Popular Blasian women include singer and actress Pamela Grier, rapper Saweetie, TV personality Lisa Wu, British model Naomi Campbell, and singer-songwriter and chef Kelis Rogers.
Blasian women are women who have African and Asian roots as a result of intermarriages between men and women of Asian and African ancestry. Some of these women have established themselves as household names in different spheres of societal influence. Their story and journey to celebrity status have inspired and continue to inspire other Blasians to step up and fulfill their potential.
There are more than a handful of popular blasian women, including the aforementioned stars, but we will be focusing on just 30 of the most popular women who belong to this particular ethnicity.
1. Cassandra Elizabeth Ventura (Cassie)
- Date of birth: August 26, 1986
- Age: 38 years old
- Occupation: Singer, songwriter, model, actress, and dancer
Professionally known as Cassie, Cassandra Elizabeth Ventura was born on August 26, 1986, in New London, Connecticut, United States. The 38-year-old was born into a family with multiple ethnic backgrounds, including Mexican and West Indian. Her mother, who is largely responsible for this ethnic diversity also has African American roots while her father is Filipino, hence her inclusion on this list as Blasian.
Cassie is one of the most popular Blasian women today, thanks to her illustrious career in the showbiz industry. She is a well-known actress, model, dancer, singer, and songwriter. Her career reportedly got a significant boost in 2004 after she met and began collaborating with record producer, Ryan Leslie.
2. Kimora Lee Simmons
- Date of birth: May 4, 1975
- Age: 49 years old
- Occupation: Model, fashion designer, venture capitalist, entrepreneur, TV personality, author
Kimora Lee Simmons makes it onto our list of the most popular Blasian women firstly as a result of the fact that she is the daughter of Vernon Whitlock Jr., an African American US citizen, and Joanne Kyoko Perkins who is half-Korean and half-Japanese. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America, on May 4, 1975.
The now 49 year-old celebrity Blasian is currently actively engaged in more than a few spheres of society. She is a talented model and TV personality. Her creative abilities are also aptly exhibited in her career as a fashion designer. She is also a successful entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author.
3. Naomi Osaka
- Date of birth: October 16, 1997
- Age: 27 years old
- Occupation: Professional tennis player
Anyone who actively follows Tennis will have heard of the precocious then-19-year-old professional Tennis player who grabbed headlines in 2016 following a string of fine performances. Born in Chuo Ward, Osaka, Japan, on October 16, 1997, and now 27 years old, the professional tennis player in question is Naomi Osaka.
She has spent most of her life in Japan and is the daughter of a Japanese mother. However, her African roots are down to the fact that her father is Haitian. During her breakout year in 2016, Osaka’s performances earned her the prestigious and highly coveted Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year Award, and she has steadily improved her game to remain relevant in the sport.
4. Naomi Elaine Campbell
- Date of birth: May 22, 1970
- Age: 54 years old
- Occupation: Model
Naomi Elaine Campbell is one of the foremost models of the last four decades, having started her modeling career when she was just a 15-year-old teenager. She was born in London, United Kingdom on May 22, 1970, and is currently 54 years old. Her presence on this list is thanks to her Blasian roots, a combination of Afro-Jamaican and Chinese-Jamaican.
Aside from her career as a model, Naomi Campbell has also tried her hands at music. In 1991, she was featured in Vanilla Ice’s Cool as Ice (Everybody Get Loose). Three years later, in 1994, she dropped the singles Love and Tears and I Want to Live. Both songs were included in her album Baby Woman.
Despite the myriad of assault-related legal issues, as well as the Blood Diamond Scandal that saw the model testify at a trial against former Liberian president Charles Taylor in August 2010, Naomi Campbell is still held in lofty regards within the Blasian community. In January 2021, she was appointed as a tourism ambassador by the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
5. Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (Nicki Minaj)
- Date of birth: December 8, 1982
- Age: 42 years old
- Occupation: Rapper, singer, songwriter
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty may not immediately ring a bell for someone who is not a die-hard fan of popular American rapper Nicki Minaj. Just to be clear, both names represent the identity of one person, only that the former is her birth name, and the latter is her stage name.
Arguably one of the most influential rappers of all time, Nicki Minaj was actually born on December 8, 1982, in Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Her father, Robert Maraj, is responsible for the 42-year-old’s Asian roots, thanks to his Indo-Trinidadian roots, while her mother, Carol Maraj, completes the circle with her Afro-Trinidadian heritage.
