Voxcali

Director Jon Chu has Hollywood studios lining up for more big noisy hits like Wicked and Crazy Rich Asians.

In Hollywood nothing talks louder about Jon M. Chu than the $2 billion grossed by the 8 feature films he has directed and produced.  The 45-year-old’s visually inventive style is much acclaimed, true, but the studios that greenlight big-budget films are all about the financially inspiring 4 times ROI Chu has averaged with those big budgets.

Chu’s 2018 Crazy Rich Asians was celebrated as the first major Hollywood production since 1993 to cast East Asian leads in a thoroughly modern story line.  Its box office gross was over $239 million — nearly 8 times budget.  At its heart the film was a classic rom-com, charming audiences and winning a Critics' Choice Award for best comedy.  

Perhaps it goes without saying that Chu is in the process of developing Crazy Rich into a stage musical given his directorial wizardry with Wicked, Chu's 2024 big-screen reimagining of the Wizard of Oz musical fantasy. Wicked enriched Universal Pictures with $755 million in box office, becoming the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time.  The movie also snagged 10 Oscar nominations, including 2 wins.  Chu himself won Best Director at the Critics' Choice Awards.  A sequel, Wicked: For Good, is set for a November release.

Chu made his directorial debut at the tender age of 28 with Step Up 2: The Streets.  With a budget of $17.5 million the Disney brought in over $150 million, or nearly 9 times budget. The hit established Chu’s knack for building box office with music and dance themes.

Other Chu musicals include Jem and the Holograms in 2015 and In the Heights in 2021, and two Justin Bieber live concert films, Never Say Never in 2011 and Believe in 2013. The Chinese American NorCal native earned a BFA in film from USC in 2003.  His student production was the short musical film When the Kids Are Away.  Its energetic numbers and vibrant choreography persuaded the William Morris Agency to sign him.

Kristina Hernandez shares how she built her photography brand By Kristina Studio while accumulating 55 thousand subscribers on her YouTube Channel.

Kelli Luu (00:00.098)

Hey Kelli, how are you?

I'm good, thank you so much for being with us today. I really wanna get into just the whole journey, okay? So let's start with what inspired you to start making beauty content and establishing By Kristina Studio.

Yeah, so I started uploading on YouTube about eight years ago, going on to nine years later on this year. honestly, the thing that started or made me want to do it was I was an avid YouTube watcher as everyone was back then. And I noticed that there just wasn't a lot of representation for people that looked like me with my complexion and my background. And I love the YouTube space. And I got to a point where I was kind of like, why can't I just

do swatch videos. Like I started with the lipstick products and I was like, why don't I just do it? Why don't I just start like filming videos so people like me can see someone that looks like them on YouTube. And that's kind of where it all snowballed.

Kelli Luu (01:16.608)

So I actually did not go to school for photography. I went to school for marketing and advertising, a concentration on advertising. I went into corporate actually right after college. I worked in corporate for about four years and I did YouTube on the side, but I always knew that I didn't want to stay in corporate. A lot of people I think are like that, that start with content creation.

And around the pandemic is when I finally decided, okay, let me do a pivot, but I didn't do a full pivot into content creation. I started photography. I had a little bit of background there. So I did a ton of product photography. So brands like makeup, skincare brands.

I would take photos of their advertising for their products and I was still doing YouTube on the side and then about two years into that, I decided, okay, let me just do content creation full time and that's where I am now.

Okay, so were you kind of doing UGC content?

Kristina Hernandez (02:27.746)

Okay, wow. I know you said you were in corporate. What exactly were you doing before like the content creation and stuff?

Yeah, I was in communications and my way up in my company and I started video production and design. So I did graphic design, all the video production for my company. And that's why it felt so organic to go into photography. I was too scared to do the content creation right off the bat, leaving corporate. So it was kind of like my gateway into entrepreneurship.

nice, awesome. Okay. So I'm gonna get into like the whole YouTube thing. It's a completely different platform than something like Instagram and TikTok. Is it difficult staying consistent on YouTube? I saw you literally just posted a video this morning.

