Combating Stereotypes: Asian artist battles Western stereotypes with strong female characters

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And finally we shift focus from Fujian Province to Los Angeles, where a Chinese-American illustrator is using her work, to draw attention to negative stereotypes about Asian people. She says she's working to get Asian-Americans into the mainstream of pop culture. CGTN's Patrice Howard has the details from the City of Angels.

"When I see work, you know be it television, comic books. When I see an Asian person in there I get excited." Drawing cartoons is more than just a passion and profession for Brenda Chi - she's made it a mission to help others understand what it's like to be Asian in America.

BRENDA CHI STORYBOARD ARTIST "I try to accentuate the fact that I am Chinese, so I play with the idea of skin color. I have Chinese eyes, so they are slanted things like that, just to play with the stereotype."

In this photo the woman is flipping the man the bird. Blur if you need to. This up-and-coming illustrator draws from personal experience: creating unique illustrations with storylines that challenge negative stereotypes associated with Asian Americans. In this piece for example, an Asian woman ignores a Caucasian man at a bar after he greets her in Mandarin.

BRENDA CHI STORYBOARD ARTIST "You can't assume any east Asian-looking person is Chinese. They could be many other races!"

While targeting stereotypes, Chi is also challenging America's entertainment industry to develop more Asian characters.

As a Chinese-American child of the 90's, Chi was mesmerized by Saturday morning cartoons - her windows to a world outside the home of her traditional immigrant parents. But she rarely saw faces that looked like hers.

BRENDA CHI STORYBOARD ARTIST "I think in the 90s, the really creative people with the power, most were male and probably Caucasian. That's what I want to do if I ever get in the industry is show there are so many other points of view.

PATRICE HOWARD LOS ANGELES Hollywood has made progress since the 90's - but Chi says whitewashing will only stop if Asian Americans in the industry take action and share their unique points of view. That's why she is creating fresh content, and actively supporting other creative Asian Americans who are doing the same.

Brenda cites comedian Ali Wong as the perfect example of an Asian American woman who is breaking barriers with people of all backgrounds - by simply telling them what it's like to walk in her shoes.

BRENDA CHI STORYBOARD ARTIST "We are really doing something that is very American, which is speaking out and saying like hey, here we are, let me tell you something about us."

Chi's work recently caught the attention of Star Wars legend George Takei who published one of her comics. Chi says she hopes that story and others will reach Asian American women in search of a character in the media they can relate to. Patrice Howard, CGTN, Los Angeles.