Queer chef refuses to be interviewed by Ivanka Trump's website
President Trump's daughter, Ivanka, wants her brand to "inspire and empower women." In doing so, writers set out to interview women with inspiring and empowering stories.
Angela Dimayuga, executive chef of Mission Chinese Food, was approached about a profile on Trump's site. She shared the Instagram direct message she received:
A post shared by Angela Dimayuga (@swimsuit_issue) on Apr 10, 2017 at 2:34pm PDT
Dimayuga told the Huffington Post that she saw the message during work, and did not answer until later. When she did, though, she had a pointed response.
She shared it with Huffington Post:
Hi Adi,
Thank you for thinking of me. I'm glad you are a fan of my work so much that you want to provide more visibility for my career to inspire "other working women." However, I'm for women who actually empower other women.
I don't believe that IvankaTrump.com is truly "a non-political platform of empowerment for [women]". So long as the name Trump is involved, it is political and frankly, an option for the IvankaTrump.com business to make a profit.
I don't see anything empowering about defunding Planned Parenthood, barring asylum from women refugees, rolling back safeguards for equal pay, and treating POC/LGBT and the communities that support these groups like second class citizens.
As a queer person of color and daughter of immigrant parents I am not interested in being profiled as an aspirational figure for those that support a brand and a President that slyly disparages female empowerment. Sharing my story with a brand and family that silences our same voices is futile.
Thank you for the consideration.
Dimayuga decided to share her response publicly in order to stand in solidarity with people of color and the LGBTQ community. According to the Huffington Post, the writer did not respond to the rejection.
See photos of Ivanka Trump in her new White House role
