From record-breaking music to historic wins, 2025 has been a golden year for AAPI representation across the globe. Whether it’s a stage, movie theater, or even city hall, Asian and Pacific Islander creatives have done more than show up. They pushed culture forward, shaped conversations, and redefined what mainstream visibility means beyond headlines.
With the new year just around the corner, read along as EnVi takes you through some of our favorite culture-shaping moments of 2025!
“APT.” Debuts at No. 1 on the 2025 Global Spotify Chart
This track features playful lyrics that compare the traditional Korean drinking game the song is named for with the flirtatious push-and-pull of trying to get the attention of someone you’re interested in. Originally released in October 2024, this fun and catchy collaboration between ROSÉ (of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK) and Bruno Mars quickly soared to new heights at the beginning of the year. “APT.” took the world by storm, eventually debuting at #1 on the 2025 Global Spotify Chart in January. The song ends the year no less successful, nominated for three 2026 Grammy awards and ranking #3 on Spotify’s stats for most streamed song of the year.
AAPI Stars Shine at Coachella
This year’s festival boasted an incredible international lineup and fans braved the heat and sweaty crowds to catch spectacular performances from their favorite artists.
Charli XCX took to the stage with hits from her groundbreaking album BRAT, turning the desert into a bumping rave. South African and Indian pop singer Tyla gave the desert some life with her acclaimed hit “Water” and other tracks from her debut album. K-pop sensations Lisa, Jennie, and ENHYPEN delivered high energy performances, with the latter making their Coachella debut. Global group XG also made their debut at the festival, showing off their futuristic and experimental sound.
Indie and alternative pop artists like Houston-born Vietnamese singer keshi, Filipina-British singer beabadoobee, Manila-born artist Eyedress, Japanese Breakfast’s frontwoman Michelle Zauner, and Chinese-American artist Ginger Root also showed up and out during the event. Other genre defying acts included Indian rapper Hanumankind, LA-based hyperpop duo Kumo 99, and house techno DJs Indohouse and Sammy Virji.
77th Annual Met Gala
EnVi was smitten with the theme of this year’s Met Gala, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Black dandyism and Black ingenuity were beautifully portrayed through intentional structure, silhouettes, and grace reflected in all the styles worn during the event. But these designs have their own history: during a time where enslavement and discrimination was prevalent, style became an integral part of personal expression and cultural tradition. The unisex dandyism looks that emerged amid this period took form through tailored suits — often made of silk and wool — with structural flow and architectural shapes. Even down to the polished shoes, the outfits signaled respect and acted as a call to rebel and show one’s truth. At this year’s Met Gala red carpet, each ensemble highlighted the important story of resistance and triumph. It reminded us that fashion always has history, and that self-expression is a powerful force.
“KPop Demon Hunters” Conquers the Charts
Netflix’s animated musical film KPop Demon Hunters, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, was released on June 20, 2025, quickly becoming a global phenomenon and breaking multiple streaming records within weeks. The plot revolves around a three-member female K-pop group, Huntrix, who are idols by day and magical demon hunters by night.
This film not only became a household favorite, reaching Netflix’s most watched movie within just a week, but also received high praises for its accuracy to K-culture and Korean mythology. The film’s music also won recognition — particularly the five time Grammy-nominated song “Golden” — and became the catalyst that launched hidden singer/songwriter EJAE into stardom. Artists, film critics, cultural analysts, and both children and their parents await a sequel. Co-director Maggie Kang shares that the story has the potential to expand into spin-off stories or even prequels, but remains ambiguous about specific plans.
24th New York Asian Film Festival
The annual New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) featured over 100 films in one of their most globally expansive lineups to date. This year’s event, centered around the theme “Cinema as Disruption,” screened films ranging from feminist horror, punk coming-of-age tales, and fearless political satire. The choices were focused on tackling taboos, seeking to reclaim narratives, and “celebrating the power of Asian cinema to defy convention.” Notable films that were awarded accolades included “Family Matters” by Pan Ke-Yin (Taiwan), “Skin of Yours” by Ash Mayfair (Vietnam/Singapore/Japan/USA), “Green Wave” by Xu Lei (China), “The Way We Talk” by Adam Wong (Hong Kong), and “Good-Mourning” by Nina Tsuji (Japan).
Katseye’s Iconic GAP commercial
Global girl group KATSEYE took social media by storm with their GAP “Better in Denim” commercial, with the ad amassing almost 52 million views. The collaboration featured the girls adorned in Y2K-inspired denim looks dancing to the iconic 2000s pop hit “Milkshake” by Kelis. Released during a cultural moment defined by divisiveness, KATSEYE and GAP used denim, dance, and music as a bridge for “self-expression, unity, and style that transcends generations.”
