aKDPhi has become one of the most recognizable collegiate forces in women’s health advocacy.

Next, we have the oldest Asian-American sorority in the United States, Chi Alpha Delta.

After fourteen Japanese-American students were rejected from Panhellenic Greek sorority at UCLA, they decided to form their own, not only for Japanese women, but women of all Asian descent. In 1929, Chi Alpha Delta was officially recognized by the university and the founding sisters made sure that their purpose would never be forgotten.

Throughout the year, members of Chi Alpha Delta celebrate their identity with cultural traditions, cooking various foods, and hosting fashion shows in order to recruit sisters. Their national philanthropy is with the Center for Pacific Asian Family, a women’s shelter that aids those who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence.

And now, Kappa Phi Gamma, the very first South Asian-interest sorority.

With principal pillars of Character, Culture, and Sisterhood, Kappa Phi Gamma was founded in 1998 at the University of Texas at Austin. The 27 founding sisters built a sisterhood that has now charted 20 chapters with over 850 members around the nation who are dedicated to reaching high to achieve their goals.

KPhiG’s philanthropy is cancer awareness and research and they are known for their iconic C.A.R.E Week, a week full of fun events like volleyball tournaments and a Mr. C.A.R.E Pageant. Not only does Kappa Phi Gamma bridge cultures, it also forms confidence, unity, and friendships that extend past college campuses.

The third-year wide receiver Puka Nacua is seeking another Pro Bowl nod, after a record-setting rookie campaign and an impressive, though abbreviated second season.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is again proving to be one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons in his third NFL season.

Eleven weeks in he ranks third in league with 73 receptions and 850 receiving yards, while missing one game due to injury.  Nacua ranks second in yards per game with 94.4.

His best game this season was in a win versus the Colts where he racked up 170 receiving yards and a touchdown.  The Rams currently lead the NFC with 8 wins – tied with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Nacua’s debut in 2023 set rookie records for receiving yards in a season with 1,486 and 105 receptions.  He even set a record for the most rookie receptions in one game with 15.  His standout season earned him a Pro Bowl nod and Second-Team All-Pro honors.  Albeit in a wild card loss, he also set a single-game playoff receiving yards record for a rookie with 181.

During the 2024 training camp Nacua suffered a right knee injury that cost him 6 games early in the season.  He still managed to average 90 receiving yards per game, third best in the league.

The Rams’ fifth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft is currently playing on a four-year rookie contract worth $4.08 million.

Nacua began his college career at Washington.  He saw game action as a freshman but played in only 11 totals games in his first two seasons due to a broken foot and the pandemic.  To be closer to family he transferred to BYU for his final two seasons where he contributed 1,430 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.

The 24-year-old is a Provo, Utah native of Polynesian heritage.  His nickname “Puka” is Samoan for “fat and chubby,” a name earned in infancy.  All four of his brothers also played college football at BYU.

Since “Dat $tick” Indonesian rapper Rich Brian has released three studio albums with major chart hits like “edamame” and “Midsummer Madness.”

Indonesian rapper Rich Brian achieved international success in 2016 with his debut single, “Dat $tick.”  Initially released through Soundcloud, the trap hit has accumulated over 200 million views each on YouTube and Spotify and has been certified Gold.  It went viral in part due to a reaction video featuring rappers Desiigner, 21 Savage, and Ghostface Killah – who ended up being featured on the remix. 

The hit was the catalyst for Rich Brian’s signing with 88rising, a collective and label dedicated to expanding the reach of Asian artists globally.  He has released three studio albums with the label.  His 2018 debut album Amen peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard 200 chart, followed by 2019’s The Sailor, featuring the feel-good summer anthem “100 Degrees.”

88rising’s music collective containing Rich Brian released “Midsummer Madness” in 2018 which has now been streamed over 338 million times on Spotify.

With over 621 million streams Rich Brian’s biggest hit came as a feature on bbno$’s “edamame” released in 2021.  The track has been featured in Super Bowl ads and countless movies and TV shows including The Summer I Turned Pretty.

The same year Rich Brian collaborated with DJ Snake and Rick Ross on “Run It” which gained popularity through use on ESPN and on the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings soundtrack.

Rich Brian’s third studio album, Where Is My Head?, was released on August 15, 2025 with more introspective singles including “Little Ray Of Light” and “Ma.”

He was cast in the 2023 fictional drama Jamojaya about a young Indonesian rapper and credited as Brian Imanuel.   The 26-year-old has nearly 4 million Spotify monthly listeners.

