An Unforgettable Night!
On December 16, 2023, more than 700 guests, including top entertainers, leaders, and notable Asian and Pacific Islander-led brands and businesses, attended the 21st annual Unforgettable Gala. Presented by Character Media, this exclusive, by-invitation-only black-tie event honored influential API celebrities, influencers, and leaders for their significant contributions to entertainment, arts, and culture. Partnering with AsiaLab, a platform dedicated to fostering unity among API stars and influencers, the entire night was a showstopper.
The Unforgettable Gala kicked off with a star-studded red carpet featuring API figureheads from all realms of entertainment. From television to film to music, everyone who was anyone graced the carpet splendidly. Whether adorned in beautiful red saris or gorgeous black conical hats, we were in awe of the stunning display of native representation carefully woven into the attendees' outfits, underscoring the impact that the Unforgettable Gala has on the API community. And as we wrap up an unforgettable 2023, we wanted to know what made this year unforgettable for some of the attendees.
Tim Chantarangsu, American TV personality, shared that welcoming his baby boy into his family made this year most unforgettable. He went on to express that his son is nothing like his daughter, in the best way possible, and that he cannot wait to enter 2023 with his newly more charismatic, larger family by his side. R'Bonney Gabriel, Miss Universe 2022, shared that alongside being titled Miss Universe, her year was unforgettable due to her opportunities to give back and instill confidence in young ladies worldwide. Despite her official reign ending, she looks forward to continuing her unofficial reign by encouraging women to feel confident through her clothing line, “R’bonney Nola.” Additionally, Common Kings, a band hailing from Hawaii, credited this unforgettable year to their sold-out shows across the country. Carrying their hits to their global tour into 2024, they are excited to continue sharing their love with their fans.
After the carpet concluded, attendees moved to the glamorous ballroom at the Beverly Hilton. Following cocktails and photo opportunities at three intricate photo booths, attendees found their seats to indulge in a three-course gourmet dinner. Amidst the sumptuous courses, attendees celebrated their community being honored by host Simu Liu. Twelve individuals won awards, and everyone in attendance celebrated as though they had personally won.
The crowd erupted in applause when Charles Melton was honored as Actor in Film, followed by Steven Yeun for Actor in TV. The cheers continued for Grata Lee for her award in Breakout in Film and for Young Mazino for Breakout in TV. Applause resounded for Adele Lim (Director), Sung Jin Lee (Writer), Steven Lim (Digital Influencer), Never Have I Ever (Vanguard), Mackenyu (Global Groundbreaker for One Asia), Byeong Kyu Cho (Global Breakout for One Asia), Alison Lee (Pechanga Athlete on Another Level), and Bruce Lee (Lexus Legacy).
To continue the celebration, everyone in the ballroom enjoyed exclusive performances by Iam Tongi and Common Kings throughout the evening. Not even high heels could keep the guests from standing on their feet and dancing all night long as the festivities continued with an elaborate hosted bar and live music at an extraordinary after-party. It was truly an unforgettable night, and we can’t wait for next year!
Sami Speiss
Copyright ©2023 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: December 17, 2023.
Photos © 2023. Courtesy of The Lippin Group. All rights reserved.