Yeah, it definitely is. think that long form and short form, they're completely different beasts. I hear all the time people that start on TikTok and Instagram, it's so hard for them to go long form. I'm actually the opposite. It's so hard for me to go short form because I'm so used to YouTube.

Kelli Luu (03:37.176)

Yeah, I would say that's actually probably the toughest part. I kind of have myself in a little bit of a routine where I have like series going on. So I'll do curving makeup cravings where I talk about new makeup while putting old makeup on. So I have that. I'm doing a project pan currently. So those are kind of like the routine videos and it's really the new concepts that are a little difficult. Honestly, when I think of something new, I'll jot it down on my notes app because I'm like, I will forget this.

hour if I don't write this down. And I've been able to create a community of friends that also make content and just kind of bouncing off ideas from them and just having conversations with them, talking about the makeup industry and where it's going. That definitely gives me a lot of inspiration.

Okay, so do you ever feel pressure to keep up with trends on YouTube?

my gosh, all the time. It's really, it's mainly the trends that are on TikTok and Instagram. I feel like I, I don't want to say an older generation. Yeah, sometimes the trends, I feel like they just don't feel as genuine to me and.

Kristina Hernandez (04:59.276)

55,000 subscribers is impressive on YouTube. Was there ever a point where this growth kind of like plateaued and if so, how did you push through it?

Yeah, I feel like I had a bit of a plateau when I was working corporate just because, you know, I'm sure like so many people out there, a lot of us start off content creation on the side and it's exhausting. Having a nine to five and then going home to then do like your nine to midnight type of job, it's a lot to handle. So I definitely fell off for a little bit. I feel like throughout my whole YouTube career, there was about a five to six month span that

I really wasn't posting much because I just had such a block. But I think that as unfortunate as it is, having that eye-opening experience of going home and having to work from home during COVID and really reevaluating like, okay, what do I actually want to be doing with my life? That really helped me push myself into overdrive and be more consistent and want to actually make something out of it.

Okay, so you kind of like really took it seriously during COVID.

Kristina Hernandez (06:34.976)

That's pretty recent. That's awesome. Is there anything you kind of wish that you did on YouTube earlier that you think that would have helped you grow faster?

Good question. well, I think that a big one for me was that I was so scared to kind of think outside the box. So for a long time, I was just talking about new releases, new foundations, doing wear tests, you know, whole collection swatches, that was my whole thing. And I really wish that I had kind of branched out a little bit sooner. Now I'm doing a lot more opinionated content, like videos where

I'm talking about my thoughts on new releases, what I don't want and the things that I feel like brands could be doing better. I kind of wish that I started doing that sooner because it lets me show a little bit more of my personality and my thoughts instead of doing just the salesy, this is a new launch type of thing.

It's more genuine content.

Kristina Hernandez (07:35.126)

Okay, cool. Was there a specific video that really helped take things off for you?

So I actually posted this beachy wave tutorial video years and years ago. At the time I was doing mainly makeup and I was like, well, let me go ahead and start talking about some skincare. Let me talk about some hair care. And that video has, I think now over a million views or so, but that one definitely, saw a lot of growth come out of it. And I tried to kind of ride that wave and do more hair videos, but.

It's funny how the YouTube algorithm kind of caters and sometimes it's like this video is going to do so great. And then the next hair video is like, maybe not.

Right, interesting. Can you tell me what the key is to taking non-cheesy beauty shots? Especially for like all the UGC people out there. What's the secret?

Kristina Hernandez (08:31.99)

So like, I feel like for me, a cheesy beauty shot would be just like holding it in the sun with like a little light reflection on it. Like, how could I make that a little bit better?

That's a great question. know, sometimes I look at my footage and I'm like, yeah, we're not using that. is me. Where it's like so, so super, not superficial. What's the word? Like it's just so influencer of me, I guess. But I don't know. That's a great question. I really like getting B-roll shots of products actually being used. Like let the viewer really see what it's going to look like in use.

because it helps them imagine like, okay, if I bought that, this is how it's gonna look, this is how it's gonna apply. And I just like playing with angles and I also really like zooming in and being a little bit more creative. Like you can take the most basic shot and just a zoom in will make it look a little bit more aesthetic, I guess.

