Who's Exploiting Whom?

By Joaquin Farinas
Photos and Contribution by Jennifer Chong

Missy Malonzo, Filipina model/DJ from the bay area. Courtesy of APA

Respect is the last word that I expected to think of as I entered the showroom of the 16th Asian Model Expo held at the Los Angeles Airport Radisson. It's hard to respect a woman seated next to an enlarged naked photo of herself, her nipples the size of tennis balls. It's hard to respect a woman who stands happily next to a moderator as he holds up a Chinese food container that serves as a ballot box imploring guests to vote for her as the best model asking, "Come on fellas, who's going to stuff her box? Oh, did I say that? I'm so bad!" It's harder still to respect her as she simply laughs and rolls her eyes as if saying: Oh, you silly boy!

I have never bought into the "T" and "A" culture that mass media feed us. Sexuality is best defined in subtle terms. To me, sexy means a woman in jeans and a T-shirt. Sexy is a woman of determination and of confidence, a woman of intelligence. I believe in all aspects, that more is more. I looked at the scantily clad women talking and flirting with eager young men and I sighed. After fifteen minutes I turned to my companion and told her I was ready to go. I had my story.

Tia Kai, chemist by day, model by night... and wellÉsometimes day, too. Courtesy of APA

Yet, every story has two sides. It was at my companion's insistence that we stay and try to get the model's side of the story, find out why these women would let themselves be exploited. As I began to talk to some of the models, I began to see a bigger picture. Some gave us rehearsed responses, answers as plastic as their... smiles. Some brushed us off entirely. "So... are you going to buy something?" One model did even less to hide her annoyance, as she responded with the roll of her eyes, "I don't want to answer any negative questions."

But it was the models that were willing to answers the questions that mattered. The more we spoke to models the more I began to see the women in a different light. Modeling doesn't exploit them-exploitation implies an unfair advantage of one over another; the use of one side's weakness to attain a personal goal. Upon closer inspection, it was the models that were doing the exploiting. They cater to the fantasies of the male libido. Much like the model who rolled her eyes at the moderator's joke, they simply humor men who foolishly believe that they have a shot with a beautiful woman.

Model Mia Crowe (left) and Adult Star Gauge (right) stars of the film Being Ron Jeremy Courtesy of APA

For many, modeling is a part-time gig, an opportunity to afford better, well... opportunities. For model Missy Malonzo and scores of others, modeling is their segue into acting. For others, it provides an opportunity to travel. While for most, it simply pays for school. Model Tia Kai, a Chemistry major at Cal Poly has no illusions about pursuing a full-time career in modeling. "I'm not tall enough and my boobs are that big," Kai deadpans. In the meantime modeling shows her an exciting avenue of life and certainly helps pay for college.

For those who are full-time models, like half-Korean model Mia Crowe, their careers are as serious as any other business. For Mia modeling is not just a means to an end, but the end itself. The graduate of UCSD sat, demurely answering questions while eating a plate of melon. "Sorry. I haven't eaten." More than just a pretty face, Mia incorporates her marketing degree in her presentation of herself. When we spoke with her, she was schooling her friend, adult star Gauge in the differentiations in Asian feature. Ironically, it was the Caucasian Gauge who was able to determine my ethnicity. (Filipino, baby!)

Missy Malonzo, Filipina model/DJ from the bay area. Courtesy of Fobpro.com

"I don't think it's exploitive at all," commented events coordinator Moses Marquez. The Model Expo, Marquez explained, is an opportunity to bring the beauty of Asian women to the mainstream. The event has become so popular that Marquez and his business Creation Modeling do no scouting for the event. Each model is eager to promote themselves through the exposition which is held three to four times a year. "The models contact us."

Although Marquez' response was an answer I expected to hear, the pause and hint of offense in his answer underlined the sincerity of his words. Funny enough, I sort of agreed with him. Passing the booths and looking at the photos of Missy Malonzo, the Filipina model from San Francisco I was dumbstruck. Her photos were the same theme as the others, but a sense of pride filled in me as I realized a sense of representation.

Twenty-three year old Kate Wang summed up the experience best. Like Tia Kai, Wang makes no allusions about the world she is in. The Taiwanese model was very open about the pitfalls of the industry. Wang made no claims that the industry was exploitive but did remark, "It's cut-throat and competitive." In the meantime, Wang uses the experience to help her as she studies at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. She reflected on the experience for a moment before her eyes widened and she glowed with confidence, "It's nothing I can't handle."

My eyes widened at the honesty, determination, and confidence of her statement. I realized just how sexy she was.

For information about the exposition or any of the featured models, please log on to:

AsianModelExpo.com.
missymalonzo.com.
tia-kai.com.
miacrowe.com.

Kate Wang's website is currently under construction, but she can reached at: katewang@aol.com.

November 21, 2003