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Perhaps the most prominent face of Import Models due to her fame in mainstream media...

Thien Thanh Thi Nguyen, a.k.a.

 

Tila Tequila

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Import models, or promotional models, started to become hired in order to drive the consumer demand for drag racing products as well as the popularity of import drag racing shows. As was the racing scene, import modeling became popular amongst young Asian American females. These models are extremely objectified and sexualized to represent a feminine contrast to a "macho" racing scene, yet fall in line with the attempts to portray the import scene as "sexy" for all involved. Thien Thanh Thi Nguyen, also known as "Tila Tequila" and Natasha Yi are among the many Asian American import models that are idolized in the import scene. Although these models were able to gain widespread popularity in the import scene, as well as some in mainstream American media (like Tila Tequila), the majority of the male racers failed to make it big. The ability to market import models, which in essence is a marketing of a sexy image, is in line with stereotypes of Asian American women in the media today. It is perhaps harder to reconcile the image of "macho" drag racing males with the prevalence of meek and passive Asian American men in the media, which explains their notable absence in this arena.

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.