Yue sai kan biography
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Dive into its pages, where history, culture, and personal saga converge, and discover why Yue-Sai Kan emerges not only as a witness to change but also as a formidable force steering its course. More than just her story, this narrative reflects the transformation of a world brought to light by a true pioneer.
Yue-Sai Kan is an Emmy-winning television host and producer, successful entrepreneur, fashion icon, bestselling author and humanitarian. People magazine called her "the most famous woman in China” and Time magazine proclaimed her "the Queen of the Middle Kingdom."
In 1972, Yue-Sai created the weekly television series "Looking East", the first of its kind to introduce Asian cultures and customs to a growing and receptive American audience. The series garnered critical acclaim and won dozens of awards.
She even had to write her own contract. It was the first time a non-Chinese citizen hosted a TV series in China. Kan grew up in Hong Kong before, at age 16, moving to Hawaii to attend university. Twelve years later she sold the successful line to L’Oréal. At that time with her broadcast in both China and the United States, she was the most watched woman in the world. Yue-Sai’s many other TV credits include the ABC documentary "China Walls and Bridges", which earned her a coveted Emmy Award, "Journey through a Changing China", which was syndicated across the country, and more recent shows including "Yue-Sai's World" and "Yue-Sai's World Expo".
In 1992, Yue-Sai created the Yue Sai Cosmetics brand which grew into China’s leading Cosmetics Company, selling products in more than 800 outlets through 23 regional companies in China's major markets. More than 90% of the Chinese population today recognizes the brand, which was purchased by L'Oreal in 2004.
Witness the nation’s metamorphosis, capturing sweeping changes in culture and economics alongside intimate tales of individuals navigating a constantly evolving world. Enhanced with vivid storytelling, exclusive photos, and videos, this literary exploration invites you into the life of a visionary who dared to dream, leaving an indelible mark on the modern narrative of East and West.
“The producers asked me, ‘Is this how you look on TV in America?’ ” Kan says. It changed my life. I saw this guy on the side of the street and he had this oven to bake sweet potato.
Her new memoir charts her extraordinary path from teenage immigrant to global TV personality to beauty-brand founder. It ran for 12 years, first on PBS and then on Discovery.
Embark on an enthralling journey alongside Yue-Sai Kan, celebrated as “the most famous woman in China.” Against the backdrop of China’s explosive economic expansion spanning more than half a century, this memoir unveils Yue-Sai’s evolution from a determined 16-year-old refugee in Hong Kong to an aspiring concert pianist in Hawaii to a revolutionary media icon, entrepreneur, and groundbreaking influencer shaping the lifestyles of China’s young women.
I said to the driver, I need to stop, I want to get some. He said, ‘During the Cultural Revolution, I was eating it every single day. She is a member of the Committee of 100 and was ordained a Dame of Malta in 2022. In 2022, the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University acquired her entire life archival material to further scholarship and the understanding of the history of women in America.
Though not a household name in the West, Yue-Sai Kan is a cultural icon in Asia.
“I said yes.