May is AAPI Month (aka Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month)!

This special month is dedicated to the beauty, culture, and people that make up Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. 

This includes all of Asia, like China, India, Pakistan, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

And anywhere from Fiji and Guam to Hawai’i and New Zealand.

In total, about 75 countries fall under the AAPI umbrella. 

Did you know all that?! 

(You can read more about how AAPI Month got its start here.) 

Celebrating inclusivity this and every month, Schedulicity put together a list of more than just “famous AAPI figures.” 

We’re showcasing incredible AAPI artists and influencers in the beauty industry from around the world.

18 AAPI Makeup Artists & Hair Influencers to Follow

Bretman Rock Sacayanan

Bretman Rock is a Filipino-American beauty influencer who rose to fame on Vine after going viral for one of his contouring videos. Known to almost 19 million Instagram followers for his fierce makeup looks, Bretman grew up in the Philippines.

Now based in Hawai’i, Bretman covered countless magazines and made history as Playboy’s first gay male cover star. 

Though he’s stepped back from the beauty community, he recently published a book: You’re That Bitch & Other Cute Lessons about Being Unapologetically Yourself. 

Tina Yong

Tina Yong is a Chinese beauty and lifestyle YouTuber based in Australia. She shares makeup tutorials, skincare routines, and hair care tips with her 2.9 million subscribers. She founded The Petite Club, a line of false eyelashes made for petite eyes. 

Edward Avila

Edward Avila is a Korean-American beauty YouTuber who creates makeup tutorials and product reviews for his 1.5 million subscribers. He also hosts a podcast called “The Edward Avila Show.”

Hāwane Rios

You may not see your typical beauty content on Hāwane’s Instagram, but you will see the beauty of loving where you come from. 

Hāwane is an artist and “living Kanaka Maoli”. She works to build awareness for protecting native lands, including her home, Mauna Kea, and showcase stunning Native Hawaiian culture. 

Michelle Phan

Where would we be without the OG beauty guru, Michelle Phan? 

Michelle is a Vietnamese-American beauty YouTuber who’s been sharing her makeup and skincare tips with her 8.9 million subscribers since 2007. She catapulted into fame after recreating two! iconic Lady Gaga looks.  

Taking a step back from recording viral vids, Michelle founded EM Cosmetics and uber-popular beauty subscription box, Ipsy. She’s also partnered with Medicube Global, a line of skincare products, and Hanbang Skincare.

Let’s also not forget her incredibly talented sister-in-law
 

Promise Tamang

Promise creates artistry like you’ve never seen before. 

She amassed over 1 million followers by transforming herself into anyone, from Billie Eilish to Ariana Grande.

And she’s not stopping with lookalike celebs. The Nepalese beauty vlogger is known as the “Human Chameleon”. 

She’s created live versions of animated characters (like The Grinch and Lola from Shark Tale) and turned herself into a cow, an Avatar, and a Bratz doll. 

Patrick Ta

Patrick Ta is a Vietnamese-American celebrity makeup artist who’s worked with Gigi Hadid, Ariana Grande, Adriana Lima, Salma Hayek, Dixie D’amelio, Anitta, Camila Cabello, Joan Smalls, and Hailee Steinfeld. 

He co-founded Patrick Ta Beauty with Rima Minasyan.

Judy Travis

Judy Travis is a Filipina-American beauty influencer-turned-Mom vlogger who runs the YouTube channel “itsJudysLife” with her husband, Benji. 

She shares her skincare, makeup, and hair care routines with her 1.85 million subscribers.

Atutahi Potaka-Dewes

Atutahi is a haka concert performer, te reo Māori advocate, former Te Arawa FM presenter, and Miss Rotorua 2020. 

When she first decided to enter a beauty pageant, she was questioned by her whānau: “Aren’t pageants anti-feminist?” 

After winning the grand title, she spoke to NZ Herald: “For both of us, it was sort of a realization of the trauma that she and her kuia and māmā thought a Māori woman should carry herself. 

It was just a really beautiful
full-circle moment of us to be like, ‘Hey, it’s OK to love what we do and who we are.‘”

Catch more of the former Miss Rotorua’s takes on cultural healing and beauty (and her stunning life in New Zealand) on her Instagram. 

