Stephanie Murphy

Photo Credit: Twitter @SMurphyCongress

Stephanie Murphy, born Đặng Thị Ngọc Dung, is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Florida's 7th congressional district and the first Vietnamese American woman elected to Congress.

Ms. Murphy defeated a 23-year Republican incumbent, despite starting her campaign only a few months before the election and with no history in politics.  She received endorsements from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

As one of her first acts in Congress, she proposed legislation to keep Steve Bannon, President Trump's chief strategist, off the National Security Council.  

After the September 11th attacks, Ms. Murphy worked in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense as a national security specialist.  She attributed it to the desire to give back to and protect a country that rescued her family after they escaped Vietnam by boat.

Betty Nguyen

Photo Credit:  www.bettynguyen.com

Betty Nguyen is an award-winning journalist at NBC and MSNBC, television host, and humanitarian.

Ms. Nguyen has interviewed countless people, including Dalai Lama, President George W. Bush, and Christian Louboutin, among many others.

As part of its 2007 exhibit, "Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon," the Smithsonian Institute honored Ms. Nguyen as the first Vietnamese-American to anchor a national television news broadcast in the United States.

In 2000, she co-founded Help the Hungry, a non-profit organization that aims to alleviate world hunger by providing humanitarian aid to poverty-stricken families.  Her philanthropic work earned her a spot in the Philanthropy in Texas Hall of Fame.

Michelle Phan

Photo Credit:  www.facebook.com/MichellePhanOfficial/

Michelle Phan, a Vietnamese American, has influenced and inspired countless women as one of first beauty tutorial bloggers. Her YouTube channel has nearly 9 million subscribers and over 1 billion views.

Ms. Phan also founded ipsy, a monthly makeup and beauty subscription service, that was valued at $500 million in 2015.

She recently launched ICON, a lifestyle network that provides original content on fashion, wellness, DIY, food, human-interest stories, and travel.

Judge Jacqueline Hong-Ngoc Thi Nguyen

A 2010 portrait of Judge Jacqueline Nguyen released by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California | AP

Judge Jacqueline Hong-Ngoc Thi Nguyen immigrated to the U.S. in 1975.

Appointed by President Obama, she currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, making her the first Asian American female on the federal appellate level.

Prior to that, she served on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (the first Vietnamese American federal judge).

Thi Bui

Photo Credit:  Abrams Books

To celebrate the start of Women's History Month, we introduce Thi Bui, a critically acclaimed writer, artist, former public school teacher, and member of PIVOT. The Best We Could Do is an exquisitely illustrated graphic memoir debuting this month about her family's escape after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 and the difficulties they faced building their new lives in America.

The Best We Could Do