Okay, so the zoom in trick. Okay, I'll take note of that. Can you give me your two go-to tips when you're shooting like your actual YouTube beauty content?

Kristina Hernandez (09:45.678)

But I really like to kind of bullet point outline what I'm going to talk about because if I don't, I will ramble forever. then the editing process is just a beast. It will take me forever if I don't have like my key points outlined.

Okay. So you kind of write a script or just.

I would say it's a little bit like a script. It's kind of my thoughts. Like as I'm testing products out, I'll jot it down and I'll jot down my first impressions and then I'll revisit that and kind of button it up a little bit before I start filming so I know what I'm thinking of, you know, like so I know where my head's going.

Okay, so for somebody who has like no gear at all, let's say they just have their phone, what do you think is the bare minimum they need to create scroll stopping shots?

Kristina Hernandez (11:02.678)

Yeah, definitely. Okay, she's saying so the first three to five seconds are the most important. Even on YouTube.

For sure, yeah. I would say it's not as important because people are clicking in knowing how much time they're gonna spend in that video. I see. think that first 45 seconds introducing the video concept instead of doing a whole, hi guys, this is my channel, make sure to subscribe, dah, dah, dah. I think it's way more important to lay the scene of the video in those first 45 seconds in a YouTube video.

Got it. You have reviewed a lot of beauty products. You give me your top three holy grails for makeup that you would recommend to anyone.

my gosh, that's tough. Are we talking specific product or like category?

Kelli Luu (12:17.486)

Yeah. Okay. Actually. No. Okay. I will talk about specific products because yeah, go for it. Okay. So some holy grails for me. I love for full coverage, the house labs, tri-clone skin tech foundation. Okay. If you're looking full coverage, it still feels lightweight and it gives you like a natural shine, but it's not too much, especially for us oily people for a great summer one CL protect in what is it called?

I didn't care.

Kristina Hernandez (12:55.02)

Does it, that one do like, does it cover up like scars and stuff?

Oh my gosh. Yes. It was such good. Yes. And there's no white cast, which is incredible. It's so worth it. It's a little pricey, but it's definitely worth it. And as far as concealers, I am a Colfee main match concealer girl all the way. It does not crease. It looks hydrating, especially for us that are 30 and 30 plus. It looks great on the skin.

And it's a sunscreen.

Kelli Luu (13:31.542)

lip-

Okay, so right now I am loving the Too Faced Pillow Bomb for like prepping my lips morning and night. I've never been a huge Too Faced person, but they're kind of revamping and it's incredible. Like I cannot get enough of that one. Yeah, it's like a liquid lip balm. It's so good. It's so good. I love Asian Beauty lip products currently.

I'm bummed.

Kristina Hernandez (14:08.024)

There's, you talked about that one sunscreen, how it is kind of pricey. Do you really think high-end makeup is genuinely worth it? is drugs, can you get away with drugstore makeup?

You can definitely get away with drugstore makeup. think now more than ever, drugstore makeup is becoming so sophisticated and a lot of overlap there because a lot of brands like drugstore brands are owned by the same company as high-end brands. So for instance, I just talked about how, what is it? Lawn comb is also owned by L'Oreal. So you see a lot of overlap there in formulations and colors and stuff and urban decay too. So it's kind of a triangle of the same.

products, but at different price points. So I think having that background knowledge really helps people understand that drugstore is the same thing, but just lower price points and they may not have as much selection, but if you can find something in your color, if you can find a shade that you really like, it's so worth it. It doesn't go to say that I don't love a good high end. I love testing them. I do think that if we're talking, talking objectively,

high end products for the most part, they're worth the price you're going to pay for them. But I do think drugstore is just as good.

Kelli Luu (15:52.43)

I really like Maybelline skin tint. That one is so, good. And then L'Oreal brow products.