The Jakarta native relocated to the US in 2017 and now resides in Los Angeles.

Yuki Tsunoda is looking forward to a breakout season as one of F1’s most exciting underdogs. 

Yuki Tsunoda is the 5’3” Formula 1 speedracer bringing his skill from Japan right to the F1 racetracks.

Born in 2000 in Kanagawa, Japan, Tsunoda was raised to become a star at the steering wheel. His father was a mechanic and had a passion for the karting track, so he introduced Yuki to racing before he could even reach the gas pedal.

At the age of 10, Tsunoda began his professional career, joining the JAF Junior Karting Championship and later moving on to the regional class, then national class. He made his mark in the karting scene with his spectacular racecraft.

In 2016 Tsunoda entered the JAF F4 Championship where he finished third overall, which was highly impressive for a 16 year old. His breakout year was in 2018 when he began racing with Honda’s Formula Dream Project. Tsunoda became the F4 Japanese Champion where he secured 7 wins, proving himself to be one of Japan’s most promising young drivers.

His next big challenge was FIA Formula 2, where he entered as a rookie on the Red Bull junior team and shocked the world with 3 race wins, finishing third in the championship. He received the title of Rookie of the Year, making him one of the most exciting drivers Red Bull has scouted.

That same year, Yuki Tsunoda’s dream became reality as he was promoted to Formula 1 with Italian team, Scuderia AlphaTauri. He was the first Japanese driver to compete in F1 in 7 years and although his best result was a fourth place finish, Tsunoda has become a popular underdog.

He is currently gearing up to hit the track again November 22 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix where he will be competing in practice, qualifying, and the lead-up to Sunday’s big race. The young powerhouse has made his way to the iconic Las Vegas Strip and he is making it known that he’s only getting started.

A career-high 25-point game helped Jinwoo Kim lead the Mids to the Patriot League title game in his sophomore year.

Navy Midshipman junior shooting guard Jinwoo Kim has become one of the Patriot League’s most dynamic offensive weapons after a hot start to his third collegiate season.

Four games into the 2025-26 season Kim leads the Midshipmen in scoring with 15.5 points per game.  He posted a career-high 25 points, highlighted by five three-pointers, in a tough road loss at Penn State.  Kim’s strong play in the opening week of the season garnered a Patriot League Honorable Mention nod. 

Facing off against a national powerhouse in number 18 North Carolina, Kim registered 14 points and 6 rebounds in a hard-fought road battle.  Through 5 games the Mids are 2 and 3.

His freshman campaign consisted of only five games due to a season-ending knee injury.  In his second year Kim became a solid contributor, playing all 34 games and averaging 6.8 points in 26 minutes.  His impact grew down the stretch as the Midshipmen entered the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 5 seed.  Navy stunned top-ranked Bucknell to reach the title game, with Kim posting 13 points in the upset victory.

The 6’3” Korean American is a political science major at the Naval Academy.  Upon graduation, midshipmen commission as a Navy Ensign or Marine Corps Second Lieutenant, requiring a minimum of five years active duty.

A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Kim set his high school’s all-time career assists record and finished second on the program’s scoring list.

Athleticism runs deep in the Kim family.  Jinwoo’s sister Hope completed her sophomore soccer season with Saint Louis University, scoring 4 goals in each of her two years. His cousin Justin Kim is a senior pitcher for Princeton who earned Ivy All-Tournament Team honors during his freshman campaign.

Michael Terrasi is the brewmaster at Game Changer Brewhouse who's blending beer craftsmanship, sports culture, and his own Japanese heritage into every pour.

Kelli Luu (00:00)

Michael Terrasi (00:21)

Kelli Luu (00:22)

Michael Terrasi (00:32)

It really grew when COVID hit and I got laid off from the restaurant job I had. We suddenly had a lot of time on our hands, so we just made a bunch of beer. We gave it to friends and family. We started a brand called Tarzana Brewing Company as our little home brewery just to get the name out there. We were making some crazy, exotic beers, but yeah — that’s where it started.

Kelli Luu (01:27)

Michael Terrasi (01:32)

Kelli Luu (01:58)

Michael Terrasi (02:06)

Kelli Luu (02:38)

Michael Terrasi (02:43)

Kelli Luu (02:47)

Michael Terrasi (02:52)

Kelli Luu (03:09)

Michael Terrasi (03:17)

They knew I was interested in brewing, and after about a year, they moved me into brewing. I spent about a year and a half learning commercial brewing. That’s when I met the owners of Game Changer Brewhouse, and they eventually gave me the opportunity to become the brewmaster here.

