The ‘women aren’t funny’ stereotype rears its ugly head every time a female-led comedy project garners some success. 2024’s film and TV awards season has seen several female stand-up comics take home awards for their acting roles, including Ali Wong for her lead role in Beef. How did Wong’s start in stand-up comedy get her to this point? How have Asian-American female comedians contributed to the current landscape of Asian-American representation in the entertainment industry?

The Netflix comedy-drama ‘Beef’ won Best Television Limited Series or Anthology Series at this year’s Golden Globes. Leads Ali Wong and Steven Yeun also won best actress and best actor in a limited series or anthology, respectively. The series’ success marks a historic win for Asian Americans in the Globes’ category. A dynamic, emotionally thrilling, and complex exploration of how two characters’ lives become entwined after a road-rage incident, ‘Beef’ expands the idea of what Asian American representation can look like in the film industry.