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.

Shohei Ohtani, widely regarded as the face of baseball in America, has the world talking once again after signing a historic $700 million contract. Ohtani’s groundbreaking career and contract goes beyond baseball for the Asian and Asian American community. For many aspiring athletes of Asian descent, Ohtani’s presence in professional sports resists long-standing stereotypes and serves as a testament that everyone has the ability to make it big.