Jong Yi Chen, Through Our Lens

By Soojee FordMarch 20, 2026

By Soojee Ford | 20th March 2026

Through Our Lens is a series exploring identity, expression, and the many ways people move through the world.

As an inclusive eyewear brand, Hyesun was founded in response to a gap, people with low nose bridges have long been overlooked in both product design and representation. While this often intersects with people of colour, it’s not exclusive to one group.

This series leans into that space. An intentional bias towards voices and faces we don’t see enough of, without limiting who gets to be part of the conversation. Because representation still has a long way to go, across culture, body, ability, and background. This series is our small way of contributing to that shift.

Jong Yi Chen (Grace) on Dance, Identity, and Life Between Cultures

By day, Jong Yi works as a lab technician. Outside of that, she dances, performs, and shares her style online.

When we spoke, her story centred on migration, community, and creative expression. From staging Intertwine with Chung Wah Dance to navigating life between cultures, her work reflects the spaces she moves through.Here’s our conversation with Jong Yi.

1. Tell me your name and what you do.

My name is Jong Yi Chen (you can call me Grace too). My day job is as a lab technician in a tertiary education institution. I also dance semi-professionally and hope to further build my YouTube channel, Grace Loves Fashion.

2. What’s your heritage, the pieces that make up where you’re from?

I grew up in Malaysia and my heritage is Malaysian Chinese. I came to Australia as an international student and then, as a family, we immigrated to Perth.

3. This series also highlights creative or purpose-driven work. What are you currently building or working on?

I dance with a group of fantastic ladies from the Chung Wah Association here in Perth. Two years ago, we staged an original show called Intertwine, exploring our experiences as women immigrants to Australia. It was a dance theatre piece built from our individual lived experiences and how [they] intertwine with our lives now and with each other.

We are trying to stage this show again, but it’s hard to find grants… so maybe someone seeing this would like to help us, please reach out.

4. How do you perceive representation in Australia, whether in media, online spaces, creative industries, or everyday life?

Representation in Australia for Asians has certainly increased in the last 20 years that I have been here. I remember showing my reels, even to Asian Australian directors, and they were not interested in telling Asian stories. I was young at the time and didn’t know how to overcome those stumbling blocks.

At least from what I can see now, through social media and so on, being Asian in Australia feels more accepted than in other countries.

5. What feels unique about being Asian Australian to you?

As Australia is geographically within the Asian region, I feel that I have one foot in each camp, understanding the ASEAN and Chinese mindset, while also carrying those undercurrents within me and understanding some of the Australian nuances. I feel I can be comfortable in most places in the southern hemisphere.