Chloe Zhao Becomes First Asian Woman To Win Best Director At Golden Globe Awards

Asians around the world are responding with “tears of joy” as Chloe Zhao made history at the Golden Globe Awards, becoming the first Asian woman to ever win the prestigious director award.

Many on the internet praised her for being “a great inspiration to young Asian girls”, adding that “women’s victory is everywhere”.

Congratulatory Messages

The Nomadland director, who was born in China, is the second woman to receive the award.

The first was Barbra Streisand in 1984.

“I can’t stress this enough, as an Asian woman in the arts, it’s very encouraging to see Chloe Zhao make history tonight as the first woman of the year to win as a top director,” said one Twitter user.

This year is also the first time that more than one woman has been selected from the best director list. Regina King and Emerald Fennell also were nominated in the category.

Ms Streisand herself congratulated Ms Zhao on the win, saying “it’s about time”.

Her win was also celebrated on Chinese social media site Weibo, where many praised her talent.

“It’s the first time a Chinese female director has won. Congratulations to Director Zhao, I look forward to your next award,” said one comment.

Zhao’s Past Performances

The semi-fictional Nomadland, which also took home the award for best drama, stars Frances McDormand as a woman named Fern who travels around America as a modern-day nomad.

It was the 38-year-old director’s third film, following the Songs My Brothers Taught Me and The Rider.

The Beijing-born director, now living in the United States, recently directed the upcoming Marvels film The Eternals.

‘We Exist’

And Ms. Zhao was not the only Asian who has achieved so much tonight.

Minari, director Lee Isaac Chung’s semi-autobiographical story about a Korean-American family also won for best-foreign language film.

Photographs released by Golden Globes showed Mr Lee’s daughter holding him tight when the winners were announced, saying: “I prayed, I prayed!”

“In a time where Asian-Americans are being attacked because we’re still seen as foreign and a disease, Chloe Zhao and Minari winning Golden Globes means so much,” said journalist Diep Tran in a tweet.

“We exist, we are Americans.”