It’s given me a lot more freedom — I get to make all the recipes. We’ve gotten to create a lot of interesting beers, which is cool compared to Golden Road where we made the same 10 beers every week.

Kelli Luu (04:51)

Michael Terrasi (05:13)

Kelli Luu (05:49)

Michael Terrasi (06:03)

Kelli Luu (06:34)

Michael Terrasi (06:40)

Kelli Luu (07:02)

Michael Terrasi (07:06)

Something I noticed was that a lot of their beers are lower alcohol, which makes sense because they like to drink more and enjoy it. When I came back, I spoke to the owners and we decided to make two Japanese-style lagers.

One is the Yumi Lager, a low-ABV 4% Japanese lager brewed with toasted rice flakes that give off a sake-like aroma. And next week, we’re making the Ya Lager, a 7% high-ABV Imperial Japanese lager. It’s not traditional, but it blends Japanese beer culture with American craft beer experimentation.

Kelli Luu (08:55)

Michael Terrasi (09:13)

Kelli Luu (09:35)

Michael Terrasi (09:42)

Kelli Luu (10:20)

Michael Terrasi (10:25)

Kelli Luu (11:14)

Michael Terrasi (11:20)

Kelli Luu (11:53)

Michael Terrasi (11:57)

Kelli Luu (12:14)

Michael Terrasi (12:35)

When we came back, we wanted to make something similar. We originally planned a milk chocolate Imperial stout, but since the owners are Middle Eastern, they suggested a Dubai chocolate beer. Dubai chocolate is trending — it’s popular, premium, and fits our elevated sports bar theme. So we decided to try it.

We’re not adding Dubai chocolate bars, but we’re adding pistachios and hazelnut. For the kataifi flavor, the roasted malt and roasted barley give a biscuity, bready flavor similar to it.

Kelli Luu (14:12)

Michael Terrasi (14:32)

We’re also the only brewery in Sherman Oaks making our own beer. And we plan to start distributing soon, which will really help our name grow.

Kelli Luu (15:24)

Michael Terrasi (15:31)

Kelli Luu (16:02)

Michael Terrasi (16:11)

Kelli Luu (16:52)

Michael Terrasi (17:02)

And I’d share the Baja Lager — it’s my favorite and easiest to drink.

Kelli Luu (17:51)

Rose Tico was a springboard that the Vietnamese American gay actress used to execute her spectacular Hollywood star turn.

Kelly Marie Tran has had a busy 2025 with starring roles in the Hulu horror film Control Freak, the dramedy Forge, and a remake of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet.

Promoting the latter LGBTQ film gave Tran a perfect opportunity to come out as a queer person.

Tran’s career continues its steep ascent with leading roles in the upcoming Rock Springs and Kodak SuperXX.

Tran became the first Asian American woman regular in Star Wars films in 2017 with her role as Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.  The two films grossed over $2.4 billion.

Rose Tico’s character also appeared on three animated series produced by Lucasfilm Animation from 2018 to 2022.

Tran’s Star Wars role earned her a spot with co-stars John Boyega and Oscar Isaac on the summer 2017 cover of Vanity Fair, making her the first woman of Asian descent to be featured on its cover.

Tran continued making history by voicing Disney’s first Southeast Asian princess, Raya, in the 2021 animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon.

Tran’s voice roles extend beyond major franchise roles to the 2020 animated film The Croods: A New Age and to 18 episodes as a series regular in the Facebook Watch series Sorry for Your Loss.

Now 36, Tran began her acting career in 2011 after graduating from UCLA with a communications degree.  Her first roles were in short films, television, and CollegeHumor’s web skits.  She was born and raised in San Diego, California to parents who fled Vietnam following the Vietnam War.

Dr. Gabriel Chiu is the Bling Empire star that rose from Song Dynasty bloodline to build a plastic surgery practice trusted by the global elite. 

In Beverly Hills, perfection is sought after and in the beauty industry, clients are going to Gabriel Chiu to reach their goals. He’s known worldwide for his appearances on the Netflix series Bling Empire, but in Los Angeles, he’s a booked and busy celebrity plastic surgeon.

Chiu was born in Hong Kong with an ancestry that traces back to the ancient Song Dynasty. Growing up, his time was spent between Taiwan and the United States. He graduated from Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Immunology, then later attended medical school at Western University of Health Sciences, followed by a surgical residency at Detroit Riverview Hospital where he focused on cosmetic surgery.

