10.30.2018

2018 Asian American Halloween Costume Wish List

Pop culture costume suggestions from Asian America (and beyond)



It's official: these little kids win Halloween.

Dressed as your favorite characters from the hit movie Crazy Rich Asians -- Araminta, Peik Lin, Rachel and Bernard -- their costumes boast the lethal combination of hilarious, cute and culturally relevant. Posted on Instagram by Jessica Gueco Klein, the photos have even received a social media seal of approval from the stars of the movie themselves, including Awkwafina and Jimmy O. Yang, and director Jon M. Chu.

That's when you know you're having a cultural moment -- when you've inspired a Halloween costume. When I was growing up, aside from a few notable exceptions, Asian American pop culture-inspired costumes were few and far between. I'm not talking about generic ninjas and stuff. But the past couple of years have given way to some pretty great costume-worthy Asian characters and icons.

Each Halloween, we run a reader-submitted costume gallery that has become a popular annual feature. Given the great pop culture options out there, here's a wish list of some of the costumes we'd love to see this year. Some of you creative and resourceful readers have already got it done. Please, send in your awesome, cute, spooky, fun and non-offensive Halloween costume photos (of course, they don't have to be on this list).

Send them in, and some of the photos will be updated here...


Bernard Tai from Crazy Rich Asians

Kevin as Bernard Tai.


Araminta Lee from Crazy Rich Asians



Peik Lin from Crazy Rich Asians

"New York in the houuuuuuse!" Christine as Peik Lin.


Rachel Chu from Crazy Rich Asians

Christine's daughter as the lovely Rachel Chu.


Captain Philippa Georgiou from Star Trek: Discovery



Mirror Universe Emperor Philippa Georgiou from Star Trek: Discovery



David Kim from Searching

Will as David Kim.


Rose Tico from Star Wars: The Last Jedi



Paige Tico from Star Wars: The Last Jedi



Mantis from Guardians of the Gallery



Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel




Kazuda Xiono from Star Wars Resistance



Jason Mendoza as Jianyu from The Good Place



Jason Mendoza from The Good Place



Tahani Al-Jamil from The Good Place



Melinda May from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.



Colleen Wing from Iron Fist



Lara Jean Covey from To All the Boys I've Loved Before



Yakult



Maia and Alex Shibutani



Chloe Kim



Ali Wong



Eve Polastri from Killing Eve



Kimchee from Kim's Convenience



Cardboard Jung from Kim's Convenience

Jon as "Cardboard Jung," beloved son and spokesperson for Handy Car Rental.


Aiko Hakari from The First



Kenan Kong from New Super-Man



Sun Bak from Sense8



Hiro Hamada from Big Hero 6



Go Go Tomago from Big Hero 6



Glenn from The Walking Dead



Resistance Auntie

Jane as "Resistance Auntie," as rendered by by artist Shing Yin Khor.


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