The Inaugural Miss Palestine
Nadeen Ayoub historically became the first to represent Palestine in the Miss Universe 2025 Pageant. The decision to include a Palestinian contestant came amidst growing condemnation of the ongoing Israeli invasion and violence in Gaza. Ayoub is the founder of Olive Green Academy, which trains women in sustainability and industry training, as well as Sayidat Falasteen, the philanthropic and media platform of the Miss Palestine organization. In an announcement of her pageant debut, Ayoub writes, “We are more than our suffering — we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us.”
Rising AAPI Designers at NYFW
New York Fashion Week made its annual round of the city, bringing a new generation of innovative designers, fan favorite celebrities dripped out in statement looks, and all the buzzing chaos that makes NYFW what it is.
Some up-and-coming AAPI designers that have been making a name for themselves included Vy Nguyen, leading Ivy Moda in their signature monochrome and structured take on Vietnamese women’s officewear. Designer Bonan Li, who hails from Beijing, collaborated with film director Roku Long to bring her collection “Floating Landscape” to life in the form of an immersive, spatial performance. The CFDA selected Kim Shui, Terrence Zhou, and Allina Liu for their annual AAPI Innovation + Design Grant, spotlighting AAPI talent who redefine fashion through innovation and storytelling through their cultural identity.
Anticipated celebrities that made their appearances included BTS’s Jungkook, Indian actress Disha Patani, and Thai actresses Milk Pansa and Tu Tontawan at the Calvin Klein show. i-dle’s Shuhua and Thai stars Namtan Tipnaree and Zee Pruk showed up to COS’s show in gray brutalist fits. Ralph Lauren had a star-studded show with aespa’s Winter, Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling, Chinese actress Yao Chen, and Filipina-American model Kelsey Merritt in attendance. Korean actress Chae Soobin, Indonesian actress Syifa Hadju, Singaporean singer Estelle Fly, and i-dle’s Soyeon took to Coach’s show in earthy, tan ensembles.
Manny Jacinto in TIME100 Most Influential People
Manny Jacinto is a 38-year-old Filipino actor who has earned his place as one of TIME magazine’s “Most Influential Rising Stars of 2025.” He’s best known for his roles in The Good Place, Star Wars: The Acolyte, and Freakier Friday, among others. With each story he tells through his characters, he is highlighting important representations of Asian and Filipino talent in mainstream entertainment. As of today, Jacinto is set to star in a comedy-adventure (Forgotten Island) a rom-com (Love Language,), and a Western comedy (The Stalemate).
Desa Potato Head in Bali Named One of Two Indonesian Resorts in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025
Indonesia’s beloved creative village – Desa Potato Head in Bali – secured the No. 18 ranking in the highly coveted The World’s 50 Best Hotels awards. More significantly, Potato Head was recognized with the prestigious Eco Hotel Award, highlighting its pioneering role in regenerative tourism. Operating under the ethos of “Good Times, Do Good,” the resort has become a worldwide reference for its commitment to carbon neutrality, zero waste, and community-led initiatives. This global recognition underscores how Potato Head successfully merges immersive Balinese art, culture, and hospitality while leading the charge for sustainable practices in the industry. “We are honoured to have been recognised by The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 awards and the Eco Hotel Award. We believe with the right intention, tourism could be a force of good change instead of destruction. We don’t have all the answers, but it feels good to be working together to find solutions,” founder Ronald Akili shared. Alongside the World’s 50 Best Hotels award, TIME named Ronald Akili to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list, which recognizes the 100 most innovative leaders driving business climate action.
Mamdani’s Historic Mayoral Win
Zohran Mamdani made history by winning the 2025 NYC Mayoral Election – an election that attracted the highest voter turnout in NYC since the 1960s. Mamdani will be the city’s first South Asian and first Muslim mayor, as well as the youngest mayor in decades. Born in Uganda to a professor father and Academy Award-nominated director Mira Nair, the 34-year-old state assemblyman from Queens ran a groundbreaking campaign focused on common concerns like freezing rent and improving city congestion. The combination of the potential for real change, his social media strategy, and his charismatic personality represented a newer, fresher approach to politics for many voters. In a quote post-win, Mamdani said, “Let City Hall, with our compassion, our conviction and our clarity, be the light that our city and our nation so desperately need.”
“SOUR” Breaks Spotify History
When it was originally released in 2021, Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album SOUR — a punk rock ode to teenage uncertainty, melancholia, and righteous fury — broke a global Spotify record for the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist. The album and the track “driver’s license” won Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance (respectively) at the 2022 Grammy Awards, with Rodrigo herself winning Best New Artist. Now, years later, SOUR continues to break barriers, making Spotify history by becoming the first album to have all of its tracks surpass 400 million Spotify streams.
Interested in reading more of EnVi’s 2025 highlights? Check out ACT!ON Team’s top series of 2025 here!