Okay, cool. And then what about for high end? What is worth it? Why do you think people should just bite the bullet on and add to their collection?

Mmm.

Kristina Hernandez (16:24.862)

I just returned mine because I was like I was like I had gotten like a concealer and I don't use foundation that much I usually use just concealer so I was like, you know, I'm not gonna use this so much but now I'm like regretting it. I should go get again, huh?

Well, if you're looking for sealer over foundation, try the Kolfi one. I have only heard good things about that one. It looks so good on the skin. Okay.

I'll definitely do that. So when you are making videos on YouTube, how do you decide which products to review? And are a lot of your videos PR sent to you?

Hmm. as the years have gone by, definitely I'm so grateful I've gotten more PR so it kind of helps me sustain my channel because it's just not sustainable to be reviewing that much makeup financially and you know, it's just a lot. Luckily, I'm able to pass on and gift a lot to my friends and family. A lot of it has to do with what the community, the beauty community in as a whole is interested in because

Kelli Luu (17:28.29)

Kristina Hernandez (17:42.248)

and topics before the actual meat of the video because I've heard some feedback that it works for some content creators, so I'm playing with that one right now.

So it's a lot of testing and seeing what really works for you, I guess. Which do you think has been your favorite brand collab so far?

Yeah. Okay.

Kristina Hernandez (18:35.95)

So many good ones.

I know. You know, I actually really, really enjoy working with E.L.F. I love a brand that gives me full creative freedom. And I also just really love E.L.F. products in general. It helps so much when you like the products. So working with them has been a lot of fun.

I love Elf Tooth. Great drugstore brand. How do you feel about Americans now just catching on to a lot of the Asian culture, including some of these ancient beauty trends?

I'll do it.

Kristina Hernandez (19:13.72)

people like Asian Americans to kind of advocate for our cultures and share what we know. Let them know like, hey, I love that you like to gua sha. Here's how I've learned to do it. Just kind of adding your voice into it, I think really helps with that frustration. That and matcha and like seeing ube and taro pop up. I love it. I grew up on all of it, but it is a little frustrating when you see it kind of becoming a trend. Too much trend.

But you know, it's exciting to see us being able to share our voices.

Yeah, definitely. Okay, well, I only have a few more questions for you. So, is there anything that you're currently working on right now that your viewers can be excited about?

I'm trying to come out with more consistent series that I know that people are loving. I'm trying to do more short form because I know that some people are really interested in just like the really quick, should I, shouldn't I get these things. But other than that, no huge releases or partnerships that, yeah, not really.

Kelli Luu (20:46.414)

I would love to be in the beauty scene five years from now, whatever that looks like. I feel like it's ever evolving. And as long as I can continue to evolve with the beauty space, I'd love to be in it because like I said, I think we need more representation. And also a lot of us that started off watching YouTube, just like in our parents' houses in our bedrooms, we're starting to get older. We're starting to hit our…

late 20s and 30s and I think it's really important to continue to show people what aging gracefully looks like.

Definitely. I love that. That's awesome. Thank you so much, Kristina, for sharing your story with Gold Sea. I really appreciate your time.

Ashley Park leveraged theatrical acclaim into a regular roles on the Netflix hit series Emily in Paris and Beef, among others.

Korean-American Ashley Park may be best known to the masses for her starring role in the Netflix series Emily in Paris, but her brightest successes were earned on stage.

Park snagged a 2018 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in the Tina Fey-inspired rock musical Mean Girls for her role as Gretchen Wieners.  She was part of the ensemble cast from its Washington D.C. premiere through its Broadway run.

Her first leading role was principal soloist on the cast recording of The King and I for which Park was nominated for a 2016 Grammy

Since her Broadway debut in 2014 for Mamma Mia! Park has appeared in KPOP, Lady in the Dark, and Gutenberg! The Musical!

Since Emily in Paris premiered in 2020 Park has appeared in all 40 episodes through 4 seasons as Mindy Chen.  She has performed 5 songs for the series soundtrack, including a cover of “La Vie en Rose.” It’s estimated that she has earned $100,000 per episode, putting her series earnings at $4 million.

