Sonya Dang, Romanian-Vietnamese new media personality, model and Gen Z public voice, joins “Brands Talk. Identity & Culture. Asian Creativity” with a fresh view on identity beyond a single passport. Raised between Romanian culture and Vietnamese heritage, she moves naturally between languages, aesthetics, communities and digital platforms. Already shining in campaigns for H&M, Nivea, DAAR by Teilor or Viggo, Sonya chose law in The Hague while staying close to creativity and diplomacy - see her internship at TheRomanian Consulate in Barcelona. Her talk will explore clichés about Romanians and Vietnamese in the West, and how identity can be navigated with grace and intelligence.

Before meeting Sonya on June 17, discover her story in the interview below. 

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

Honestly, anything. Up until a few years ago, when I was obviously smaller and less mature, I used to think my happiness came from other people, and I would base it on them. Now, however, I know happiness comes from inside me. Most things, from small to big, make me happy.

A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY

Not a story, but a video. Little Sonya would LOVE to see the big Sonya she has become and is still becoming.

BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION

Definitely the streets and people of Barcelona. That is where I feel most inspired and connected to my true self.

THE PROJECT YOU LOVED MOST

When it comes to my creative side, I loved the campaign I did with H&M for their SS24 collection. From the set, the outfit and the poses, I loved combining my modelling experience with content creation, and I still love how it turned out.

When it comes to my law-related side, I love the project I am still working on, about how fast fashion and consumerism shape our day-to-day life, and how a student like me can create change on a small scale, such as within my university.

THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED MOST

It is probably a project I started in 9th grade, when I randomly decided to live my High School Musical dream and created a cheerleading group. We started by cheering for our high school team, then for our city’s team, and for a brief second we genuinely thought we were NBA cheerleaders. :)

THE BEST THING ABOUT ROMANIAN CREATIVITY

How resourceful we are. Most Romanian creatives I know, people I have worked and collaborated with, always know how to make something from nothing, or work beautifully with what they have.

THE BEST THING ABOUT VIETNAMESE CREATIVITY

Our ability to seamlessly blend deep-rooted tradition with audacious, modern ingenuity, turning simple, everyday materials and folklore into fresh, globally recognised expressions. The magic lies in resourcefulness, a similarity I found with Romanian creativity, but this time mixed with resilience.

BEST STATEMENT OF ROMANIAN HUMOUR

Haha, everything. I genuinely believe Romanians are the funniest nation.

BEST STATEMENT OF VIETNAMESE HUMOUR

I asked my dad and he said: “Haz de necaz.”

BEST PLACE IN YOUR CHILDHOOD HOMETOWN FROM ROMANIA

The best place of my childhood is definitely my grandparents’ house in the countryside, where I basically grew up. I have never said this online, but my parents had a pretty rough divorce during my and my brother’s childhood, and the fact that we were able to spend so many summer holidays in Drăgășani, with our beloved grandparents, made it so much better.

BEST PLACE IN VIETNAM

The streets of Hanoi, so alive, with people selling pho or banh mi for one or two euros, all the scooters, the agitation and the yelling, are one of the best places in Vietnam.

MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT ROMANIAN CULTURE IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD

That we are all either thieves or vampires. The latter I find funny, but the first is a stereotype that I feel all Westerners should know is untrue. There are, indeed, bad people, but the good ones definitely outnumber them.

MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT VIETNAMESE CULTURE IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD

I genuinely hate the fact that we are known mostly through war lenses, which we won, by the way, haha, and not for what Vietnam actually is: a culture-rich country with great people, food, traditions and creativity.

ROMANIA / VIETNAM SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR

For the amazing people both countries have. Although it may not look like it at first, they actually have so much in common.

YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY

I have always been a spiritual person. I was baptised at three months old and brought up Christian Orthodox, yet I also got some insights into Buddhism, courtesy of my father. I believe in God and the Universe.

YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY

I do not believe people who say “money means nothing”. While it does not mean EVERYTHING, it is definitely an element that somehow dictates our life. I am not money-thirsty, however I do love it, and I do love making it.

AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE

I love the book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, because it explores the themes of following your dreams, your heart, and basically believing in yourself. My favourite quote of all time is: “When you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”