Asia Jackson and Justine Mae Biticon are putting morena Filipinas to the front. Not just on global runways, but in Filipino American activism as well. During the Students for Filipino-American History Month’s showcase in Los Angeles, youth student organization Anakbayan LA hosted a panel with Jackson and Biticon as guest speakers.
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Jackson and Biticon talked about social/political awareness and activism with their fellow young Filipino Americans. They also tackled Twitter user @b0basaur’s question: “What role do you think Filipino Americans should play in fighting against the rampant human rights violations that we see in the Philippines [right] now?”
Unfortunately for us, there weren’t any videos or live streams of their discussion. But it is empowering to see these Filipinas use their platforms to talk about important issues. In the past, “America’s Next Top Model” alumni Biticon used her platform to address issues of colorism, mental health, and objectification that Filipinas go through in the modeling industry.
As for Asia Jackson, she started an important hashtag called #MagandangMorenx, highlighting the importance of skin diversity for Filipinos across the globe. “I remember all the skin whitening ads and things like that and no one was really talking about it so I decided to create my own conversation with the hashtag on Twitter,” she says in her Asian Journal interview.
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It’s always a proud moment to see Filipinas with a global platform amplifying their community’s voice. Let’s support Jackson and Biticon using their privilege on and off the runway to raise important sociopolitical issues. And if you decide to do so, don’t forget to do the same for young activists risking their lives in our motherland.
If you decide to stan these Filipinas harder, don’t forget to also stand up for our young activists who need the support the most.
Photo by Anakbayan L.A.