Modern Asian: Q/A with Kristin Corpuz

Kristin Corpuz is an editor, writer, and content creator based in Los Angeles. With bylines in all your most-read publications (ELLE, Architectural Digest, and Elite Daily to name a few) and her fingerprint on some of your favorite feeds (she’s a social strategist as well!), Kristin is the embodiment of the modern multi-hyphenate. 

Here’s how she does it all—not just for herself, but to create the space for young Asian women, too.
   
Q: What does being a Modern Asian mean to you?
A: It means wearing my heritage on my sleeve and proudly representing how I was raised. It means building and fostering a beautiful community of people who honor our collective experiences. It means doing everything I can to uplift and empower fellow Asian voices in my industry and beyond.
 
Q: How has your Asian heritage shaped you?
A: I am a proud first-generation child of Filipino immigrants, and as I've gotten older, I've realized more and more how much my upbringing has shaped how I see the world. My heritage really permeates into everything I do and love. My parents coming from another country made me perpetually curious about the unknown and heavily influenced my need to travel. Filipinos love music so I grew up singing and, to this day, I will never say no to a karaoke night with friends. My dad is an antique dealer who specializes in East Asian artifacts (some as old as the 8th and 9th century) which has fueled my interest in interior design. Everything from my values and morals to my hobbies and interests was influenced by my heritage.
 
Q: What was a defining moment in your career when you felt most proud (or could confidently admit to yourself that you’ve made it)?
A: I've always worked as a freelancer and contractor so my career milestones aren't exactly typical. But when I broke a six-figure income for the first time in 2021, it was proof that I could bet on myself and make a living as a freelancer in media. My parents have always valued traditional jobs and steady income, so they were vocal about how unsure they were of my chosen career path. And while success can't always be defined by money, hitting that major benchmark made them really proud and felt like a pivotal moment for me.

 

Q: Was there a point in time when you questioned your path in media? If so, how did you move forward?

A: I question it all the time, even now. The media landscape is ever-changing and it sometimes feels hard to keep up. I just have to constantly remind myself that there is no one else like me—that my lived experiences and the voice I bring to the table are unique and worth sharing, so I have to keep going.
 
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you can offer young Asian American women who are following in your footsteps as a journalist or multi hyphenate writer-slash-content-creator?
This probably sounds cliche, but find what makes you, you. All of the springboard steps I took at the beginning of my career were intrinsically linked to my identity in some way, which I believe helped carve out a space for me in a very crowded industry. Tap into the things that you're passionate about and find a unique way to talk about those things through your writing or content and it will be hard for people to turn you away.
 
Q: When do you feel most beautiful?
A: For me, confidence is the most beautiful quality. It's not always easy—there are a lot of things in the world that can make me feel less than—but when I'm able to walk through life with a headstrong, independent attitude, it makes me feel like the most beautiful version of myself.

To see what Kristin is working on next, follow her on Instagram, @kristincorpuz_.