Search Style Sheets: Your Photos, Your Looks

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• http://twitter.com/kayerey rey kayelado

  Could go either way with Miss Zhang – traditionally, Chinese names are family name first, then individual name – though it’s usually a matter of preference nowadays.

  I agree, though. The ethnic-specific labels are really offensive.

• TheRainWalker

  Granted, the ethnic-specific categories are offensive. However, the reason why they might have put Ziyi’s last name first is because that is how the Chinese order their name – at least in China. The name that the Chinese (in China) put first is the name that westerners put last. (And I believe at least some of other Asian countries do the same thing.) Saying her name is Ziyi Zhang is westernizing her name. I grew up with Chinese friends and I took Chinese in high school and during my first year in college, so I was told this from them. If she prefers to go by a westernized name, then yes, they got it wrong. However, if she prefers to by how Chinese names are traditionally ordered, then her name is correct.

• Styleite

  Thanks! Our writer tipped us off about the Chinese way of writing someone’s last name first, but since GQ is an American magazine and the writer is using a Pingying (or Romanized) version of the actress’ name, the writer should have written first name, then last name.

• marzipan

  it’s a men’s magazine… since when are they not going to be slightly offensive to women?

• GEEDEE

  Why would simply being called what you are ‘offensive’? Really people, we all have an ethnic background of some kind, why is it offensive to have it pointed out???? Some people really must take a step back and look at the bigger picture in life. Get offended over things worthy of being offended by, NOT “OMG, GQ JUST NAMED A HOT ITALIAN CHICK, A HOT ITALIAN CHICK”!!!!

• randomuser

  I am an indian… and i DO NOT think this is offensive
  each geographic/ethnic group has their own uniuqe facial/body features.. it will be meaningless to compare them in between.. for example, it will be like comparing oil and water
  SO i dont think GQ did any mistake here
  personally i believe GQ is a great magazine..
  and lets not whine about getting offended all the time for simple matters, (like muslims do all the time for silly matters).. lets not forget that, if someone is offended by something, they have the right to ignore the matter than trying to forcibly change the otherparty according to our wishes… (like muslims do all the time)

• innocent bystander

  dont know why everybody make a big fuss about zhang ziyi’s name…
  everybody else.. every other website, and every magazine pronounce her name as zhang ziyi… and not as ziyi zhang.. then why only now everybody has a big issue when GQ used the same name?.. infact you will never see in anywebsite /magazine here name printed as ziyi zhang.. you will always see it as zhang ziyi… then why only everybody creating mountain out of dogpoop?
  appears like someone is trying very hardly to find non-existing faults..

• tresor

  I don’t find it offensive. Ethnic people in America take pride in their heritage. Who is offended—white folks?

• Christina

  I’d like to note on your note: “Zhang Ziyi” is the correct way of writing Ziyi’s name. In China, surnames come first, followed by given names.

  Also, these women are ACTUALLY from the country specified, Kim Kardashian is not “Hottest Armenian” because she’s not from Armenia. Americans seem to have a difficult time separating nationality from heritage.

• JumboShrimp

  Who cares how they are rated? I personally agree with everything they said. Am I racists? I sure hope not since I generally only date ethnic women. This author of this lost all of their credibility when they mentioned a Kardashian. Plus its just a name drop to get hits.

• Jada Wong

  M.I.A is categorized as “Hottest Pregnant Sri Lankan”, but she’s actually from London.

• Anonymous

  Sorry, but no. If we are going to condemn the worlds of modeling, advertising, and performance, since they focus obsessively on physical types and ideals, we can dig into the sexism, racism, ageism, gender bias, sizeism, and every other aspect of preference that drives those industries. GQ is nothing new. But if we are not going to take down the whole system, we can’t single them out. Their categories actually show a broadening of awareness. Having categories is part of the entire system of looks-driven industries. But the fact that they now understand that ice blondes are no longer the be-all, end-all of beauty is progress. Their appreciation of women of color is progress. Their “categories of one” show appreciation for individuals beyond types. And let me say that as an old lady, I clearly recall a time when undeniably pregnant women were put on a pedestal and hidden from view. It was considered both a high holy and physically disgusting state. Pregnant women, especially women of color, were not allowed to be visible or be sexually attractive. So yeah, it’s typical of the inherently biased system. But it’s still progress, even if they are not fully evolved yet.

• Alyssa

  I was so going to reply that Zhang Ziyi was probably written that way because in China the last names are written first! And awesome point about heritage and nationality. Although I think Mila Kunis is from the Ukraine so hers possibly should’ve been “hottest Ukrainian”.