Naomi Osaka, He Jiankui, Aileen Lee, Leana Wen, Zhang Yiming and Zhang Kejian also made the list
BTS, Dwayne Johnson, Sandra Oh and other prominent Asians have made TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019
A number of prominent Asians have made TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019.
Some of the bigger names include Korean super group BTS, Pacific Islander star Dwayne Johnson, Korean Canadian actress Sandra Oh and Japanese US Open winner Naomi Osaka.
For each name mentioned in the list, a blurb is written by another prominent person.
Writing for Johnson was Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot. The Israeli actress praised Johnson for being a fantastic person to work with.
“There is no one in Hollywood quite like Dwayne Johnson, and certainly very few who are as busy,” she wrote. “If you have had the pleasure to work with him, as I have on the Fast and Furious films, you know that he is full of heart and creates an environment on set filled with warmth and positivity.”
“Dwayne always makes sure people feel their best when he is around,” Gadot added.
American singer-songwriter Halsey wrote the blurb for BTS, commenting on their “world domination.”
She said that beyond BTS’s many, many achievements, the people in the group are the most important.
“Over the past few years, the K-pop group has taken the music industry by storm—shattering sales records, gathering accolades and performing across the globe for head-spinning audiences—all the while remaining exemplary ambassadors for their Korean culture,” she explained. “But behind those three letters are seven astounding young men who believe that music is stronger than the barriers of language. It’s a universal dialect.”
“For BTS, world domination is just another 8-count in the contemporary dance of life.”
TV producer Shonda Rhimes wrote the blurb for Oh, who was listed as a “pioneer.” Rhimes commended Oh for her television work and talented performances.
“Ten years of playing Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy made her place in the acting landscape undeniable,” Rhimes said. “Her award-winning turn as Killing Eve’s Eve Polastri makes her legendary.”
“Now, the power of her talented presence makes space for others. And that is a gift to every artist of color who follows in her footsteps.”
American World No. 1 tennis player Chris Evert provided Naomi Osaka’s blurb. Evert said that whilst Osaka has faced pressures to identify as a singular nationality, she represents true globalized tennis.
“Osaka was born in Japan, the country she represents, but grew up in the U.S., initially in the home of her Haitian grandparents,” Evert explained. “Some people want her to embrace a single identity. She’s more concerned with just being herself. No one represents our more globalized, multicultural future better than this honest, polite, self-deprecating tennis life force, a potential champion for years to come.”
Other notable Asians who made the list include Chinese biophysics researcher He Jiankui, US investor Aileen Lee, American physician Leana Wen, Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming and Director of the China National Space Administration Zhang Kejian.
In other news, Oh was recently featured in a drunk selfie with Constance Wu and Ken Jeong that was sent to John Cho.