The show’s success and extravagantly chic costumes landed Park the digital cover of Vogue Hong Kong in February 2023, helping to propel her Instagram following to 3.8 million.

Her success in the streaming and film worlds have Park recurring roles in the 2021 Peacock series Girls5eva, in which she has appeared in 10 of 22 episodes to date, 7 of 10 episodes of Netflix’s Beef, and the starring role in the 2023 comedy film Joy Ride. The 33-year-old Ann Arbor native received a BFA in musical theater from the University of Michigan in 2013.  She began dance classes at age 3 and piano lessons at 5. In high school Park was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.  After chemotherapy she found solace in her high school’s theater and choir programs.

East meets West in the most relaxing way possible as Korean spas are turning into the hottest wellness destinations in the U.S.

A new wellness revolution is underway as Korean Day Spas, or jjimjilbangs, are becoming the next best place to rejuvenate from the busy streets of New York or the bustling culture of Los Angeles. Jjimjilbangs originally gained popularity in South Korea in the 1990s, and that's because they are more than just a day spa. They're complete wellness centers for total relaxation and cultural immersion. These spas offer many amenities, including dry and wet saunas, ice plunges and hot tubs.

Himalayan salt rooms, and even communal sleeping areas. It's easy to spend your entire day at a jjimjilbang as some even have traditional Korean food courts to keep you from having any excuse to leave. People are becoming more focused on improving their mental and physical health, making the spa service market in the United States boom. In 2024, Grandview Research estimated the market size to be $96.5 billion.

and is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 % from 2025 to 2030. Korean spas have been a significant part of this growth, especially in metropolitan cities. In the heart of Los Angeles, WeSpa is a four-story facility that's open 24-7 and will give you a full Korean spa experience. Here, you can find features such as gender-segregated areas, co-ed saunas,

salt and clay rooms, and a full service restaurant. Imperial Spa is the very first jimjilbang to be introduced to Las Vegas. The two-level center spans over 30,000 square feet and blends Korean spa traditions with an ancient Roman aesthetic. Visitors can spend time in the many themed relaxation rooms, including the Jade and Onyx room. Imperial Spa also offers massages and Korean body scrub services to elevate your experience even more.

On the East Coast, sitting just across the Hudson River, is SoJo Spa Club, a very luxurious jimjilbang with panoramic views of the New York City skyline. At SoJo, you can take a dip in the stunning infinity pool and follow up with some time in the infrared sauna before taking a look at lunch options. Americans are absolutely intrigued by how Korean spas transcend cultural boundaries with their emphasis on relaxation and holistic health.

Spa enthusiasts are craving authentic wellness experiences and Jim Jobong's are standing out by creating a space that mixes tradition, community and self-care. So get ready to embark on your own Jim Jobong journey and find one near you for your next spa day.

Ang Lee has showcased his ability to direct a variety of films while garnering critical acclaim and box office success.

Taiwanese American Ang Lee won two Best Director Oscars and left an indelible impression on the film industry by the sensitivity and beauty he has consistently been able to capture throughout his four-decade career.

Lee won his first Oscar for the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, a romance between two cowboys.  The film made history as the first non-Caucasian Best Director winner and the first Best Director win for a gay-themed film.  

In addition to a Best Picture nomination the film also won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.  Its critical acclaim helped drive its box office success, grossing over $178 million worldwide with a $14 million budget.

Ang Lee won his second Best Director Oscar in 2012 for Life of Pi which earned lavish praise for the sheer beauty of its cinematography.  Pi was also nominated for 10 more Academy Awards and won 3 of them, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Visual Effects.  It is Lee’s highest grossing film with worldwide box offices producing over $609 million, equivalent to $1.2 bil. in 2025 dollars.

Throughout his career Lee has displayed tremendous versatility in the sheer breadth of genres tackled, including the 2000 martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which earned over $213 million worldwide, the 2003 Marvel superhero film Hulk, and the 1993 rom-com The Wedding Banquet, which he also wrote and produced.

