Julia Faragher reflects on her upbringing in Australia, where being biracial was often a rarity. Throughout her formative years, she attended a school predominantly comprised of Asian students, which made her Asian identity feel commonplace. However, in broader society, being white felt more typical. For Faragher, identifying as both was a challenge.
As a child, she frequently encountered inquiries regarding her name and appearance due to her mixed heritage, with a Vietnamese mother and a British father often leaving others confused. It was only in her adult years that she began to appreciate her dual cultural background, recognizing the joy of being both Asian and white. She also came to understand the complexities of her biracial identity, often referred to as “wasian,” which encompasses unique experiences shared between both communities while also being distinct.
Throughout her life, Faragher faced criticism from individuals who claimed she was too white to be Asian or too Asian to be white, which contributed to feelings of alienation from both groups. Recently, Icelandic-Chinese artist Laufey featured a group of wasians, including notable figures like Hudson Williams, Alysa Liu, Megan Skiendiel, and Lola Tung, in her music video for “Madwoman.” The release sparked criticism online, echoing the sentiments Faragher encountered in her youth, as some accused wasians of lacking authenticity in their Asian identity.
Despite once feeling hurt by such perceptions, Faragher now embraces her identity with confidence, declaring, “I am Asian. End of story.” She likens her identity to the overlapping circles of a Venn diagram, asserting that she embodies both sides as well as the intersection.
Laufey’s celebration of her cultural roots inspires Faragher, who appreciates being represented in that central space of identity, regardless of others’ confusion. Reflecting on a previous encounter with Laufey, Faragher recalls a moment from the Grammy Awards when she saw Laufey in a light pink Chanel dress. This visual resonated deeply with her, prompting a powerful connection to her own identity.
While not a Grammy-winning artist herself, the image of Laufey evoked memories of Faragher’s younger self, leading her to reconsider her own appearance. The desire to maintain blonde hair quickly faded as she recognized the importance of embracing her true self, leading her to revert to her natural hair color.
In conversations with fellow Asian friends about their experiences, many shared similar narratives of initially conforming to Western beauty standards before returning to their roots. Faragher expresses gratitude for contemporary figures like Laufey who promote cultural pride, and she hopes her own journey will inspire younger generations to embrace their identities fully.
Julia Faragher is an artist and writer based in Melbourne/Naarm.
