Asian American Girl Club (AAGC) is stepping into media. Seven years after launching as a community-led fashion platform, the company—founded by Ally Maki—has unveiled AAGC Originals, a new production arm spanning podcasts, film, and TV.
Its debut project, Undefinable, is hosted by Jenna Ushkowitz and Kara Wang, and spotlights Asian American women shaping culture and industry.
What began as a slogan tee has steadily evolved into something more expansive: a cultural hub for Asian American women to see themselves reflected, heard, and celebrated. That evolution has been intentional. For Maki, storytelling was always part of the long game.
“We raised an angel round [of funding] with friends, family, and the community, which was such an incredible life-changing experience,” Maki said. “But this next phase of AAGC really is taking the whole community that we’ve built and now saying it’s time to tell our stories. That is the most exciting next and natural chapter for us. Jenna and I are storytellers as well.”
That community-backed funding round included a cross-section of Asian diaspora founders and creatives—from Amy Liu and Ellen Chen to Manny Jacinto, Darren Criss, and Ashley Park—further reinforcing AAGC’s DNA as a community-powered platform.
The podcast, which premiered March 18, features guests including Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and filmmaker-musician Hayley Kiyoko, with a focus on personal, often untold narratives.
“We always talk about AAGC being inspirational and relatable, right?” says Maki. “Finding these guests that have been a part of our community, and are a natural fit for the podcast and the stories we’re telling.”
Some of the most compelling moments, however, come from the unexpected. Reflecting on Yamaguchi’s episode, Maki points to the vulnerability behind the accolades.
“Kristi said that growing up, she was really shy and uncoordinated, and how she trained through that, developing her self-esteem. Those are the kinds of stories we’re excited to tell people.”
Ushkowitz, now part of AAGC’s leadership team, says the podcast has been years in the making. “Ally and I have been talking about an AAGC podcast for over five years now, or much longer,” she says. “We are being really intentional about how we spend our time and how we share it with the world.”
“The goal is always for the community and connection. As a small startup now, with a team and investors that are helping us shape this company, the goal is simply focusing and finding what we do best as storytellers, which is just hearing the beating heart of the community that is behind us every step of the way.”
Read more: Ally Maki’s Asian American Girl Club Slammed For Target Partnership Amid Minneapolis ICE Controversy
“We care about our community so much. Their values really align with what we inherently believe in and will always stand firm for – the equality of people and the visibility of their voices. They made their voices heard, and we will always show up. We will always listen, grow, and learn from this.”
Beyond podcasts, AAGC Originals is developing content across digital, film, and television, as well as a children’s series—expanding its mission to centre Asian American stories across formats.
“We are doubling down on what our community really values, which is our stories, togetherness, family, and heritage,” Maki explains.
In January, the retailer came under scrutiny after ICE-related incidents in and around Target locations—including arrests and escalating raids—which sparked protests and online calls for boycotts. Critics argued the collaboration conflicted with AAGC’s community-first ethos, with some accusing the brand of being “tone-deaf” in the political climate.
Maki responded at the time, stating the brand was in “direct conversations” with Target and emphasising accountability to its community.
