Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho is one of the more visible Asian-American women of her time. Although probably best remembered for her short-running sitcom All-American Girl, Korean-American comedian Cho has come a long way since then. Cho is a living example of what can happen to you when you become a poster child for someone else's idea of political correctness. Having survived a media blitz, her startling career charts her professional (in fits and starts) as well as personal growth. In her self-produced off-Broadway show I'm the One That I Want (and autobiographical book by the same name) Margaret Cho tells all -- and doesn't leave out the gory parts. From her rise to fame to the network's shame (telling a thin girl to get thinner to play herself on television) and how she overcame a lifetime of culture-driven self-hatred manifested in the form of bad boyfriends and career moves, drug and alcohol abuse, and a chronic eating disorder, Cho lays it on the line -- humorously, of course. This time, with Cho given (a gift to herself) full creative control, instead of being panned by the critics, she won New York Magazine's Performance of the Year, with a series of other accolades to follow.

The Notorious C.H.O. (as she refers to herself in the title of her second show) received a GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Award honoring her specifically, as "an entertainment pioneer who has made a significant difference promoting equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or identity." For addressing the concerns of women and women's changing roles, Cho was granted the distinguished Gracie Allen Award. She was also featured on Remarkable Journey, a show highlighting the accomplishments of women of color