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| The covers for Time Magazine’s issue of April 19, 2018. |
There were 18 Asians and Asian Americans on Time magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential people for 2018.
We’re not surprised that award-winning actor and social commentator Kumail Nanjiani, Olympic gold medal winner Chloe Kim or Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan made the list, but what about scientist Jian-Wei Pan or social activist Sinta Nuriyah and others who are not well known outside of their respective fields?
While some of the picks can be argued, i.e.. how many people follow cricket that Virat Kohli makes the list? Time’s picks include the expected politicians like the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China, but also some leaders in tech like Bhvish Aggarwal and Satya Nadella; and social movement activist Janet Mock.
It’s important to note that they were not necessarily the “most famous” individuals, nor is it a list of the “good” people in the world.
Only a half-dozen of the influencers are Asian Americans. Seems like there should have been more, but the list fluctuates, year-to-year. For instance, restaurateur Roy Choi and Crazy Rich Asians actress Constance Wu made it last year, and arguments could be made they should have been included this year as well.
“The TIME 100, always a reflection of its moment, looks quite different than in the past,” Time Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal wrote.
Forty-five of the people on the list are women, the most ever included. “While we remain much too far from gender parity in global leadership, there are more women than ever on this year’s TIME 100—proof that there are ways of changing the world beyond traditional power structures,” Felsenthal wrote.
It should be noted that a last-minute ferocious drive to include the Korean pop group BTS on the list by the boy band’s fans failed to sway Time’s editors.
Besides the aforementioned Nanjiani, Kim and Kwan, the Asians and Asian Americans on the list include:
Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder of Oka, the Indian version of Uber or Lyft.
Jian-Wei Pan, scientist who achieve quantum communication for more secure modes of communication.
Deepika Padukone, Indian actress and model, “she’s here to represent the world,” said Vin Diesel.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, enough said.
Sadiq Khan, London mayor of Pakistani descent.
Xi Jinping, President of China, enough said.
Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, enough said.
Shikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Moon Jae-In, President of South Korea, enough said.
Kim Jong Un, President of North Korea, enough said.
Janet Mock, TV host who is biracial and transexual.
Sinta Nuriyah, widow of former Indonesian president who advocates for tolerance and diversity.
Masayoshi Son, Softbank CEO, visionary investor.
Virat Kohli, up-and-coming cricket player from India,
Pony Ma, founder of Tencent, China’s social media giant.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: We excluded people from the Middle East and Russia even though, geographically, they can be called Asian, that is not what they consider themselves to be.)
For Time’s complete list, click here.
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