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No, it's not surprising Kevin Kim is Cosmo's Bachelor

K-pop star and SBS Pop Asia host Kevin Kim has taken out the Cosmopolitan and Tinder’s Bachelor of the year Awards, but the media coverage surrounding his victory has been very different to that of previous years’ winners.

There have been less stories, headlines focusing on his cultural background, and an emphasis that he’s ‘relatively unknown’.

Yet how is the first Asian Cosmo and Tinder Bachelor winner with over 60,000 Instagram followers and a global music career more ‘relatively unknown’ than a tradie or the ‘animal lover’ who won last year’s competition?

K-pop star and SBS Pop Asia host Kevin Kim has taken out the Cosmopolitan and Tinder’s Bachelor of the year Awards, but the media coverage surrounding his victory has been very different to that of previous years’ winners. Source: Getty
K-pop star and SBS Pop Asia host Kevin Kim has taken out the Cosmopolitan and Tinder’s Bachelor of the year Awards, but the media coverage surrounding his victory has been very different to that of previous years’ winners. Source: Getty

Well actually, he’s not. So why is the media portraying him as the ‘surprise’ winner, when a string of regular guys on Tinder, who have not an inch of fame clinging to them, were also nominated and in with a chance of making it?

News outlets have variously described Kevin as a ‘slim fashion plate’ and ‘a bolter from the blue’ who ‘has made it Kim-possible for your average beefcake contender to win’.

And it is only reinforcing what Hollywood and the media so often stereotypically portray Asian men as; not sexy.

After what Cosmopolitan says were ‘thousands and thousands’ of votes cast by readers and Tinder swipers, Kevin managed to yield the most nods. If that’s not an indicator of broad sex appeal, then what is?

How is the first Asian Cosmo and Tinder Bachelor winner with over 60,000 Instagram followers and a global music career more ‘relatively unknown’ than a tradie or the ‘animal lover’ who won last year’s competition? Source: Getty
How is the first Asian Cosmo and Tinder Bachelor winner with over 60,000 Instagram followers and a global music career more ‘relatively unknown’ than a tradie or the ‘animal lover’ who won last year’s competition? Source: Getty

Yet these articles are forcing Asian men once again to defend their masculinity and sexuality.

Meanwhile news outlets' coverage of last year’s winner was very different, despite the 2017 winner also not being an actor or athlete who regularly hits the red carpet.

RSPCA staffer Ryan Anderson was instead described as someone who ‘loves dogs and is a country boy’. There was no mention of the 'animal lover' being ‘relatively unknown’.

After winning the award last night, Kevin himself said he’s ‘proud’ to be the first Asian man to win the Cosmopolitan and Tinder Bachelor Of The Year competition.

Home And Away star Orpheus Pledger placed second. Source: Getty
Home And Away star Orpheus Pledger placed second. Source: Getty

Speaking to Be,Cosmopolitan magazine’s editor Keshnee Kemp said Kevin’s nomination was reflective of the publication’s diverse audience.

“I’m thrilled for Kevin Kim taking home the title of 2018 Cosmopolitan Bachelor of The Year last night. Kevin was one of thirty finalists - a really diverse group of men from a range of different cultural backgrounds,” she said.

“The contestants were a great representation of the Cosmopolitan audience and the modern millennial female.”

Only a few media outlets have covered Kevin’s victory this morning, including news.com.au, Daily Mail, SBS and TV Tonight.

Cameron Cranley, who starred in The Bachelorette in 2016, came third on the night. Source: Instagram/camcranley
Cameron Cranley, who starred in The Bachelorette in 2016, came third on the night. Source: Instagram/camcranley

Historically, the annual competition, even in its Cleo days, spurred a media spectacle with various publications, television shows and radio networks buzzing about the winner after he’s announced.

It seems the limited attention given to Kevin’s victory doesn’t have anything to do with journalists not knowing who he is, but perhaps everything to do with his skin color.

When Waleed Aly won the coveted Gold Logie in 2016, the Herald Sun famously chose to not feature the recipient of the top TV gong on its front page the next day, breaking a 20-year tradition.

The Egyptian-Muslim television presenter’s acceptance speech about diversity captivated viewers and sent social media into a meltdown, yet it was his co-host Carrie Bickmore splashed across the publication’s front page instead.

Last year's winner, 'animal lover' Ryan Anderson. Source: Instagram/aussiedogguy
Last year's winner, 'animal lover' Ryan Anderson. Source: Instagram/aussiedogguy

'It’s pretty cool [to be] the first Asian to take home the title," Kevin told Cosmopolitan last night.

“I feel proud to be representing and really humbled by all the support from people who voted."

Hopefully next time a non-caucasian comes out on top, the media won't be so surprised.

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