Jim Rogers’ daughter stuns with fluent Mandarin

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Learning Chinese has become a new trend in the West. More and more people are picking up Mandarin, seeing its benefits and inherent charm. Recently, a video of an American girl speaking perfect Mandarin went viral in China. Who is she and how did she become so fluent in the language?

"Happy" said that her unusual name is actually a nickname she chose for herself at the tender age of two.

"My Chinese name is Kuai Le, and my English name is Hilton Agusta Rogers, which is quite a mouthful, so when I was two years old someone asked what my name was, and I just translated Kuai Le into Happy. Since then I’ve been Happy whether I’m happy or sad," she explained.

Screenshot of a viral video of Happy Rogers reciting a poem. /CGTN Photo

A couple of weeks ago, a video of her speaking fluent Chinese and reciting Chinese poems took off online.

Her nearly perfect pronunciation delivered in news broadcasting style become the subject of many conversations in China.

Yet, she had no clue about the buzz she was creating until her recent visit to China.

“I didn't expect it at all," she said. "The other day when I arrived in China, the immigration officer recognized me, and it was the shock of my life. At first, I thought something was wrong with my passport. And then she was like 'Are you the one who speaks Chinese?' I was like, yes. It was amazing; I’m so honored and happy."

Happy was raised speaking two languages: English and Chinese.

Happy Rogers getting make-up done for a TV appearance. /CGTN Photo

She had a Chinese nanny since she was little, went to bilingual schools, and has been exposed to many aspects of Chinese culture. All this has enabled her to easily switch between the two languages – within the blink of an eye.

With Mandarin engraved deep in her mind and heart, Happy has fostered a sense of identity with Chinese culture, so much so that her handle on social media is "The Blonde Chinese."

"I love Chinese, and I’m American and blonde, well, almost blonde, so that’s the blonde Chinese."

And one of the people who feels most proud about Happy’s mixed sense of identity is her father, American investment guru Jim Rogers. He said that the best gift he could give his children is to let them learn Chinese and prepare them for the future which he believes will be in Asia.

That’s why he not only talked the talk, but walked the walk by moving his family from New York all the way to Singapore in 2007.

Happy Rogers on stage with her father Jim Rogers and her little sister Bee. /CGTN Photo

It has been 10 years since then and Paige Parker, mother of Happy Rogers, said the family strongly echoes the sentiments on Asia's endless possibilities.

“I remember the very first time I came to China in 1999, I saw an energy and work ethic that I liked and appreciated. And I want that in my children. Each time I’m back, I’ve been back many times since, it’s even stronger, so I think it’s the culture and people that I want Happy and Bee to be part of," said Mrs Rogers.

While Happy has also been to China many times, her visit this time is for a special year-end program for one of CGTN’s flagship shows, The Point with LIU Xin. So for more inspiring stories with Happy Rogers and other guests, stay tuned to CGTN.