Happy New Year, everybody. The hustle does not stop. It's time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Sherry Cola.
Who are you?
Sherry Cola. No, that's not on my government ID. Yes, it's a play on the soda, cherry cola. It also rhymes with areola, which is fun. I've had doubts about using a stage name, but it wasn't even on purpose. It just happened. I used to feel self-conscious that people would think I'm trying to hide my ethnicity or that I'm attempting to trick the entertainment industry with an ambiguous identity. That isn't the case. Maybe I'm just paranoid. It's simply a nickname that was catchy and it stuck. It's cool, it's flavorful, it’s refreshing, it's all over the place if you shake it up, it's me.
What are you?
I'm a stand-up comic, actress, host, writer, and everything in between? "Host" is a strong word, 'cause I haven't done it in a while... but for a quick chapter in my life, radio was my biggest passion and I was actually on-air. Same goes for "writer" since I haven't technically done it professionally, but I have multiple scripts up my sleeve that'll see the light of day very soon!
Where are you?
I'm sitting at my mom's house in Temple City, my hometown. It's the first day of 2020 and she's cooking some of my faves, like this glorious egg and chive concoction with a side of daikon soup. She also bought a roast duck from Sam Woo, a local restaurant and a major staple of the 626. That sweet and sour sauce is literally gold. We're about to dive in with my grandpa. Small family, big meal. That's how we do it!
Where are you from?
Whenever anyone asks me this, I always start with saying "I was born in Shanghai" because I'm so damn proud of it. I'm grateful to have true Chinese roots. I'm an immigrant that came to America around the age of 4, and we landed in the San Gabriel Valley. I grew up being able to find noodle soups and dumplings at every corner. What a treat. Embracing my culture means the world to me and I'll never take it for granted.
What do you do?
I make people laugh. I push limits. I say bold shit. I represent. I'm currently on the TV show Good Trouble, and I'm thrilled to portray a first-generation Chinese American lesbian who's figuring out the mess of her 20s with the pressure of traditional parents while juggling a handful of relationship roller coasters. That's something that didn't exist on the screen when I was growing up. I make queer Asian girls feel seen.
What are you all about?
I love the element of surprise. I love proving haters wrong. I love breaking stereotypes. One of my first 15 minutes of fame was sparked by Lil' Tasty, the bar-spitting Kobe Bryant fanatic that was a breath of fresh air. An adorable and charming slap in the face. I created this character on a whim and she quickly became an Internet sensation. Millions of views overnight. Everyone loved this optimistic funky creature ‘cause she was unlike anything they'd ever seen. I love keeping the audience on their toes.
What makes you angry?
I live in West Hollywood now, so I drive through the iconic Sunset Boulevard at least once a day. I see hundreds of billboards with hardly any Asian faces on them. There's been a bit of progress in the last year and a half, but there's so much work to be done. The thought of our community getting stronger by the second is what calms my anger. Opportunity is shining. I hope we continue to level up and push the movement forward. The world is finally catching up to the fact that we have authentic stories to tell. We’re gonna take over, baby!
