Angel Pai in her one-of-a-kind, hand-sculptured art jewelry, Illumin Designs

Angel Pai is an actress, producer, TV host, fine artist, jewelry designer, nonprofit founder, entrepreneur, public speaker, fashion model, and social impact leader. Throughout her career, Angel has seamlessly woven her humanitarian ethos into every facet of her work, establishing herself as a changemaker and thought leader in education, women’s empowerment, and social justice.

Angel’s entry into the media world was serendipitous. Initially on the path of becoming a neurosurgeon, she fully embraced her passion and path in storytelling after being cast in a French film production while on location in Taiwan. Her role in the film, which premiered at various European film festivals and on French television, marked the beginning of a diverse and dynamic media career. As a fashion model, Angel is represented by top agencies in eight countries and has appeared in international campaigns and runway shows. As the muse of Malan Breton, Angel has opened and closed fashion shows for the designer since his brand’s inception. Her work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, GQ and Maxim. In 2009, she placed top four in the Miss Asia beauty pageant and won the Miss Body title. After being discovered for her vibrant on-screen presence while walking a celebrity fashion show in LA, she expanded into TV hosting, working with MTV IGGY, NYCTV, Travel Channel, and PBS AllArts. Angel’s latest hosting segments for NYC VIBE on PBS AllArt cover humanitarian efforts in art, fashion, and entertainment.

As a public speaker, Angel has delivered keynote speeches and panel talks worldwide, sharing her personal journey of perseverance and empowerment. She advocates for cultural exchange and holistic education as an official STEAM Ambassador for the Aspire Artemis Foundation, focusing on integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to create opportunities for young women in marginalized communities. In addition, she serves as an Education and Youth Empowerment Ambassador for The Dais, India, where she promotes education and women’s empowerment, and works with the There Is No Limit Foundation in Africa, advocating to end gender-based violence.

Angel is also a creative entrepreneur. She founded ILLUMIN DESIGNS, a sustainable art jewelry brand that reflects her deep connection to the Japanese philosophies of wabi sabi (embracing the beauty in imperfection) and kintsugi (symbolizing healing and rebirth). Each one-of-a-kind piece of jeweled art is meticulously handcrafted by Angel personally in a meditative state, embedding intention, inspired by nature and her personal journey. ILLUMIN DESIGNS collaborates with various UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) foundations to promote sustainability and women’s empowerment. In 2023, her jewelry was presented at the UN Peace Day Youth Event during the UN General Assembly, bejeweling the Designs4Unity peace collection featuring the collaboration of Mariama Camara and Mazehual Mexico.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Angel co-founded Keep Breathing, Inc., a nonprofit organization designed to address the urgent needs of frontline medical staff. This fully volunteer-led initiative provided open-source designs and produced 3D-printed ventilator splitters, intubation boxes, ear savers, and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) for hospitals. Keep Breathing, Inc. was featured in Time Magazine, Observer, and World Journal for its contributions to the global fight against COVID-19.

A former competitive martial artist, Angel holds eight championship gold medals in tae kwon do, excelling in both sparring and forms. She has also trained in fencing and archery. Her artistic talents emerged early, with her first exhibitions of oil paintings at the age of nine. She was later showcased in a young artist exhibition associated with the Museum of Modern Art while she was a student at the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in New York City.

Currently, Angel is developing film and television programming focused on uplifting stories of humanitarian achievement. Through her work as a thought leader in storytelling, Angel seeks to shift human consciousness by amplifying underrepresented voices and promoting social change. Having lived in seven countries, Angel has a broad understanding of global culture and human connection, which informs her mission to empower others through media and creativity.

Highlights

  • Guest starred on season two of MANIFEST (NBC/Netflix) as Dr. Yeo

  • Speaker on Antigua Barbuda Today on International Coastal Cleanup

  • Speaker/panelist for Aspire Artemis Journeys in STE(A)M: Inclusion, Innovation + Impact - 2022 Global Symposium - Tortola, BVI

  • Co-founded Keep Breathing, Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing evolving relief in response to the coronavirus. This fully volunteer-based organization provides open-source designs, as well as manufactures and donates 3D-printed ventilator splitters, intubation boxes, ear savers and PAPR(powered air purifying respirator) for medical staff on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic. As featured in:Time Magazine, Observer, World Journal.

  • Master of Ceremony for 2020 Lunar New Year Celebrations at Brookfield Place, Winter Garden, NYC, in partnership with the New York Chinese Cultural Center

  • Speaker/panelist on Inclusion, Art, and Accessibility Symposium, hosted by the Aspire Artemis Foundation, alongside His Excellency Cosmos Richardson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Siad Doualeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Djibouti to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Marc-André Blanchard, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York, and Her Excellency Ms. Vanessa Frazier, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations

  • Speaker on Crushing the Myth speaker series, on Health & Spirituality : Transmuting Darkness Into Light, sharing a powerful and very personal part of her journey- the darkness that brought forth the Light

  • Master of Ceremony for the 2019 Break The Silence Awards. In commemoration of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, There Is No Limit Foundation hosted the Break The Silence Awards in NYC, honoring the First Lady of Burkina Faso and other key global advocates for their work in ending gender-based violence and FGM

  • New host of NYC Vibe on PBS All Arts, specializing in events coverage of humanitarian efforts, fashion, entertainment

  • Guest speaker on “Tao of Self Confidence” podcast, sharing personal journey of women empowerment

  • Official fashion/travel contributor to ASIAN FUSION MAGAZINE

  • Master of Ceremony for the 2018 Fashion&Fiance Ball, benefiting the FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS, raised over $1 Million through charity donations in a one night event, with a finale performance by Sara Bareilles

  • Nominated for BEST ACTRESS (FISH STEW) at KINO Film Festival and Canada China Academy Film Festival

  • New host for NYC VIBE on NYCTV (channel 25/JETBLUE inflight/4000 NYC green cabs)

  • FISH STEW (leading role) nominated/wins/official selection in 12 film festivals around the world

  • Starred in AMATO: THE FLOWER OF WAR (short film), which premiered at the AMATO Haute Couture fashion show in Fashion Forward Dubai fashion week

  • Face of GUDRUN SJODEN's Power Women campaign

  • Closed for MALAN BRETON's NYFW FW17 runway show at Madison Square Garden

  • Opened for MALAN BRETON's NYFW SS17 runway show with Frankie Grande

  • Featured model on MAXIM.COM

  • MALAN BRETON: A JOURNEY TO TAIWAN; winner of Best Short Documentary at the NYC International Film Festival 2015

  • Photoshoot and film by ANTOINE VERGLAS in artistic collaboration with street artist, BRADLEY THEODORE

  • Closed for MALAN BRETON's NYFW FW15 fashion show at the Lincoln center