Nicki Minaj’s illustrious career began in 2004 and includes stints with various music labels, including Young Money, Cash Money, Republic, and Heavy On It. She has released more than four music albums since her first one, Pink Friday, which came in 2010. Her latest album Pink Friday 2 was released in 2023.
Unsurprisingly, Minaj has been nominated and received a lot of musical accolades, including ten Grammy Award nominations, eight American Music Awards, seven BET Hip Hop Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two People’s Choice Awards, and more.
In addition to her significant musical abilities, Nicki is also a talented actress, and is well-known for her contribution to the realization of film productions like Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), The Other Woman (2014), Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), and The Angry Birds Movie (2019) among others.
6. La’Shontae Heckard
- Date of birth: April 14, 1978
- Age: 46 years old
- Occupation: Actress and model
La’Shontae Heckard was born on April 14, 1978, in Seoul, South Korea, to an African-American father and a Korean mother. She has since become one of the most popular Blasian women, thanks to her career path as an actress and a model. Fans and viewers of the hit BET series, The Game will recognize her as the actress who expertly portrayed the character, Jazz, in the series.
7. Ayesha Disa Curry
- Date of birth: March 23, 1989
- Age: 35 years old
- Occupation: Actress, Cookbook Author, Cooking TV Personality
Ayesha Curry was born Ayesha Disa Alexander in Toronto, Canada, on March 23, 1989. She has a complex ethnic identity that largely comprises African and Asian roots. Her father, John Alexander, comes from a mix of Afro-American, and Polish ancestry, while her mother, Carol Chin Alexander, is of Afro-Jamaican and Chinese-Jamaican descent.
There is no arguing the reality that Ayesha Curry’s celebrity status is largely derived from the fact that she is the wife of NBA star Steph Curry, but one can also hardly dispute the fact that she has done quite well for herself in the world of showbiz.
Ayesha Curry is a professional actress and producer best known for her contribution to several Hollywood productions, including Gary Unmarried (2008), Love for Sale (2008), and Irish Wish (2023), amongst others. She is also a cooking TV personality and a cookbook author.
8. Apryl Shantell Jones
- Date of birth: December 15, 1986
- Age: 38 years old
- Occupation: Singer, TV personality
38-year-old Apryl Jones is another Blasian female celebrity who made it to our list, thanks to her combined African and Asian ancestry. She was born on December 15, 1986, to an African-American father with Native American roots. Her Asian ancestry is linked to her mother who is of Taiwanese, Chinese, and Mongolian descent.
Jones earns a living as a singer and a TV personality, and despite the challenges she has faced on countless occasions, her achievements in the industry continue to serve as a beacon for other female Blasians who aspire to achieve something worthwhile.
9. Rae Dawn Chong
- Date of birth: February 28, 1961
- Age: 64 years old
- Occupation: Actress
Veteran actress Rae Dawn Chong was born on February 28, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Tommy Chong and Maxine Sneed. Her broad ancestry includes Scottish and Irish ancestors, as well as the Blasian roots that warrant her being mentioned in this list.
Rae’s father is the son of Stanley Chong, a Chinese immigrant to Canada, while her mother is the daughter of Napoleon Sneed, an African-American immigrant to Canada. As an actress, Rae Dawn Chong has seen and done it all in the industry. Her notable roles include portraying the young Ivaka prisoner, Ika in Jean Jacques Annaud’s prehistoric drama, Quest For Fire (1981).
It was a role for which she earned a Genie for her performance. She also starred in other productions including The Color Purple (1985) and Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) amongst others.
10. Jhene Aiko Efuru Chilombo
- Date of birth: March 16, 1988
- Age: 37 years old
- Occupation: Singer and songwriter
Legendary singer Jhene Aiko needs little introduction with regard to the level of impact she has made in the entertainment industry with her amazing vocals and other musical talents. She notably began her music career by contributing vocals and appearing in music videos for the R&B group, B2K.
Like a few others on this list, Jhene’s ancestry comprises different ethnicities, including Spanish and Dominican Latino, Native American, and German Jewish. Her Blasian roots are tied to her mom who also has Japanese ancestry, and her dad who is also African American.
11. Denyce Lawton
- Date of birth: May 2, 1978
- Age: 46 years old
- Occupation: Actress and Model
Born in Seoul, South Korea, on May 2, 1978, 46-year-old Denyce Lawton made it onto this list, thanks to her Blasian heritage that comprises an African American father and a Korean mother.
