Exotic: Nicole Scherzinger
JC
Carmen and I joked on a segment of Addicted to Race about starting a whole category just to keep track of the amount of times that a mixed person was characterized as “exotic.” Consider this the official start of our “‘Exotic’ Watch”. 
So, Nicole Scherzinger is the lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls. They had a huge hit with Don’t Cha…and they are continuing to get people’s attention with their catchy tunes…and “exotic” features, I guess. 
From her bio (um, Nicole, I hope you didn’t write this yourself…although we do know our share of mixed brothers and sisters who embrace the “exotic-ness”):
Nicole Scherzinger is what entertainment industry executives call “a triple threat.” This free-spirited artist is not just another pretty face; she can sing, act, AND dance. In a business that has been criticized for placing more emphasis on “image” than “ability” she shatters stereotypes with her blend of exotic beauty, charisma, and undeniable talent.
Scherzinger, who is of Hawaiian-Russian-Filipino descent, knew from a young age that she was destined to become an entertainer; performing is in her blood. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, as a child she watched her family of entertainers perform Polynesian shows featuring her mother as the lead hula dancer and her grandmother, Tutu, as the singer. At the age of six her family relocated to Louisville, Kentucky. Transitioning from island life was a new challenge for Nicole. “It was difficult at first because I didn’t look like everyone else”, she recalls, feeling at times like the ugly duckling.
What’s wrong with “exotic” you ask? Well…the definition is literally:
1 : introduced from another country : not native to the place where found
2 archaic : FOREIGN, ALIEN
3 : strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual
Mixed people being labeled “exotic” is simply one way that we continue to be othered. We are not all as alien as one would like to believe, though. When people say that I am “exotic,” I usually check them and explain that there are actually many out there that are just like me, ethnically — that I am not as unusual as the term “exotic” would infer. The reality is that we are not yet on everyone’s radars. When people call upon their notions of race, we don’t fit neatly into the existing/accepted categories…this is why so many continue to think of mixed individuals as “exotic” beings. Oooh, the synonyms are even better:
Synonyms: fantastic, glamorous (also glamourous), marvelous (or marvellous), outlandish, romantic, strange
Related Words: colorful, picturesque, quaint; alien, foreign; distant, faraway, remote; alluring, captivating, enchanting, fascinating
Now, “strange” I might agree with — there are some pretty weird mixed folks out there…just kidding.
“Exotic” is one of the “positive” stereotypes that exists for mixed people. This over-sexualization and mystery-inducing label is one that just clouds our thinking about the real issues that matter to mixed individuals. I would like to see people challenge this label more….the mixed experience is a bit more complex than merely having “exotic” features.
elizabeth wrote:
anyone know a good response to being told that you’re a “good mix”?
context:
x: so your dad is Chinese?
you: um, yeah
x: so what is your mother?
you: white, European-American
x: oh, that’s a good mix.
i find this comment has been made on several occasions in my life. i find it odd… and i don’t know how to respond. are there bad mixes? what do you mean a good mix?
just thinking aloud…online. peace!
Posted 28 Nov 2005 at 12:10 pm ¶
Flip Soul wrote:
Has anyone noticed that a lot of great singers are all part-Filipino?
Enrique Iglesias
Harlemm Lee
Jasmine Trias
One of my friends is part-aboriginal Taiwanese and also a good singer.
So, is there something in those old Austronesian genes…?
Posted 28 Nov 2005 at 12:47 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
This brings up a sentence I want on a T-Shirt:
“If you think I’m exotic, you need to get out more.”
>So, is there something in those old Austronesian genes…?
FlipSoul, my nephews are 1/2 Filipino, so I’d have to ask them. Personally, I’d attribute anything not to genetics, but to the rich culture of the Phillipines.
>oh, that’s a good mix
I agree, that’s a backhanded compliment. Maybe respond with something like, “Yeah, if it was the other way around, it would be such a BAD mix.”
See if they get it.
Posted 28 Nov 2005 at 3:53 pm ¶
Revolution wrote:
E
X
O
T
I
C
is a slur against my humanity.
Posted 28 Nov 2005 at 10:32 pm ¶
Susan Ayoob wrote:
Yeah, thanks for posing the “that’s a good mix” comment, cause hey, I get it too. I NEVER know what to say! “Oh yeah, Mexican and Lebanese is a great mix, I’m just so glad I’m not Persian and Guatemalan, that’s really an unfortunate mix”. I will try some variation on that next time.
