From a Childhood Dream to the Red Carpet: How Elenor Mak’s Two-Year Mission to Give Michelle Yeoh a Personalized Doll Finally Happened - AHN Media GroupSkip to content
From a Childhood Dream to the Red Carpet: How Elenor Mak’s Two-Year Mission to Give Michelle Yeoh a Personalized Doll Finally Happened
Stories
March 6, 2026
SHARE:
What started as a small tribute from a mother turned into a two year journey filled with patience, rejection, and hope.
Elenor Mak simply wanted to honor Michelle Yeoh and show her daughter that Asian girls can be the hero of the story too.
No one expected that the journey would end on the red carpet at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Image source: Elenor Mak
The Childhood Inspiration
Elenor Mak grew up watching Michelle Yeoh on Cantonese VHS tapes at home. Seeing an Asian woman lead films and command the screen made a deep impression on her as a child. It showed her that someone who looked like her could be strong, fearless, and at the center of the story. That belief stayed with her for years.
When Michelle Yeoh won the Academy Award for Best Actress, Elenor listened closely to the speech. Michelle spoke about being a beacon of hope for children who were waiting to see themselves represented. The moment felt personal to Elenor. That was when she decided to create a doll that captured that historic win.
Image source: Elenor Mak
A Two Year Mission
Creating the doll was a careful process that took five months. A professional stylist in Los Angeles helped shape the look, while a supporter in Hong Kong hand sewed the detailed feathery gown. Each part was made slowly and thoughtfully. Everyone involved wanted the doll to reflect Michelle Yeoh’s iconic Oscar moment.
At the center of it all was Elenor’s mother. She sat at the kitchen table attaching the final accessories with crazy glue and steady hands. When the doll was finished, the real challenge began. For two years, Elenor tried to find a way to get the doll into Michelle Yeoh’s hands.
Image source: @jonmchu (Instagram)
The Hollywood Moment
When Michelle Yeoh’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony was announced, Elenor knew she had to try again. She flew to Los Angeles with her friend Dion Lim, an Emmy Award winning journalist, hoping for one last chance. They waited behind barricades for hours as the crowd gathered. After hearing no from security several times, they almost gave up.
Then something unexpected happened. Janet Yang, a producer and former head of the Academy, stepped in and helped make the moment possible. Soon after, Michelle Yeoh lifted the doll on the red carpet while Sandra Oh and Awkwafina cheered nearby. For Elenor, the moment meant more than giving a gift. It was for the little girl who once watched Michelle Yeoh on old VHS tapes and believed she could belong too.
When you first meet her, you feel her warmth—grounded, welcoming, and full of passion. With over 25 years in the banking industry, An Tran, Market Executive at Banc of California, has become known not only for her distinctive leadership but also for the deep care she gives to her family—and for her dedication as a passionate skincare and self-care advocate.
Yet behind these roles lies a journey marked by resilience—a story not only of her own, but of many Vietnamese immigrants who navigated life in a new country with hope for a brighter future and the American dream.
An Tran | SVP Market Executive at Banc of California
A Humble Beginning, A Lifelong Commitment
Banking wasn’t part of her plan at the start of her career. In fact, her first job was as a receptionist at a bank in San Francisco. But she didn’t let that humble beginning define her. Fueled by passion, relentless effort, and the sense of responsibility that came from being the eldest of eight children, she turned what she lacked in experience into unstoppable drive.
“My professional life has always revolved around service and sales, with a natural inclination to care for others, perhaps stemming from my role as the eldest of eight,” she says.
Over the years, she took every opportunity whenever she could to learn, grow, and serve her clients better. Her work ethic and trust-building skills propelled her forward, step by step, until she eventually became the Market Executive for Banc of California—a role she holds today with pride and purpose.
A Journey Rooted in Sacrifice and Survival
By her own admission, she doesn’t have any news-breaking stories. She is simply a daughter born to Vietnamese immigrants who came to America during the 1970s and ’80s. Yet it was her generation that first began to rise out of poverty, despite arriving in the U.S. with nothing in hand. “Through relentless hard work, we’ve not only achieved the American dream but also built the lives our parents envisioned for us when they first arrived,” she reflects.
