Mandarin Mama

Mandarin Mama began as a personal blog exploring the intersection of parenting, Asian American identity, faith, Chinese language education, and pop culture through intimate storytelling and commentary. The site evolved to include media reviews and interviews, building a community around shared experiences, and cultural discussions.

Currently, the platform has refined its focus to three core pillars: broadening Asian American representation and discourse, covering arts and entertainment, and promoting “chaotic joy” as a response to challenging times.

Virginia Duan

Virginia Duan is a prolific writer and editor who brings her signature wit and insight to every piece. As the entertainment editor for Mochi Magazine and freelance writer, she tackles the uncomfortable and taboo with biting humor and glimpses of grace. Her work has been featured on major sites like Parents, Scary Mommy, and Mom.com, providing relatable takes on topics ranging from parenting and family life to pop culture and social justice.

Not one to shy away from difficult subject matters, Virginia discusses mental health, grief, and trauma with disarming honesty. She leverages her own experiences as an Asian American woman, mother of five, and super BTS fan to discuss identity, grief, faith, social justice, and love. By saying the quiet parts out loud, her rage and vulnerability offer her readers comfort, solidarity, and catharsis.

Virginia co-hosts the Brazn Azn podcast and has been a featured guest on several other podcasts. She is the author of two steamy novels that are evocative behind-the-scenes stories set in the K-pop industry. Her first book, “So You Want Your Kid to Learn Chinese,” hit #1 on Amazon and provides resources for parents raising Chinese-speaking children in an English-speaking country. With decades of experience in marketing, financial advising, and writing, Virginia’s portfolio shows her versatility across subjects and passion for highlighting diverse voices. 

Based in the Bay Area, Virginia is currently working on multiple novels while bilingual homeschooling her kids and keeping everyone alive. Whether she’s purposefully pissing you off or fangirling over BTS, Virginia informs, inspires, and entertains with her signature blend of humor, heart, and honesty.

If you would like to work with or contact Virginia, please email her at [email protected].