The exotic thing is also a little difficult for me because growing up I was always told by my parents that I was beautiful because I was exotic- because I didn’t really look like anyone else, that word was always comforting to me. It let me know I was unique. Now that I’m older I understand the implications of the word, though I can understand why this singer/dancer/actress/ would embrace it, perhaps because the word made her feel beautiful as she grew up in a blonde haired blue eyed Barbie doll culture.
Posted 29 Nov 2005 at 2:33 am ¶
Cucu wrote:
“oh, that’s a good mix”
I think that’s generally just a polite response to fill in a mental vacuum - like “have a nice day.” Every mix is “good” just like every baby is “cute” and every new outfit/haircut is “gorgeous” (if you ask someone else’s opinion).
Posted 29 Nov 2005 at 1:11 pm ¶
Anthony Yuen wrote:
Wasn’t she part of some manufactured girl group a few years ago? I think they were part of some reality tv series. One of the other band members was also mixed Asian as well.
Posted 29 Nov 2005 at 9:55 pm ¶
699 wrote:
Theres nothing wrong with being called EXOTIC !
I consider myself exotic seeing as im asian, melanesian and british.
Posted 30 Nov 2005 at 6:32 am ¶
Fe wrote:
Wow, LOL, good article! I noticed on MySpace and elsewhere how Nicole Scherzinger is described as “exotic”. I hate that because it has nothing to do with her music ( it’s pop music). They also highlight some of her other bandmates’ ethnicities. I have no idea what difference it makes unless they are going for some type of world fusion sound but if it’s regular pop music then why so much attention?
And just because a person is of mixed race doesn’t mean they’re “exotic” and automatically hot/ good looking. I’ve met MANY mixed people who were plain in my eyes. I’m a mixed person myself (half Filipina and Italian-American) but I know I have a girl-next-door type of look.
Damn people! Just because a person is mixed doesn’t mean they’ll come out beautiful like Phoebe Cates or whatever.
Posted 01 Dec 2005 at 1:16 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
699:
The question remains, would you still feel “exotic” if you lived on a polynesian island, an asian country (I’m vaugue because I don’t know your specific mix), or Great Britain?
The problem is that “exotic” is when it is used to mean “different, other, not from around here.” If you’re comfortable with that, then that’s fine for you.
In my case, the last time I was called exotic was by someone whose grandparents were all immigrants w/in the last 80 or so years. Meanwhile, I can trace all my family lines to at least the 1910s and before that.
What this person actually meant was that by virtue of his appearance, in this case white European, he was not exotic, part of the normal appearance of what an American should look like. By default, he was telling me that I was NOT what an American could or should look like. Considering that the non-white ethnicities had been here for 100 yrs on one side and at least 200 years on the other, “exotic” was an insult, mostly to those ancestors.
Posted 01 Dec 2005 at 1:18 pm ¶
Rosa wrote:
I agree with what Cucu said. I have said that on a few occasions. I don’t honestly believe one mix is better than the other.
As for the word, “exotic,” I think it depends on what people associate with the word. I think it may be a word that is thrown around with no real meaning to it.
Posted 02 Dec 2005 at 7:50 pm ¶
Heather W. wrote:
Anthony Yuen, she used to be in Eden’s Crush. The group was created on that old Popstars show (on the WB, I think). From what I remember, almost all the girls in the group were mixed. Anyways, it bothers me when shows and articles covering entertainers from other countries or of mixed backgrounds put an emphasis on their ethnicites, and mention little about what they’ve accomplished as entertainers.
Posted 03 Dec 2005 at 1:39 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
>Anyways, it bothers me when shows and articles … mention little about what they’ve accomplished as entertainers.
There might be a reason for that other than race… like talent (or the lack of)
Posted 04 Dec 2005 at 6:26 pm ¶
Heather W. wrote:
>There might be a reason for that other than race… like talent (or the lack of)<
Haha. Yeah, that’s true :).
Posted 05 Dec 2005 at 1:14 pm ¶
Heather W. wrote:
Ah! My last comment was cut in half :). What I basically said, Lyonside, was that I agreed with you.
Posted 05 Dec 2005 at 2:11 pm ¶
Jessica wrote:
Alien is a relli mean word to describe sum1.
