Julie Chen got plastic surgery when she was around 25. But it wasn’t your typical plastic surgery (read: not boobs). It was to “fix” her “Asian eyes.” And she felt like she had no choice but to undergo the procedure. Here’s what she had to say about it, on The Talk (via Daily News):
[My boss at the time] said, ‘Let’s face it Julie, how relatable are you to our community? How big of an Asian community do we have in Dayton? On top of that, because of your Asian eyes, I’ve noticed that when you’re on camera, you look disinterested and bored.’ [And my agent] said, ‘I cannot represent you unless you get plastic surgery to make your eyes look bigger.’
Good lord. Wow. This is stuff I’ve never had to think about. That’s terrible. And racism against Asian-americans is still alive and well, as Chen got to see firsthand while hosting the deplorable Big Brother. That Aaryn had simply delightful things to say about Asians.
Chen got the surgery (as shown in the above before/after photo she brought to the show). She mused,
After I had it done, the ball did roll for me. And I wondered, ‘Did I give in to the man?
She goes on to say that she has no regrets.
One question Julie: what’s the reason for the obvious nose job you’re not talking about? Just wondering.
Exactly! Her nose job changed her face more than the eyes but she neglects to mention that. Does she think we think that’s her natural nose?
Did she give in to the man? Is she kidding us, she gave in to the man when she married Moonbeam.
Hi Webster.. I think she looks absolutely beautiful after surgery. I think she knew it had to be done. It’s obvious the before and after pictures speak for themselves. I know , she choose the best surgeon, look at those beautiful eyes. And although she denies it I think she got a nose job.
To be told that your ethnicity is basically a liability, that your heritage is unattractive, that your natural features make you appear “bored”… I don’t know. There are just too many rules.
Sure Julie. You had no choice because some moron forced you to do it. Clearly you forgot to mention that you wanted it too.
Last paragraph made me lol. So so true.
Why did she get the nose job? Maybe for a similar reason. She didn’t feel typically pretty enough? She wanted to look more “mainstream”? What a stupid question.
She WANTS to look like whitey! And she got everything done; different jaw or chin as well. It’s OK, sell out, I ain’t mad atcha.
That is too sad, there is a lot of pressure on Asian women to look a certain way. I live in China and whitening creams and these weird gadgets to get a double eyelid are everywhere. It’s horrible that she was told she had to get rid of some of her racial features to look more appealing to the white audience, which is insulting also for us, as if we couldn’t relate to people of colour.
She is beautiful I have always had a thing for Miss Julie at least she picked a great surgeon.