In February 2025 the 70-year-old Lee was honored as a recipient of the Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award at the 77th Annual DGA Awards. Lee graduated with an AA in 1975 from National Taiwan University of Arts, a bachelors in theater in 1980 from the University of Illinois, and an MFA in film in 1984 from NYU, where he was classmates with Spike Lee.  Ang Lee’s student film was Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads on which he was assistant director.

Though his life was tragically short over 50 years ago, Bruce Lee's revolutionary approach to martial arts and his impactful films cemented his status as a Hollywood legend whose influence remains strong today.

Martial arts film icon Bruce Lee left a Hollywood legacy that still resonates today. Despite his death over 50 years ago at age 32, Bruce Lee was the second most frequently named person in a 2023 survey asking Americans to name a famous Asian American.

With a staggering $400 million in box office earnings in 1973 (equivalent to a remarkable $2 billion today), Enter the Dragon, an American-Hong Kong co-production, stands as Lee's most commercially successful film.  This was his final appearance in a completed film, though footage directed by Lee himself in late 1972 was used to assemble The Game of Death released posthumously in 1974.

Lee died July 20, 1973 from a cerebral edema some hours into a visit to the apartment of Hong Kong actress Betty Ting Pei, widely thought to have been Lee’s mistress. 

Born in San Francisco to a Chinese-German mother and a Chinese father, Lee spent his formative years in Hong Kong. His father introduced him to the art of tai chi early on, a foundation that paved the way for his first starring role at age of 9 in the 1950 Hong Kong film The Kid, where he shared the screen with his father. Lee made the move to the United States in 1959.  At a martial arts exhibition his talent caught the eye of a TV producer, leading to his role as Kato in the 1966 TV series Green Hornet.  His Hollywood success helped Lee later secure his first leading role in the 1971 Hong Kong film, The Big Boss, which was followed a year later by Fist of Fury, with both films smashing box office records for imported films.

If it's happening in the NBA, Shams Charania likely reported it first. Shams became ESPN’s lead man in 2024 for all league news and transactions.

Shams Charania, 31, has solidified his position as the NBA’s premier insider, breaking league news for ESPN since last year.

At this year’s trade deadline, he broke the biggest news of the 2024-25 season, the Lakers-Mavericks Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, also viewed as one of the most surprising trades in NBA history – to the point that many believed his phone had been hacked upon reporting.

His work ethic during this was well-publicized, noting the 21 hours of screen time he spent in one day, while comparing his exhaustion to Jimmy Butler’s during the 2020 Finals.

Being ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider has increased not only his screen time, but his time-on-screen, regularly making appearances on SportsCenter, Get Up, and other NBA-specific shows of the network.

Charania’s frequent publishing of breaking news has garnered him nearly 3 million followers on X and 1.2 million on Instagram.

His recognizable persona within the broader basketball culture is reflected in his appearances in the popular NBA 2K25 video game.

Charania’s salary is estimated to be between $3-4 million per year, in line with his compensation at previous employer, The Athletic and Stadium, where he worked for the six years prior to joining ESPN.

Though, reportedly significantly lower than his predecessor, Adrian “Woj” Wojnarowski’s $7.3 million per year.

Woj provided mentorship to Charania and hired him to work as a reporter at Yahoo in 2015, while he was still in college at Loyola Chicago, later graduating with 2017 BA concentrating in journalism.

During that time, he broke transactional news of high-profile players including Dwight Howard, DeMar DeRozan, and Jamal Crawford.

His editorial roots go even further back, writing 4,000 words per day covering the Bulls for a Chicago Tribune-owned site, ChicagoNow, before graduating high school. Charania, the son of Pakistani immigrants, grew up in the northern Chicago suburb of Wilmette, Illinois.

Japan is experiencing a tourism surge as the country welcomed a record breaking 36.9 million international visitors in 2024, a 47% increase from 2023. 

A key factor being the collapse of the yen. The favorable exchange rate is making Japan more accessible, drawing tourists worldwide to indulge in a foreign trip filled with culture and cuisine. 