There’s nothing wrong wit being different!!! Every1 is different to each other!! Just becuz people are not exactly the same as you doesnt mean their werid! Being should stop labeling people becuz of where they came from or their colour! Personally i reakon people that are the same colour as Nicole Scherzinger is way hotter than those white people out there!!!
Every1 is different every1 is unique!!!
Posted 09 Dec 2005 at 3:01 am ¶
Danielle Mathis wrote:
i love nicole from the pcd.
i already have the cd!!!
:-()
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 10:03 am ¶
Dr. One Drop wrote:
To 699,
If you like to consider yourself exotic that is your perogative. You have a right to claim your own identity. I would just challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of what the histories and cultures of your various ethnicities are and perhaps you will see some of the problems with the use of the term “exotic”. Cuz if you just say that your “asian, melanesian and british”, but have no understanding of what that means than what’s the point?
To CuCu,
I’m gonna have to disagree with the nice-way-to deal-with-uncomfortable silence thing about “nice mixes”. While Rosa may not, other people definitely have formulas and equations of mixes in their minds which they think are ideal or preferable. “Nice mix” has so much to do with the exotification of the physical characteristics mixed people (which this website talks about at length). Also, it’s not really polite if it’s just a silence filler anyway.
To all y’all,
Just to add a little sumthin’ else to the mix here. I wonder how people feel about the role that having a “exotic” look/phenotype, which many mixed people are said to have, plays in gaining employment/notoriety in the image driven media and entertainment industries?
Also if there are any folks from the 808 state or other Polynesian folks out there checking out this site I wanted to know how you feel about Filipinos doing Polynesian shows and things of that nature? The bio on Nicole Scherzinger made me think to ask. Filipinos who have/are doing Polynesian dance/cultural stuff feel free as well.
Posted 13 Dec 2005 at 7:33 pm ¶
RacialDJ wrote:
“I’m gonna have to disagree with the nice-way-to deal-with-uncomfortable silence thing about “nice mixes”. While Rosa may not, other people definitely have formulas and equations of mixes in their minds which they think are ideal or preferable. “Nice mix” has so much to do with the exotification of the physical characteristics mixed people (which this website talks about at length). Also, it’s not really polite if it’s just a silence filler anyway.”
I met someone recently who claimed Black, Native American, Chinese, Filipino, etc in their family. To my own chagrin, I said “nice mix” as a polite. yet sincere, response. And that honestly had nothing to do with their particular mix, which was too diverse to break down anyway. I mean, what the hell else would you say?
Posted 24 Dec 2005 at 2:19 pm ¶
Chickenlittle wrote:
In reponse to the “good mix” comment, it is true that there is a general, in my opinion, misconception, that certain races mixed together makes a physically beautiful individual. I beg to differ; What makes a person beautiful does not lie in their ethnicity! We have to start considering people as whole packages, not half one thing and half another. A beautiful person, is a beautiful person (their ethnicity is a part of that, not the whole thing)!
Posted 27 Dec 2005 at 1:56 pm ¶
Thomas wrote:
Pleeeeeze, enough of all the whining. As a father of three absolutely beautiful half half children, I just want to say that YES, certain mixes DO produce children who are very good looking. Now you may say “yeah every parent thinks that their kids are beautiful” but does every parent get the comment ” you have the most beautiful children I have ever seen” EVERY TIME they are in public? No I doubt it. But I DO!!!! My kids are half white from me and half filipino from my wife. If you seen them you would know what I am talking about. We pass by 16 year old girls who exclaim to their friend ” Omigod!! did you see that little boy, he is so cute” And 75 year old grannies who will just come up and approach my wife and I to say “you have a very beautiful family”. We were in a restaurant recently and some of the female kitchen staff were coming out to look at my kids. Our waitress said, “on behalf of everyone who works here, I just want to say you two have the most beautiful kids we have ever seen in one family”
Posted 08 Jan 2006 at 2:00 pm ¶
Morph wrote:
I think that its great that mixed ethnicity is gaining notice. I love diversity and I enjoy seeing mixed racial couples and their children. It represents more to me than just “good-looking” or “good-stock” offspring. It represents the blurring of the color line, spotlighting diversity as a positive thing and encouraging people to open their eyes and their hearts to what is different from themselves. I have learned to not get too upset about people making mistakes about ethnicity. Some people are ignorant, but that doesnt make them stupid. As long as they are open-minded and willing to listen and understand, then there is no reason to be annoyed or upset. I see it more as an opportunity to expose people to different cultures and teach them about what I know of my own.
