As young Vietnamese-American women and daughter of refugees, Raya and the Last Dragon is the film Vanessa and I wish we had growing up.
The term representation gets easily thrown around nowadays, and it’s hard to truly internalize what that looks and feels like.
But even as a 28-year-old woman, something just hit me upon seeing this heartwarming tale of adventure, family, and kinship - particularly with all of the little nods, references, and celebrations of Southeast Asian culture, architecture, and dress.
(I nearly gasped hearing Raya’s father mention shrimp paste nonchalantly as a cooking ingredient!)
It’s important to remember that it is truly impossible for a singular film to be representative of an entire community - and that’s not what we’re celebrating.
Instead, we are finding joy that Raya’s unique story (played by one of our faves Kelly Marie, or Loan, Tran) is being shared in homes across the nation - in living rooms where little kids like young Vanessa and Kim sit wide-eyed in front of the TV.
We only wish our 5-year old selves had the opportunity to see a strong, fearless Southeast Asian woman fighting for what she believes in.
To commemorate this momentous occasion, we’re excited to announce a collaboration with Disney - a Southeast Asian Omsom Sampler with an exclusive (match)box design and recipes in celebration of Raya and the Last Dragon!
We feel so seen by Raya’s warrior spirit - she stands brave in her pursuit of a better future for herself and her family. We hope to bring that same boldness into your kitchens with our proud + loud Southeast Asian flavors ✨❤️
See Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon in theaters or on Disney+ with Premier Access for an additional fee starting March 5.