Stephanie Valentine

Stephanie Valentine is a Ecuadorian-Filipina beauty influencer. Hailed as “your Canadian beauty bestie,” Stephanie has worked with Olaplex, Sephora, NYX Cosmetics, and Maybelline.

Patrick Starrr

One of the most recognizable faces in the beauty industry, Patrick is a Filipino superstar. Decked out in wigs, glitter, and tons of charisma, Patrick regularly posts makeup reviews, celebrity collaborations, and stunning drag queen looks. 

When he’s not online, he’s busy with his new beauty brand, ONE/SIZE. 

Charlotte Cho

Charlotte Cho is a Korean-American esthetician and beauty influencer. She founded SOKO GLAM, an online retailer that specializes in Korean skincare, and Then I Met You, an award-winning skincare line. 

She also authored The Little Book of Jeong to highlight one of the most important Korean cultural values: jeong. 

“It’s a feeling of loyalty and of strong emotional connection to people and places.”

Nikita Dragun

Riffing off Game of Thrones, this “Mother of Draguns” isn’t shy when it comes to showing off. Nikita is a Vietnamese beauty vlogger who went viral – multiple times. 

In 2015, she posted a video,  “I Am Transgender”, that cemented her fanbase. Since then, she’s been a face of activism for trans rights. 

In 2018, she even took on Victoria’s Secret when CMO “Ed Razek made comments that ‘no one had any interest in’ a fantasy that included transgender and plus-size models.” 

Her gorgeous take on a Victoria’s Secret commercial was viewed over 30 million times on social media.

She defended the community saying, “Dear Victoria’s Secret, you said trans women can’t sell the ‘fantasy,’ so here I am as a TRANS WOMAN selling the FANTASY!”

Liah Yoo

Liah Yoo is a Korean-American skincare influencer who’s all about “acne, beauty, and sustainability.” 

It’s no wonder she founded KraveBeauty, a skincare brand that focuses on exactly that: clean, effective, and sustainable skincare.

Suki Takagi

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Suki was an apprentice at Gene Shacove Salon, one of the most esteemed salons in Beverly Hills. She then moved to Vancouver, Canada, in the 70s and founded her iconic hair salon, Suki’s. 

In 1994, Suki was named the YWCA’s Woman of the Year, and in 2016, she received the Sans Bias Lifetime Achievement Award at the Intercoiffure Fall Atelier in New York City.  

In 2020, Suki was honored with the Nikkei Community & Business Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award in Vancouver. 

Today, she has five salons across three cities with 150 employees and a highly sought after stylist apprenticeship program. 

Jenn Im

Jenn Im is a Korean-American influencer who’s been sharing her love for fashion and beauty on her YouTube channel, “clothesencounters,” since 2010. 

She has over 3 million subscribers and collaborated with brands like ColourPop and Sephora.

Follow along with her most popular video, My Updated Everyday Makeup Tutorial, or get inspired with her vlogs, My New Hair | February Vlog or How I Curl My Short Hair.

Karen Yeung

Born in Hong Kong and raised in San Francisco, California, Karen is a Chinese beauty influencer who runs the YouTube channel IAMKARENO. 

She talks about all things beauty, lifestyle, and skincare. Check out her go-to videos: 

Deepica Mutyala

Let’s talk about Deepica, a 2022 TIME Magazine Next Generation Leader and Indian-American YouTube star. 

She runs “multicultural community” Live Tinted, which connects women of color to talk about beauty products that work best for darker skin tones. 

We’ll leave you with her incredible thank-you to TIME here: 

“I realize this moment is a manifestation of hard work I’ve put in for the last decade in the beauty industry for a community that deserves it. 

This moment is for every woman that doesn’t stop to see how far she’s come and doesn’t take a moment to acknowledge her accomplishments. Oftentimes as women, especially WOC, we suffer from imposter syndrome when we are more than deserving and have put in the work. So, this [accolade] is for all of us. I’m proud and will be taking the time to let this one soak in. It’s a beautiful thing to be living out your purpose.”

At Schedulicity, our businesses represent the best parts of who we are. Together, we work to create a safe space in order to empower and educate our small business owners and entrepreneurs. 

We’re proud to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with our incredible clients, who show up and show out, every month.

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