Cities like Tokyo and Osaka have seen a major uptick in interest with Tokyo ranking number 6 on Delta’s 2025 most searched summer destinations list, creeping behind cities like Athens and Cancun. 

So why is everyone booking their tickets? 

Tokyo is a futuristic dreamland with robot cafes, vending machines for everything, and a big spotlight on the fashion scene. 

The Akihabara district is filled with iconic LED lights, tech shops where you can find the newest and most intelligent home gadgets, and anime themed arcades. 

Just seven miles away is Omotesando, the place to find Instagram worthy coffee before hitting all the luxury boutiques. Omotesando is Japan’s Rodeo Drive with some of the most popular shopping malls and matcha that makes you take 20 photos of it before taking a sip. 

In 2024, sales of used clothing and luxury goods reached 818.1 billion yen or $6.2 billion U.S. dollars, making Tokyo’s fashion scene more than just high fashion, but also a thrifting heaven. Koenji is the place to score unique and timeless pieces from graphic tees to designer gems. 

A two and a half hour bullet train ride later and you will be in Osaka, also known as the “Kitchen of Japan”. 

Be ready to indulge in Osaka because you won’t be able to resist the loud and flavorful dishes that are meant to be eaten in the streets. 

Dotonbori is famous for its popular nightlife and every foodie’s paradise, with classic dishes like takoyaki and kushikatsu all being made in right front of you. 

For anyone visiting during the spring, the 441 year old Osaka Castle is a legendary landmark that symbolizes Japan’s rich samurai history and the magical cherry blossoms will have your photos looking straight out of a fairytale. 

Whether you’re looking for style in Tokyo or flavor in Osaka, Japan is going to be one of the top travel destinations of 2025. 

So pack light, get your appetite ready, and start planning that trip to Japan because you’ll be leaving with memories that you can post about forever. 

A Thai beauty leverages her status as the first non-Korean K-pop dancer into global multimedia stardom.

From Thai roots, to K-pop fame, to international superstar.

BLACKPINK’s youngest member, main dancer, lead rapper, and now rising actress, Lisa has become a global movement and fashion icon who’s changing what stardom looks like.

As a young girl, Lisa developed a passion for performing, leading her mother to enroll her in a dancing course in kindergarten, which might have been the best parenting move of all time.

Born in Buriram, Thailand and raised by her mother and stepfather, Lisa was never around K-Pop growing up, let alone speak Korean.

When she was just 13 years old in 2010 when Lisa auditioned for YG entertainment, one of South Korea’s biggest agencies and out of 4,000 people who auditioned, she was the only one chosen, becoming YG’s first non Korean trainee.

From there, she moved to South Korea to embrace a new culture and chase her dreams.

By 2016, Lisa emerged as the main dancer and lead rapper of BLACKPINK where she was able to show off her talent and charisma to audiences worldwide.

After their first single, Whistle climbed Billboard’s world digital song charts, they received many rookie awards in the first 5 months of their debut

In 2018, their single “Ddu-du Ddu-du” became the highest charting K-Pop girl group single on billboard’s hot 100, debuting at number 55, and the first K-Pop group to have a music video reach 1 billion views on Youtube.

Aside from BLACKPINK’s success, Lisa launched her solo career in 2021, with her first single “LALISA”, which debuted on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and also charted on Billboard's Hot 100.

Over the years, Lisa has added many accolades to her resume, collaborating with luxury brands like Celine and Louis Vuitton. She even walked and performed at the 2024 Victoria Secret Fashion show, proving she truly belongs on international runways

Expanding more of her talent, Lisa made her acting debut in February 2025 in season 3 of the popular HBO show The White Lotus where she plays Mook, an expert on wellness at the White Lotus Thailand resort. This role has marked a new chapter for Lisa in her multifaceted career.

From a small town in Thailand to total global stardom, Lisa’s dream is far from over. If her track record shows us anything, it’s that there’s no lane that she can’t dominate.

China's EV industry is turning out a fast stream of new models and recruits young talent from around the world like, Chen Ping-chun from Taiwan, with skills needed for competitive models.