--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First of all, Asian representation hardly…" description: "\"First of all, Asian representation hardly exists to begin with.\" — Nico Santos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/nico-santos-10028_asian_first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly_410064.jpg" --- # First of all, Asian representation hardly exists to begin… ![“First of all, Asian representation hardly exists to begin with.” quote by Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/nico-santos-10028_asian_first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly_410064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/nico-santos-10028_asian_first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly_410064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/nico-santos-10028_asian_first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly_410064.jpg) > “First of all, Asian representation hardly exists to begin with.” [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement highlights the scarcity of Asian representation in media, calling attention to a systemic visibility gap. **In simple terms:** Asian voices are underrepresented. Key Takeaway Advocate for more Asian stories. Themes representation media diversity Mood urgent hopeful Type activist analytical When to use this quote - casting decisions - content creation - industry panels Key Concepts social justice cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - What steps can increase Asian visibility? - Who are emerging Asian creators? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow due to entrenched biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Asian Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian-representation-3659037/) [Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Hardly Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly-exists-1336730/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Representation Hardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation-hardly-3659038/) ## Related quotes > [I've always been asked the question of, 'Do you feel like it's getting better over the years for Asian representation in Hollywood?' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiko-agena/i-ve-always-been-asked-the-question-of-do-you-feel-like-it-s-getting/) [Keiko Agena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiko-agena/) > [I don't want to perpetuate a stereotype. I don't want to take Asian representation backwards two steps. I don't want to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/i-don-t-want-to-perpetuate-a-stereotype-i-don-t-want-to-take-asian/) [Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/) > [“The harmonious man, it needs to be said, hardly exists at all; out of many tens, even hundreds of thousands perhaps one or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-harmonious-man-it-needs-to-be-said-hardly-exists-at-all-out-of/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Canada is so far away it hardly exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/canada-is-so-far-away-it-hardly-exists/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [A melody without the right rhythm hardly exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/a-melody-without-the-right-rhythm-hardly-exists/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [French design hardly exists, except as artificial modernism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-lacroix/french-design-hardly-exists-except-as-artificial-modernism/) [Christian Lacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-lacroix/) > [Man, when he does not grieve, hardly exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/man-when-he-does-not-grieve-hardly-exists/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [I bring quadruple diversity to the Senate: I'm a woman; I'll be the first Asian woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/i-bring-quadruple-diversity-to-the-senate-i-m-a-woman-i-ll-be-the/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [It wasn't until I worked on 'Crazy Rich Asians' that I all of a sudden have this Asian crew of friends that I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/it-wasn-t-until-i-worked-on-crazy-rich-asians-that-i-all-of-a-sudden/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [The fact that I'm able to portray these complex, fully realized, queer Asian characters? I never thought it would be in this position. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/the-fact-that-i-m-able-to-portray-these-complex-fully-realized-queer/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [The one thing about being a dude and writing from a female perspective is that the baseline is, you suck. The baseline is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-one-thing-about-being-a-dude-and-writing-from-a-female/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Why I am Passionate and Dedicated 1000% to producing and bringing my books Loving Summer, Bitter Frost, and other book series to the Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/why-i-am-passionate-and-dedicated-1000-to-producing-and-bringing-my/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [I hope that we always have diversity, that we have equality and representation every step of the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsai-martin/i-hope-that-we-always-have-diversity-that-we-have-equality-and/) [Marsai Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsai-martin/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) ## More by Nico Santos > [My intent when I moved to L.A. was to get in good with the comedy clubs and, eventually, try to break into Comedy Central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/my-intent-when-i-moved-to-l-a-was-to-get-in-good-with-the-comedy/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Generally I try to be as healthy as possible, but it's hard to be on set because anything and everything is available to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/generally-i-try-to-be-as-healthy-as-possible-but-it-s-hard-to-be-on/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I've gotten auditions with as little as two hours' notice. Those don't go so well!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-ve-gotten-auditions-with-as-little-as-two-hours-notice-those-don-t/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I've done retail before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-ve-done-retail-before/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Oregon is home to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/oregon-is-home-to-me/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Especially when you're queer and you're a person of color, you're so used to being the token on set. Inevitably you have to answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/especially-when-you-re-queer-and-you-re-a-person-of-color-you-re-so/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [It's really great to see the queer landscape really change to include everybody and make the rest of the world understand that we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/it-s-really-great-to-see-the-queer-landscape-really-change-to-include/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Within the Filipino community, everybody knows somebody who's undocumented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/within-the-filipino-community-everybody-knows-somebody-who-s/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [You rarely see a Filipino family on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/you-rarely-see-a-filipino-family-on-tv/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [Superstore' is, like, my fifth acting job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/superstore-is-like-my-fifth-acting-job/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I love my mom! She's just great and so happy for me that I'm living my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-love-my-mom-she-s-just-great-and-so-happy-for-me-that-i-m-living-my/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I hate that femininity in a gay men is a 'stereotype.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-hate-that-femininity-in-a-gay-men-is-a-stereotype/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [My mom is definitely crazy. She would totally be a stage mom if I was a child actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/my-mom-is-definitely-crazy-she-would-totally-be-a-stage-mom-if-i-was/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [I should have been born a crazy rich Asian because I do have expensive taste. I have champagne taste but I'm on a beer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/i-should-have-been-born-a-crazy-rich-asian-because-i-do-have/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [We all need to call upon our lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for hard-working, law-abiding undocumented people and their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/we-all-need-to-call-upon-our-lawmakers-to-create-a-path-to/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) [Explore all 68 Nico Santos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [When you are in America, at least for me, as an immigrant, I try to be as Americanized as I could. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-are-in-america-at-least-for-me-as-an-immigrant-i-try-to-be/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) > [It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-knew-i-was-half-chinese-but-iceland-is-so-homogenous-that-i-wasn-t/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) [Browse all 1,157 Asian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "First of all, Asian representation hardly exists to begin with.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nico Santos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly-exists-to-begin-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly-exists-to-begin-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/nico-santos-10028_asian_first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly_410064.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/nico-santos-10028_asian_first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly_410064.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/nico-santos-10028_asian_first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly_410064.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“First of all, Asian representation hardly exists to begin with.” — Nico Santos", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nico Santos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "First of all, Asian representation hardly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly-exists-to-begin-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/first-of-all-asian-representation-hardly-exists-to-begin-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```