Yue-Sai Kan, now one of the most recognized women in China, has pursued her dream of promoting East and West through her TV programs, cosmetics and educational toys. What drove this very ambitious woman to succeed?
Born in Guilin, Guangxi Province, Yue-Sai Kan emigrated to the United States with her family when she was very young. By 1972, she was a budding reporter and went to a cable company in Manhattan to host a TV show in English and Chinese. She had noticed the incredible energy that TV could bring to its subject and particularly in bridging the gaps that existed between East and West. In 1978, with a production company behind her, her first major TV production, Looking East, introduced Eastern cultures and customs to a growing and receptive American audience. It won high praise and critical acclaim, and many awards.
Later, the ABC documentary China Walls and Bridges earned her a coveted Emmy Award.
In 1992, Yue-Sai?s business talent started to show through. She found that there was not an appropriate cosmetic range for Asian people at that time and seized the opportunity to establish the Yue-Sai Kan Cosmetics Company, which produced and sold beauty care products designed specifically for Asian women. In time, she achieved great success. Spending so much time at work she did admit that her family life suffered.
For her businesses in China, Yue-Sai thought the biggest contribution she could make would be to help the Chinese with what they thought about their appearance. She used cosmetics to strengthen people?s feeling of self-confidence, and self-respect, while the Yue-Sai doll set for Chinese children had an appropriate beauty standard for native looks. She said, ?All that I?ve done with the TV programs, cosmetics and the Yue-Sai doll is to improve the images of Chinese people."
Removed Language Barriers and Entered the Mainstream
Yue-Sai noted that if one wanted to obtain a foothold in America and enter the mainstream, one must give priority to studying English and understand western culture. She believed that language was not only a tool but an important means of understanding that culture and society. And with her dual outlook, she became an effective emissary for promoting East and West. Although many Chinese Americans have never achieved this transition, it is in not being able to remove the barriers that language and culture can create. She told Chinese Americans that they had to take the initiative, to strive constantly, overcome difficulties and to enter the mainstream rather than complain about those difficulties. In so doing, the differences between cultures becomes a positive thing.
She thinks too that distinctive talent is absolutely necessary to achieve success in American society.
Devotion to Charity over Decades
?The most sorrow is that one is so poor that he has nothing but money,? Yue-Sai explained of her values.
She has since established a fund that awards scholarships to outstanding female students in Beijing University and the Chinese students in Hunter College of the City University of New York. ?I am not very rich, but charity doesn?t only mean contributing money,? she explained.
Yue-Sai has written many popular books. One is called Etiquette for the Modern Chinese, explaining the principles of style, etiquette and beauty. Meanwhile she has pointed out that the source of beauty does not lie in wealth, manner or a pretty look but a sincere and friendly heart, or the wish to take care of others and an eagerness to put into practice what you want.
Having lived in America for years and been to so many places, she has experience of the differences in charities between East and West. Yue-Sai says, ?I found that the American people are very generous. It has nothing to do with poverty and wealth. Actually, they always hold some money for charitable use, rich or poor. It has become a nationwide social atmosphere which was lacking in China. In fact the demand for charity in China is huge and charity is a great long-term cause that needs the support of the whole of society. As long as people are willing, they can really do many things and lighten the government?s burden also.?
She expressed that her greatest wish is for the entire nation to be filed with passion, care and politeness and that every Chinese volunteer take care of others and make people happy. She says, "I will spend all my life in making more people beautiful and my own life becoming more meaningful due to their beautiful lives."
(China.org.cn by Li Xiao March 1, 2003)
