Today we’d like to introduce you to Mekyla Li.
Hi Mekyla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born into a life between cultures raised across three continents, constantly moving, and learning to adapt to new languages and traditions. That upbringing taught me resilience and empathy, but it also left me searching for identity.
As a teenager, my family faced the challenge of mental illness, which deeply shaped how I saw the world. It gave me a desire to stand beside people who feel unseen and to turn pain into purpose. Travel became my greatest teacher, showing me how compassion can transcend borders whether listening to young women in Zambia, volunteering with Dress for Success, or supporting Make-A-Wish.
What began as a personal journey grew into a global one. I’ve now traveled to over 26 countries, walked on stages from New York Fashion Week to Miss Asian Global, and used pageantry as a bridge between East and West, beauty and purpose, representation and resilience.
Today, as Miss Asia USA 2025, my mission is to use my platform to amplify voices, empower women, and show the next generation that they can be more than one thing at once. My story is really about connection to culture, to community, and to ourselves.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road in fact, some of the hardest seasons of my life have shaped the person I am today. Growing up between cultures and moving often meant that I was constantly starting over. As a child, I sometimes felt like I belonged everywhere and nowhere at the same time. That sense of displacement taught me adaptability, but it also came with loneliness and the challenge of finding my identity.
Later, my family’s experience with mental illness had a profound impact on me. Watching someone I love struggle with something invisible and deeply painful was heartbreaking. It forced me to grow up quickly, and it opened my eyes to the silent battles so many people carry. For a while, I wrestled with my own feelings of helplessness, but in time I realized those struggles gave me a deep well of empathy and a sense of purpose.
On my journey through pageantry and public platforms, there were also moments of self-doubt wondering if I was enough, if I belonged on the stage, or if I could balance beauty with authenticity. So while the road has had its bumps and detours, I wouldn’t trade it. Those struggles gave me the strength, compassion, and clarity that fuel everything I do today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work lives at the intersection of storytelling, cultural advocacy, and empowerment. As a model, titleholder, and travel content creator, I use my platform to highlight representation, amplify voices, and bridge cultures. I’ve had the honor of walking in New York Fashion Week, competing on stages like Miss Asian Global, and now serving as Miss Asia USA 2025 each step has been about more than appearances, it’s been about visibility and breaking stereotypes.
Beyond the stage, I specialize in initiatives that create opportunity and purpose. Through projects like Girl Impact in Zambia, I’ve mentored young women and supported education; with Dress for Success, I’ve championed financial independence and professional growth for women; and with Make-A-Wish, I’ve seen firsthand how kindness can transform even the darkest moments. These experiences have shaped my mission: to be a cultural bridge and a voice for women and youth on a global stage.
What I’m most proud of isn’t one single achievement, but the ability to merge beauty with purpose. I want people to see that you don’t have to choose between being strong and being graceful, between tradition and modernity, between East and West. What sets me apart is my authenticity every collaboration and every appearance is rooted in the values of visibility, opportunity, and empowerment. My goal has never been just to wear a crown, but to use it as a platform to create ripples of impact that reach far beyond myself.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve always believed that risk is less about recklessness and more about courage the willingness to step into the unknown even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. For me, risk-taking has been a constant part of my story. Growing up between cultures and moving across countries felt like a risk in itself: each time I had to start over, adapt, and rebuild. Those early experiences taught me that risk often comes with growth.
One of the biggest risks I took was stepping into pageantry. Coming from a multicultural background and with my focus on advocacy, I wasn’t sure if there would be space for someone like me. But I knew that representation mattered, and I wanted to show that pageantry could be about purpose as much as beauty. Taking that leap opened doors I never imagined from walking New York Fashion Week to becoming Miss Asia USA 2025, and more importantly, using my platform for impact.
So while I don’t see myself as a thrill-seeker, I do see myself as someone willing to take purposeful risks. To me, risk is the bridge between where you are and where you’re meant to be. Without it, you stay safe but stagnant. With it, you discover resilience, opportunity, and sometimes even your calling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mekylali.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themekylali/
- Other: https://virgeliaproductions.com/online-pageant-voting/mekyla-li-china/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafrvFM7GemQexNVndcEijoAGMIW2PBZevYQZzQF_5hO5AMjMsgaHVMb9BZStQ_aem_Ge_zg0flI5YK4wb-70v9hA