He went on to become Chief Resident, General Surgery at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital in Ohio and two years later, he was the Chief Fellow at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

By the time Dr. Chiu made his way to Beverly Hills, his name already had a reputation. Quickly he became Los Angeles’ star surgeon with his exceptional artistry and precision. Chiu and his wife, fashion entrepreneur Christine Chiu, opened Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery in 2007 which has become a clinic that brings in clients from over 40 different countries.

Chiu is an expert in facial rejuvenation, body contouring, breast surgery, and other aesthetic procedures. Over his career he has been recognized as a top doctor in multiple national rankings and many famous clients have described his work as “subtle, natural, and elegant”.

Beyond the operating room, Chiu and his wife have made a name for themselves as philanthropists, making major contributions to children’s hospitals and cultural organizations. During his time on Bling Empire viewers admired Chiu for his grounded, calm demeanor and his devotion to his family, revealing a side of Dr. Chiu that his clients may not see.

Dr. Gabriel Chiu is a prince by ancestry and a powerhouse by skill and he’s one of Los Angeles’ most sought-after surgeons. He didn’t just inherit a throne, he built his own empire that reaches far past Beverly Hills.

Giga AI secured funding to scale its autonomous AI agents that automate customer operations in 99 languages.

Giga AI founders Varun Vummadi and Esha Manideep made a splash in the tech startup world with a $61 million Series A funding announcement led by Redpoint Ventures on November 5th which already garnered more than 6 million views on X.

Giga’s platform automates customer operations by creating AI agents that can reason, act, and resolve issues autonomously.  The agents’ responses are fully customizable with training materials, pricing structures, and .json workflows in 99 languages. 

The San Francisco-based startup wows prospective clients with lightning-quick deployments under 2 weeks.  Giga’s workflows also fine tune client processes for a target deflection rate of 98%, saving clients the high cost of human interactions.

Among the startup’s major clients is food delivery service DoorDash.

After launching in May 2023 Giga raised $3.6 million in seed funding led by Nexus Venture Partners and Y Combinator.   In 2024 Giga AI’s innovative technology and rapid execution earned Vummadi and Manideep a spot in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list.

Both founders are 25-year-old graduates of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.  Their fascination for conquering machine learning challenges won out over more secure career paths.    Varun Vummadi turned down a PhD offer from Stanford University and a $525,000 job as a quant trader, while Esha Manideep rejected a $150,000 system engineer role at a prestigious Indian High-Frequency Trading firm. 

Now they’re trying to fill 17 positions.  Given today’s tight market for AI talent, Giga AI is offering $10,000 referral fees for each engineering hire.

Take a look at some of beauty’s most high-tech devices that are transforming self-care.

As beauty and tech continue to merge faster than ever, new devices are being introduced into our everyday routines, changing the way we approach skin and hair care.

Microdermabrasion used to require a professional and a hefty price, but now it can be done at home in minutes. New microdermabrasion devices can be used to exfoliate dead skin cells and improve skin texture. It also helps reduce hyperpigmentation and gives our skin a brighter finish.

The national average for a microdermabrasion session with a specialist sits around $167-$200 per session, while some at-home devices can be found for just $36 at your local Target or you can find higher quality devices that can be bought for under $300.

New smart hairbrushes are being combined with AI technology that can analyze hair health in real time. Not only can they detect frizz and breakage, some brushes have a built-in massager and can even sync to an app that will offer personalized recommendations for brushing patterns, creating customized hair care routines.

Entry models start at around $50-$100 and more advanced smart brushes can cost up to $300 depending on the features it offers.

Another popular device taking the beauty world by storm are LED masks. Inspired by professional LED treatments, these masks are bringing spa days home with their medical-grade red and blue light therapy. The near infrared lights stimulate collagen production, helping with fine lines and acne scars.

An average LED facial session can cost between $25-$250 and must be conducted regularly to see visible results. If you’re looking to pamper yourself with an LED mask, high-end models can be found in the $250-500 range, while premium versions can cost anywhere over $500.

Staying on the topic of face masks, this face mask maker has been a favorite in the rising beauty tech scene. This device allows you to create your own face mask sheets right at home using the freshest ingredients in your fridge. The machine blends your tailored ingredients, melts them into a gel, and sends it into a mask mold.

The average face mask maker falls around $80-$160. It makes a great investment as it will not just give you an endless face mask supply, but also a personalized spa experience to add to your skincare routine.

These tools are reshaping what self-care could look like for the future generations and as beauty continues to evolve alongside technology, expensive beauty rituals are becoming more accessible and affordable.