Her family’s story, like so many others, is one of hope and sacrifice. And through years of determination and resilience, she has proven the grit and strength of her community—successfully building the life her parents once dreamed of when they left Vietnam.
An Tran has successfully built what her parents imagined for their children in the US.
Facing Challenges with Grace and Grit
Climbing the banking ladder over the past 25 years was no easy feat for a young woman like An. She faced unique hurdles—from skepticism to subtle sexism in the workplace.
But instead of letting those experiences hold her back, she used them as fuel to move forward.
“Every challenge throughout my life and career has been a positive force, shaping me into the person I am today,” she shares. “These experiences pushed me to find new ways to grow and overcome adversity. I believe challenges are essential for growth—without them, we can’t truly learn. Remaining a lifelong student, absorbing both small and significant lessons daily, is key. The moment you stop learning is the moment you stop achieving.”
An Tran has faced criticism with grace and determination, climbing the banking ladder step by step.
Empowering the Asian Community, One Role Model at a Time
From receptionist to executive, her journey is a remarkable one. But for her, the real achievements aren’t just titles—they’re the impact she’s had on others and the example she’s set for her children, her colleagues, and her community.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be where I am today, creating the life I envisioned and providing for my family in a way my parents dreamed of when we left Vietnam. My pride extends to every step of this remarkable path,” she says.
She’s living proof. A former refugee who arrived in America with nothing is now leading in one of the most competitive industries in the country—and doing so with compassion, integrity, and purpose.
Connect With An Na Tran
“My goal is to be a resource for the Asian community, showing that we are strong, career-driven, and incredibly successful.”
Your audience is busy — if you want their attention, you need to earn it with a message that cuts through the noise.
AIDA is a time-tested framework that guides your messaging from first glance to final action, helping you craft marketing that actually converts.
Attention – Grab your audience with a bold headline, eye-catching image, or intriguing question.
Interest – Share a benefit or story that keeps them reading.
Desire – Build an emotional connection by showing how your product solves their problem or improves their life.
Action – End with a clear call-to-action so they know exactly what to do next.
Why Asian Hustle Solutions?
At AHS, we specialize in helping brands capture attention and inspire action — whether you’re launching a new product or scaling your business, we’ll guide you to marketing that resonates and delivers results.
Kỳ Lân is the first activewear brand deeply rooted in Asian aesthetics, created with a powerful mission: to empower second-generation Asians worldwide to embrace their heritage with pride. Born from Hải’s personal journey growing up Vietnamese in Hungary and struggling to find a sense of belonging, Kỳ Lân reflects what it truly means to live between cultures, and finally feel proud of that identity.
For Hải, Kỳ Lân isn’t just about clothing. It’s about rewriting the narrative for second-generation Asians and bringing Asian representation to the forefront of mainstream sports- and streetwear.
Kỳ Lân’s mission is to help second-gens embrace their Asian heritage through clothing
The Meaning Behind Kỳ Lân: A Symbol of Heritage and Unity
Kỳ Lân is a mythical creature from Asian folklore, often described as having the head of a dragon, the body of a horse, and the tail of a lion. It symbolizes peace, prosperity, and good fortune. Versions of the Kỳ Lân appear in Vietnamese, Chinese (Qilin), Japanese (Kirin), Korean (Girin), and Thai (Kilen) cultures, highlighting the deep cultural connections shared across Asia.
Hải chose this name to honor that shared heritage. As part of his efforts to reconnect with his roots, he began volunteering in the Vietnamese community and eventually became the organizer of a 6,000-member Asian Meetup and Discord group. This community centered around 1.5-generation and second-generation Asians, those who either immigrated as kids or were born abroad to immigrant parents. Together, they explored questions of identity, belonging, and the desire to reconnect. These conversations sparked the idea for Kỳ Lân: a brand that celebrates Asian aesthetics but, more importantly, gives voice to the in-between experience many second-generation live daily.
Kỳ Lân is more than just a clothing brand, it’s a tribute to these stories and a movement towards proudly reclaiming culture.
Hải volunteering in his local Vietnamese community
The Origin Story: From Hungary to the U.S. and Back to His Roots
Growing up in Hungary in the 1990s, often as the only Asian kid in school, Hải vividly remembers the bullying, the stares, and the relentless pressure to fit in. Like many second generation Asians, he spent much of his youth trying to blend in, often distancing himself from his Vietnamese roots just to feel accepted.