Her claim to fame rests on the fact that she is a model and an actress. She began her professional career as a background dancer on the Broadway stage and has also worked with several music artists, including Ja Rule and Mya, amongst others. As an actress, she is best remembered for her portrayal of the character Dana in four seasons of the series, House of Payne (2006).
12. Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand (Foxy Brown)
- Date of birth: September 6, 1978
- Age: 46 years old
- Occupation: Rapper, Actress
Professionally known as Foxy Brown, rapper Inga DeCarlo Funga Marchand was born to Keith Slater who is of Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian descent, and Judith Marchand, who is of Chinese-Trinidadian descent. She released her debut album III Na Na not long after she joined Def Jam in 1996. More than 7 million copies of that album have been sold worldwide to date.
The talented Blasian rapper released her second album, Chyna Doll, three years later in 1999. Broken Silence followed in 2001. Foxy Brown has also brought her creative abilities to bear on the movie scene, albeit sparingly. She appeared as fiancee in the 1998 movie Woo before appearing as herself in Fade to Black (2004).
13. Chanel Iman Robinson
- Date of birth: December 1, 1990
- Age: 34 years old
- Occupation: Model
Chanel Iman Robinson got her African heritage from both her parents, each of whom has African American ancestors. She shares her Asian heritage with her mother who is also of Korean descent. 34-year-old Chanel is a model whose achievements in the industry include being named one of the top 30 models of the 2000s by Vogue Paris. She has also worked as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
14. Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson (H.E.R)
- Date of birth: June 27, 1997
- Age: 27 years old
- Occupation: Singer
Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson is one of the most celebrated American R&B singers in the world today. Best recognized by her stage name H.E.R., the singer was born in Vallejo, California, United States, to an African American father and a Filipino American mother, hence her inclusion in the list of 30 of the most popular Blasian women.
15. Merle Dandridge
- Date of birth: May 31, 1975
- Age: 49 years old
- Occupation: Actress and singer
Merle Dandridge was born in Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan on May 31, 1975. Her father is African American while her mom is of Korean and Japanese descent. Dandridge is an actress and a singer who is best known for her creative contributions to Broadway musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar and Once on This Island.
16. Amerie Mi Marie Nicholson
- Date of birth: January 12, 1980
- Age: 45 years old
- Occupation: Singer, songwriter, and author
Amerie Mi Marie Nicholson is an American singer with a Blasian heritage. Her father, Charles Rogers, is an African American military man while her mom, Mi Suk is a Korean-born artist. The 45-year-old singer has established herself in the entertainment industry with songs like Nothing Like Loving You, Show Me, and I Just Died.
17. Robinne Lee
- Date of birth: July 16, 1974
- Age: 50 years old
- Occupation: Actress and author
Despite being born in Mount Vernon, New York, United States, Robinne Lee is also Jamaican. Her inclusion on this list is due to the fact that her Jamaican parents also had British, Chinese, and African roots. As an actress, the 55-year-old made her silver screen debut in the production Hav Plenty.
18. Joyce Wrice
- Date of birth: August 15, 1992
- Age: 32 years old
- Occupation: Singer
Joyce Wrice was born in Los Angeles, California, United States, on August 15, 1992. Her Blasian heritage comprises Japanese and African American ancestry. The American singer is one of the most popular Blasian women thanks to her hit songs like That’s On You, You, Chandler, and Must Be Nice among others.
19. Sharon Ann Leal
- Date of birth: October 17, 1972
- Age: 52 years old
- Occupation: Actress and singer
Sharon Leal’s career as an actress will eternally be characterized by her roles in Hollywood productions like Dreamgirls, This Christmas, and Why Did I Get Married. Her Asian heritage is thanks to her mother, Angelita, and her father who is African American.
20. Karrueche Tran
- Date of birth: May 17, 1988
- Age: 36 years old
- Occupation: Actress and model
Karrueche Tran was born in Los Angeles, California, United States, on May 17, 1988, to a Vietnamese mother and an African American father. Fans and viewers of the web series The Bay will remember the 36-year-old as the actress who portrayed the character of Vivian in the web series. She also notably bagged two Daytime Emmy Awards for producing the series.
