Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Takes Shot at Neiman Marcus

Amanda Nguyen celebrated her nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize earlier this month, but she says she received a cold dose of reality when she tried to celebrate that nomination by buying a nice dress.

The author of the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights says retailer Neiman Marcus declined to sell her a dress because “they didn’t take cards like mine.”

“Neiman Marcus didn’t think that someone who looks like me could afford a dress like that,” Nguyen wrote on her post. “I ended up sitting in a coffee shop next to Neiman Marcus buying that dress online from my phone.”

You can read her entire message below.

In case this helps anyone out there – a note about my Nobel Peace Prize nomination dress. When I went to buy it at Neiman Marcus they refused to let me buy it. When I asked why, they said they didn’t take cards like mine. (It’s a MasterCard). Neiman Marcus didn’t think that someone who looks like me could afford a dress like that. I ended up sitting in a coffee shop next to Neiman Marcus buying that dress online from my phone. I’ve been getting inundated with positive messages of love and support but I also want to share with you the reality that goes along with it too. For so many marginalized members of our community, it does not matter how much money we make or how successful we can be – one can be nominated for a Nobel and still experience this racism, sexism, ageism. We’ve got a long way to go and for any women of color, woman, person of color out there I just want to let you know you’re not alone. Just keep going. ❤️ PC: @gokateshoot

A post shared by Amanda Nguyen (@amandangocnguyen) on Jul 2, 2018 at 8:22pm PDT

Many commenters left messages of support for Nguyen. A few even tagged Neiman Marcus in their comments, but to the best of my knowledge, the department store has not offered a comment or explanation of its own.
 

@neimanmarcus, you might want to retrain your employees: https://t.co/0cYsGGygrN pic.twitter.com/ablDsbPe26

— J Maraan (@j_maraan) July 22, 2018

This is sooooo wrong! No one should be treated with bias like that. HR should be training Employees on what discrimination free environment really is. #AsianTwitter

— Ailada A. (@AnAsiaticVamp) July 22, 2018

How would you like to be treated like this when you win a prize like that?@OCANational@AsAmNews@NextShark@kulturewatchdog@ResonateVoices@yomyomf@HuffPost@shannoncoulter @neimanmarcus You can't afford this kind of PR. https://t.co/8e5Jyd5Y2v

— AsianSocialNetwork (@AsianSocialNet) July 23, 2018

Nguyen took to social media to tell her story the same day she posted a letter on Instagram from Hillary Clinton congratulating her for her nomination. Nguyen is a rape survivor and founder of RISE, a national civil rights non-profit.
 
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.