The Tamesis
Erin Gu, Lana CondorYvonne Tnt/BFA.com
On Thursday night, more than 600 formally attired, formally attired thought leaders from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community gathered for Apex for Youth’s 34th Annual Inspiration Awards Gala.
The organization, which provides long-term mentoring and academic assistance to underserved Asian American youth, held its latest celebration on Cipriani South Street, raising an impressive $3.7 million for mental health and well-being programs.
Lana Condor, star To all the boys I’ve ever loved, was the night’s honoree in recognition of her contributions to the representation of Asian Americans in media. “I don’t usually win anything, so this is very exciting,” Condor told Fashion. “Apex for Youth is doing something important. I understand the importance of mentors — my mom passed away recently, but she was my most important mentor. She taught me so much about morals and values. She always told me, ‘Whenever you feel anxious, it means you need to be more prepared. If you are overprepared, it’s harder to feel anxious.’ Since she said that, I’ve applied it to every aspect of my life — including tonight.”
Vulture took to the stage in a chic Simkhai outfit to accept her award quite deadly Actor Avantika talks about the importance of representation in an industry that doesn’t always make space for it. “I am fully Asian and fully American at the same time. I was born in Vietnam and adopted by a white American family,” she explained to the audience, which included fashion designers Laura Kim, Sandy Liang, Andrew Kwon, Kim Shui and Dao-Yi Chow. “Being in the film industry gave me a very different perspective. I was more aware of how I was perceived as an Asian woman. I was encouraged to change my appearance, I was told that my round face needed different lighting. I was encouraged to change my name, but I never did. When I auditioned To all the boys I’ve ever lovedit was one of the most exciting moments of my career; getting the lead role in a romantic comedy was not an accident but an intentional one with an Asian American lead. When people tell me that they get together with friends and family to revisit these movies for comfort, it gives me a real purpose – that’s what drives me. It’s such an honor to hear people say that my work makes them feel seen and understood. “
Olympic freestyle skiing gold medalist Gu Ailing also attended the ceremony and presented the trophy to business leader and philanthropist Michael Chung, whom they first met in the same room at the 2022 Inspiration Awards. From that moment on, he became her friend and trusted mentor.
As the last bite of braised boneless short ribs was consumed, the evening ended with a fast-paced paddle fundraising round, led by Tony Award winner and long-time Apex for Youth advocate BD Wong.
Makeup artist Daniel Martin, known for his work with the likes of Meghan Markle, Michelle Yeoh, Ali Wong and Gemma Chan, embraces it all. “Community is very important,” he told us Fashion. “When I discovered Apex, I knew I wanted to support this group. Contributions are equally important. You have to remember who you raise, and it’s important to help and support other members of the community.”