21. Lisa Wu
- Date of birth: January 23, 1971
- Age: 54 years old
- Occupation: TV personality, actress, realtor, screenwriter, and designer
Lisa Wu is the daughter of an Afro-Carribean father and a Chinese-American mother. She is a well-known Blasian woman who featured prominently in the reality TV series The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Hollywood Divas. She is also a realtor, screenwriter, and designer.
22. Tiffany Limos
- Date of birth: January 31, 1980
- Age: 45 years old
- Occupation: Actress
Tiffany Limos has a vast ancestral heritage that includes Hawaiian, Native American, Spanish, and Tahitian. In the context of this compilation, she is also of Chinese, Filipino, and African descent. She made her debut in the 2002 film titled Teenage Caveman, but she is perhaps more notable for her role as Peaches in Ken Park.
23. Dawn-Lyen Gardner
- Date of birth: August 31, 1981
- Age: 43 years old
- Occupation: Actress
Queen Sugar actress Dawn-Lyen Gardner is the daughter of an African American father and a Chinese mother. Her role as Charley Bordelon West in the series gave her a lot of visibility among the Blasian community, hence her inclusion in this list.
24. Kelis Rogers
- Date of birth: August 21, 1979
- Age: 45 years old
- Occupation: Singer-songwriter and chef
Kelis Rogers was born in Harlem, New York, United States, on August 21, 1979, to Kenneth Rogers, an African American jazz musician, and Eveliss Rogers, a Chinese-Puerto Rican fashion designer.
Since graduating from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York, she has gone on to establish herself as a singer-songwriter. Her culinary abilities have also been put to good use via her career as a chef.
25. Angela Yee
- Date of birth: January 3, 1976
- Age: 49 years old
- Occupation: Radio Personality
Angela Yee was born to a Chinese father and an Afro-Montserratian mother in East Flatbush, New York, United States. The radio personality is best known for hosting the radio show Way Up, and this currently makes her one of the most popular Blasian women around.
26. Karin Katherine Taylor
- Date of birth: November 28, 1971
- Age: 53 years old
- Occupation: Model
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on November 28, 1971, Karin Taylor is a former international fashion model. Her list of accomplishments includes being Playboy magazine’s June 1996 Playmate of the Month. Her Blasian heritage comprises Jamaican, Chinese, and Brazilian ancestry.
27. Pamela Suzette Grier
- Date of birth: May 26, 1949
- Age: 75 years old
- Occupation: Actress and singer
Veteran actress and singer Pamela Suzette Grier is one of the most popular Blasian female celebrities, thanks to her continued contributions to the Hollywood industry. The woman once described by Quentin Tarantino as the first female action star is of mixed ancestry which includes Chinese, Filipino, African American, Cheyenne, and Hispanic.
28. Diamonte Quiava Valentin Harper (Saweetie)
- Date of birth: July 2, 1994
- Age: 30 years old
- Occupation: Rapper
Professionally known as Saweetie, 30-year-old Diamonte Quiava Valentin Harper was born in Santa Clara, California, United States. Her dad is African American while her mom has Filipino and Chinese ancestors.
Her career as one of the most recognized rappers in the United States took off following the release of her debut single, Icy Girl in 2017. She earned two nominations for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2021, one of which was for Best New Artist.
29. Kim In-Soon (Insooni)
- Date of birth: April 5, 1957
- Age: 67 years old
- Occupation: Singer
Kim In-Soon, otherwise known as Insooni, was born in Pocheon-si, South Korea on April 5, 1957. The Blasian singer is a product of a relationship between her African American father and her South Korean mother. She does not know much about her father who reportedly served in the United States military, and was raised by her single mother.
Insooni’s career in the music industry has seen her churn out over 19 albums, 14 of which are full-length albums.
30. Natasha Shanta Reid (Yoon Mi Rae)
- Date of birth: May 31, 1981
- Age: 43 years old
- Occupation: Rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer
Natasha Reid’s Blasian ancestry comprises a South Korean mother and an African American father. She is best known by her given Korean name Yoon Mi Rae. Having accompanied a friend to an audition in 1995, Yoon was discovered by a World Records rep who heard her singing outside the audition room and was impressed by her vocal prowess.
He duly signed her to a new group called Uptown, and she was only 16 years old then. Her musical career has steadily progressed since then, and she is currently a member of the Korean hip-hop trio, MFBTY. Yoon Mi Rae’s growing influence as one of the most popular Blasian women right now stems from the fact that she is considered one of the best female rappers in Korea.