It wasn’t until years later, after moving to the U.S., that everything shifted. For the first time, Hải saw second-generation Asians unapologetically taking up space, celebrating their identities through art, food, fashion, and film. Vietnamese cafés were opening everywhere, Asian artists topped the charts, and streetwear inspired by Asian heritage became more mainstream. Gradually, pride replaced shame.
He became proud to be Asian, and curiosity toward his culture blossomed.
Hải, his little brother and his mom in Budapest
His parents’ story deeply influenced him, too. They immigrated to Soviet-era Hungary on scholarships and chose entrepreneurship over low-paying engineering jobs after graduation. Their hard work and resourcefulness deeply shaped Hải’s values, even though they initially encouraged him to take a safer path.
That growing sense of cultural pride deepened during a visit to Vietnam, where Hải saw relatives and locals running small storefronts straight from their homes. Every corner was buzzing with hustle. “That’s when it clicked,” he says. “Entrepreneurship is ingrained in our DNA. No wonder I felt this constant pull to build something of my own.”
From Software Engineer to Fashionpreneur: Finding Purpose
For Hải, the realization that entrepreneurship was in his blood didn’t make the decision to quit his job any easier. Like many children of Asian immigrants, he grew up with a very clear definition of success which included stability, a good education and a respectable job. And he achieved exactly this: a successful career in software engineering, after decades of hard work and sacrifice from his parents, who had moved to Hungary in search of a better future.
For a while, he was unsure whether to commit to building a business or return to the comfort of a tech job. However, the dread he felt preparing for software interviews made it clear that he had to make some kind of business idea work, no matter what.
Like so many second-generation Asians, Hải carried an unspoken responsibility to make his parents’ struggles worth it, to succeed and stay on the path they paved.
Eventually, the pull toward his purpose was stronger than the fear of failure.
In a twist of fate, Hải is following in his parents’ footsteps. After immigrating to a foreign country and getting a degree in Engineering, he decided to leave it all behind and pursue Entrepreneurship.
Hải’s parents threw away their Engineering degree to open their heavy metal t-shirt business back in the ‘90s.
The Birth of Kỳ Lân: A Perfect Fit
Inspired by his parents’ own clothing business selling heavy metal t-shirts at marketplaces, Hải worried initially that they might disapprove of him following a similar path. Instead, they became his biggest supporters once they saw his dedication.
While it might seem like a waste to throw away his engineering career, Hải’s background turned out to be a great asset in building Kỳ Lân. His time at Amazon Ads taught him how to run effective digital campaigns, his logistics experience at Convoy helped him navigate supply chains, and his coding skills meant he could build his own websites without outsourcing. Even his parents’ experience running a clothing business became unexpectedly useful.
Looking at it all together, it started to make sense. This wasn’t him starting from scratch, it was him finally using all of his skills in one place.
A Movement Rooted in Identity, Representation, and Pride
Kỳ Lân is more than just activewear, it’s a cultural movement. It celebrates the rich fusion of Asian cultures and modern sportsmanship while giving second-generation Asians a platform to proudly reclaim their identities.
Through Kỳ Lân, Hải is not only creating clothing but also rewriting the story for second-generation Asians around the world – one that embraces heritage, community, and pride.
Kỳ Lân’s mission is to help second generation Asians embrace their heritage through clothing
Connect With Hải Bùi & Kỳ Lân Activewear
To celebrate Kỳ Lân’s pre-sale, Kỳ Lân is offering the Asian Hustle Network community an exclusive 20% off with the code AHN20 – valid for one week only.
Every brand has a story worth telling—and how you tell it matters just as much as what you’re building.
One of the effective tools is the Brand Identity Prism—a simple but powerful framework that helps define what your brand stands for and how it connects with your audience.
Physique – What people see (logos, colors, visuals)
Personality – The voice and tone your brand speaks in
Culture – The values and beliefs driving your mission
Relationship – How your brand interacts with your community
Reflection – How your customers see themselves through your brand
Self-image – How they feel when they’re part of your world
Why Asian Hustle Solutions?
At AHS, we’ve seen firsthand how powerful a clear brand identity can be — not just in standing out, but in building real, lasting connections.
