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09/17/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/18/2024 03:47

Yue-Sai Kan—Dubbed the “Chinese Oprah”—Speaks at BU

Yue-Sai Kan-Dubbed the "Chinese Oprah"-Speaks at BU

Emmy-winning television host, producer, and entrepreneur Yue-Sai Kan (right) was interviewed on stage by Min Ye, a Pardee professor of international relations, who is an expert on China, India, and regional relations.

Arts & Culture

Yue-Sai Kan-Dubbed the "Chinese Oprah"-Speaks at BU

Pardee School of Global Studies invited Emmy-winning talk show host and entrepreneur to discuss her new memoir, The Most Famous Woman in China

September 17, 2024
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Global media icon Yue-Sai Kan-who People magazine once dubbed "The Chinese Oprah"-visited BU Monday evening to discuss her five-decade-long career, Chinese-American relations, and her newest memoir, The Most Famous Woman in China.

Kan, an Emmy-winning television host, producer, and entrepreneur, spoke to a crowd of about 100 at the Tsai Performance Center, where she sprinkled her talk with sage advice and funny, blunt insights. "It's a little boastful to say, 'the most famous woman in China'…but I was," Kan said to laughter. "Being famous itself is not the key, but how I did it is the story, in a country that was gigantic."

After the event, cosponsored by the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and the Center for the Study of Asia, Kan signed copies of her book. A slide show, which played prior to the event, featured photos of Kan interviewing and meeting international celebrities like Pope John Paul II, Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark, Mother Teresa, and Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand.

The Most Famous Woman in China is Kan's first book in English and 11th overall

In his opening remarks, Scott Taylor, dean of the Pardee School of Global Studies and a professor of international relations, said that Kan probably didn't even need an introduction, given that fans had rushed up to the stage for pictures before the event started.

The dean applauded Kan's ability to connect diverse cultures, her "visionary" leadership in the media, beauty, and fashion industries, her work as a humanitarian and an entrepreneur, and her commitment to breaking down barriers. "She has dedicated herself to creating a more inclusive world, using her platform to impact millions of lives," Taylor said. "Yue-Sai Kan has enriched cultures, empowered women, and contributed to the transformation of key sectors in contemporary China, and in the process, become a global icon."

On stage, Kan was interviewed by Min Ye, a Pardee professor of international relations and an expert on China, India, and regional relations. Ye asked about Kan's experience with multilayered identities and where she identifies as home.

Kan describes herself as "hybrid Chinese," given that she was born in China to Cantonese parents, raised in Hong Kong, and moved to New York City in 1972. She hosted the pioneering US television show Looking East, which aimed to introduce Asian cultures to an American audience. The show originally aired on PBS before moving to the Discovery Channel.

"In those days, no one cared about Asia; no one knew anything about Asia," said Kan, who was wearing a red dress with gold accents, her hair in her signature black bob. Many audience members were sporting red as well, as the color is considered lucky in Chinese culture and is often worn during times of celebration.

In 1986, Kan's show One World premiered on China's state-owned CCTV and attracted a viewership of 400 million Chinese households per week. She told the Tsai audience that she created the show for people who at the time were hungry for a look at the outside world.

Kan noted that her long career in television and the cosmetics industry has offered the chance to be actively involved in five decades of Chinese history, and in the process, she's learned a great deal about the country. Back then, "China was so enclosed, a mystery," she said. "Remember in those years, no one could go in, no one could go out. I know a lot of you are from China, but from the perspective of myself, an American-Chinese woman who never truly lived in China."

She spoke of the significant changes in China's economy and society she's witnessed during that time and the country's transformation into a world superpower. "It has given a lot of meaning to my life to have seen China, a desperately poor country, [where] the wealthiest person I met was making $40 a month," she said, "and now I've had Chinese billionaires at my dining table… China is the second wealthiest economy in the world."

In 1992, Kan created Yue-Sai Cosmetics, which was acquired by the cosmetics behemoth L'Oréal in 2004. She said that when she started the brand, the Chinese market was eager for such a makeup line since at the time, no one considered Asian women's skin tones. "I wanted to create a cosmetic line and people thought I was nuts," Kan said. "I told them to use lipsticks; no one was wearing lipstick, they were wearing grays and dark blues. It was a gray country I walked into. Very dark and boring clothes. Back then the only people wearing makeup were people on stage."

She went on to note that when she first sold her company to L'Oreal, all of the decisions were made in Paris. "I said, 'Forget about it, you need to make them on the ground [in China]. The [Chinese] are your customers."

As a philanthropist, Kan sits on the board and is also cochair of the nonprofit educational and cultural institution China Institute, which is dedicated to deepening the world's understanding of China through art, business, culinary, culture, and education programs. She's also on the board of Prince Albert of Monaco's Philanthropy Round Table. Her charity organization, Yue-Sai Kan One World Foundation, focuses on global diversity, creativity in the arts, education, and antidiscrimination efforts.

"I always say that the Chinese are the worst promoters of their own culture," she told the BU audience. "Koreans say kimchi is theirs-it's ours. Japan says ramen is theirs. But it started in China! If we don't start promoting Chinese culture, I'm afraid it will be gone."

Kan went on to list other things she loved about the country. "China is fun," she said. "I don't care what the stupid press says about China… The food is extraordinary… it's safe… The interpretation and misinformation are so major. I haven't read a single positive article about China in the last 10 years."

She acknowledged that she doesn't know as much about China as many in the audience, but she believes that the media misinforms people about the country. "Bring people into China and let them understand," she said. "Try the food. The cities are so beautiful."

The hour-long talk ended with a Q&A. One question came from a dad who drove down from Maine with his four-year-old son for the event. He asked Kan who inspires her.

"There are a lot of brave people-a woman trying to [be elected] for president," she said, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris. "India is way ahead of us," as their current president is a woman, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. "I would like to see a world beyond white guys."

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