Posted 16 Jan 2006 at 6:13 pm ¶
eugene c. wrote:
hi every1 my name is eugene. but im not of mix race or anything! i think so, but im not really sure coz we filipinos have been invaded by SPANIARDS, JAPANESE, AMERICANS right! so peolple here cannot realy tell if bck then our ancestors have combined with those race…… but it doesnt really matter….. if you ask any1 filipinos can be mixed with other race and produce a really good mix….. and many people with good career in the entertainment is of filipino descent………. its because naturally we are people who have good musical talent……evry1 agree! like jasmine trias, enrique iglesias, lou diamond phillips, nicole scherzinger, tia carera, harlemm lee, mutya of sugababes, camile velasco etc…..
Posted 22 Jan 2006 at 7:25 pm ¶
Marsha wrote:
I think this whole calling people with a little melanin in their skin “exotic” comes from this whole disgusting movement that happened in the early 1990s. I call it the: “It is so cool to be ethnic thing.” Oh, you know, in the 1990s when Gwen Stefani started slap bindi’s on and everyone started to wear “exotic” Eastern style clothing. Now, it is just so “cool” to be ethnic, exotic, and different. It just pisses me off and to paraphrase Belle Hooks: White supremacy is not challenged when ethnicity becomes spice- seasoning that can liven up the dull dish that is mainstream white culture.
Sorry, but I grew up in the 1980s and my “exoticness” was looked upon with distain and disgust. Now, I’m supposed to get all exited and happy when someone says my much maligned skin tone and features are now “exotic”? I don’t think so.
Posted 02 Feb 2006 at 2:23 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
“certain mixes DO produce children who are very good looking children…”
Should have known the freaks and fetishists would start coming out of the woodwork for a post like this. Obviously this individual’s comments are indicative of someone who doesn’t have any type of racial hang ups. Let me guess, you have trouble approaching white women, Tommy? Or better yet? You’ve been in the military? Yeah, I figured as much. Your kind are always easy to spot. How pathetic.
Posted 03 Feb 2006 at 1:41 pm ¶
AznGrl wrote:
“Pleeeeeze, enough of all the whining.”
Right, because Asian or Hapa women being concerned about being objectified by white men is just “whining”. Silly me, guess I’m supposed to shut up, get down on my knees and service you whenever and wherever you require it. After all, I’m a subservient, exotic tart, and you’re a big, strong white man, huh? Your disregard for women is so apparent in this post.
“I just want to say that YES, certain mixes DO produce children who are very good looking.”
Gee, and I wonder which “certain” mixes those would be? Assuming this is a legitimate post (and I say this because it reads like a teenage masturbatory fantasy) I feel sorry for this perv’s wife. You know he’s probably got her locked in a basement somewhere.
Go back to your porn board, psycho.
Posted 03 Feb 2006 at 8:22 pm ¶
Kimberly wrote:
Thomas, you seriously need a life. It’s people like you that make this world miserable. Are you one of those white guys who buy–excuse me, marry–Asian girls for “beautiful kids”? If so that’s pretty pathetic. I know someone who did that, and you know what happened to him? The Asian wife found someone better (Asian I may say). And the kids? Sorry to say, but they came out either ugly or retarded. I’ll hold back wishing a certain unlikely fate upon you, but instead I’ll pray for your sorry behind. You obviously are a little screwed up in the head and need major help. Thomas….Oh my gosh, I don’t know what else to say…
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 2:16 am ¶
jerome wrote:
i love u nicole so match
Posted 17 Apr 2006 at 5:18 am ¶
sarah wrote:
nicole is so cool i wish i looked like her but, why does she make so many different vioces when she talks on camera?
Posted 05 May 2006 at 12:25 am ¶
maria klinsmann wrote:
i think melody thornton is the best from the pcd she is soooooooooooooooooo nice and she is my little sister
Posted 06 Aug 2006 at 4:56 am ¶
Anonymous wrote:
guatemalan and persian is a good mix, i would say lebanese and mexican is a bad mix.lol
Posted 27 Aug 2006 at 10:38 pm ¶
Nikki wrote:
U r so pretty n sxc Nicole how do u do it?
My mate iz copying your style and wants to be exactly like ya
Posted 11 Sep 2006 at 10:24 am ¶