Why Speak Chinese 2020 Winner Amanda Florian’s (小爱 xiǎo ài) flawless Mandarin has obviously impressed our judges. But more than that, her journey to learn the language  is inspirational. 

Chinosity celebrates individuals like Amanda who fully immerse themselves in Chinese culture and embrace all there is to learn. Her path from singing with her sisters as a young girl in North Carolina to launching a media startup is a story that inspires.

Amanda has always been a go-getter. She grew up in the entertainment industry and trained in classical Italian.

By the age of eight she was training in theater, dance and voice in New York City with her two sisters. New York quickly became her second home. 

Following a childhood immersed in the arts, Amanda developed a passion for journalism and research during her undergrad at Milligan College. 

“That’s when I realized I have a love for words. Being a kid, my dad always said, ‘You should get paid by the word since you love talking and sharing all these ideas.’” Her dad said this jokingly, but his words stuck with Amanda. 

Amanda’s journalistic endeavors grew even deeper when she spent a year solo-traveling in Asia. Whether that be traveling to Thailand and meeting monks or seeing the soldiers in Korea, inspiration is in every corner for Amanda to explore. 

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Hannah Keenan

Hannah Keenan is a student at the University of Southern California studying International Relations and Mandarin. Hannah’s interests are human rights and culture.