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.
Celebrating inclusivity this and every month, Schedulicity put together a list of more than just “famous AAPI figures.”
We’re showcasing incredible AAPI makeup artists and beauty influencers from around the world.
21 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 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. (Check out our list of other AAPI beauty brands.)
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” and is an active makeup artist, specializing in Korean beauty.
Chelei Kameleʻonālani Kahalewai
This hilarious Hawaiian native is actually a fitness influencer and recently graduated nurse, but there’s no shortage of beauty on her Instagram. Chelei shows off the island culture to her 119,000 followers, from good eats to local fashion faves.
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.
Promise Tamang
Promise creates artistry like you’ve never seen before.
As a virtual effects makeup artist, this beauty influencer 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 just about everyone in Hollywood.
His artistry can be seen across runways on Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls, and Adriana Lima; on screen with Salma Hayek; and on stage with superstars Ariana Grande, Karol G, Camila Cabello, and Anitta.
He also 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 a really beautiful…full-circle moment of us to [say], ‘Hey, it’s OK to love what we do and who we are.‘”
Michelle Lee
Michelle Lee is the former editor-in-chief at Allure and Nylon magazines. With almost 200,000 Instagram followers, Michelle transformed beauty standards and trends, covering everything from esthetic treatments and luxury skincare to her DIY nail art.
Stephanie Valentine
Stephanie Valentine is a Ecuadorian-Filipina beauty influencer. Hailed as “your Canadian beauty bestie,” Stephanie has worked with Olaplex, Sephora, NYX Cosmetics, Fenty Beauty, and Maybelline.
Patrick Starrr
One of the most recognizable faces in the beauty industry, Patrick is a Filipino superstar, licensed esthetician, and incredible makeup artist. 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 beauty brand, ONE/SIZE.
Charlotte Cho
Charlotte Cho is a Korean-American esthetician and AAPI beauty influencer. She founded SOKO GLAM, a beauty brand 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 viral skincare brand that focuses on exactly that: clean, effective, and sustainable skincare.
She teaches her Instagram followers how to buy slow, buy better, and buy less – double-downing on her eco-friendly approach to the beauty industry.
Young Yuh
Korean-American skincare and beauty influencer, Young Yuh is all about his roots when it comes to skincare. Known affectionately across the IG community as “Egg Head”, Young is proud to be bald and even prouder to share his best skincare tips.
Our favorite thing about this AAPI skincare influencer is his consistent trolling of St. Ives’ notorious Apricot Scrub. (He even got a tattoo of it!)
She can’t be found on social media, but Suki is still a legendary AAPI beauty influencer.
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.
Tanaïs
With Bengali heritage, Tanaïs draws from her “foremothers’ sense of beauty and fashion — from scent materials to deep black kajal liner.”
Whether it’s creating a scent or an eyeliner, Tanaïs is not only inspired by her own background but by “everyone who wants to open up their mind to seeing beauty not centered in a dominant culture.”
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:
- How To: Pastel Hair Tutorial (Dark to Pastel)
- Intense ASMR Aesthetic Fenty Beauty Galaxy Makeup
- Korean Skincare for Beginners: How to *Glass Skin*
- TINY HANDS MAKEUP CHALLENGE
Emily Cheng
Emily Cheng is Canadian-Chinese makeup artist who’s worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and fashion: Kerry Washington, Constance Wu, Janelle Monáe, Rachel McAdams, and Billie Eilish.
Deepica Mutyala
Deepica is 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. 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.
