This week, we continued to A-Profile the Stir TV hosts, the show for and about Asian America's next generation. This week we profile Stir Star Sabrina Shimada. Born in California but representing the best of two worlds, half Japanese and half German Sabrina calls herself the “What Is She, Anyway? Girl.” A former cheerleader, swing dance champion, high school class VP, and teen model, it’s clear that Sabrina is a very special part of the most exciting group of young people to hit television.

Your Site URL
http://www.stirtv.com

Ethnicity:
My father is 100% Japanese, born and raised, and my mom is 100% German. They met in Hawaii and eventually that is how I came to be.

How many siblings do you have?
I have two older sisters, and one older brother. In order from oldest to youngest it goes, Sayuri who's 30(married and w/child), Marisa who's 27(married), and my brother Kurt who is 20. So even though I am the youngest, meaning I am supposed to be the most spoiled, and I guess I am, my brother doesn't come far behind because he's spoiled by my dad for being the only boy. I love my family so much, they are the most important thing to me in the world, we are all so different, but it's just crazy fun when we all get together. But I totally believe that your family is a main factor in molding who you are.

Where have you attended school?
I have grown up in Pleasanton my entire life and it's a really nice town to live in, very safe, but I think I am ready to go into the "real world" because it's starting to feel like a bubble. I went to Donlon Elementary, Pleasanton Middle School, Foothill High School and am now at Las Positas College in the Livermore Hills. I also attended Dublin Beauty College, but only made it half way through before realizing it wasn't something I wanted to waste my time with.

What have you wanted to study?
Before Stir, I wanted to study biology and go to med school, but TV is so fun I am thinking of veering towards a career in television or media.

Favorite foods:
My favorite foods... Well I think anyone on the cast can tell you I am the little piggy but my favorites range from my dad's sukiyaki to In-n-Out burger. My favorite ice cream is jamoca almond fudge but one of my favorite desserts is German marble cake. My Grandma made the best!

Favorite music:
I listen to all sorts of music. It all depends what I am doing, I have music for cleaning my messy room, for rainy days, for sunny days... I love Britney Spears and am not afraid to admit it. I like Beyonce, Dave Matthews Band, Pharrel Williams, Tupac, Tim McGraw. I have my picks in every genre, except for polka. I remember in my ballet classes when we had to do the polka dance or maybe it was just ballet to polka music, however it was just too silly for me.

What was your first job?
My first job was... Well you can decide. When I was twelve, my mom and I were shopping in Walnut Creek and we saw this line going into Macy's. Well we went in and it ended up being a cast for models for Mitchell Model and Talent and the agent stopped me and asked me a few questions and gave me a card. A month later I called and went and signed with them and started modeling for Mervyn's, Macy's, Land's End and my highest paying job with them was a Doritos P.O.P. ad. But when I was 14, I worked at Cookies By Design, ate tons of cookies, decorated them, worked the register, etc. So you could say my first non-glamourous job.

What were your initial thoughts when you found out that you were selected to be a host of Stir? How are your friends and family reacting to your new job?
When I first found out I was going to be a host for stir I was psyched. I was really nervous at auditions and really unsure about what they thought of me. It was either hit or miss. So when they called the butterflies flew away and I was so proud of myself and finding out the other people cast was exciting as well because it was all the people I got along with and knew I was going to have fun with. I am not being cheesy but really, I wasn't sure if they were going to cast whoever they liked not keeping in mind that we should all like each other too. My mom is my number one fan I think, maybe a tie between her and my sisters. They are all proud of me, my dad is already telling me things he wants me to buy him when I am rich and famous. My brother thinks its funny and my friends all say they knew it.

How do you feel about all the traveling you have to do for the show? Does the travel conflict with your academic schedule?
There is actually not that much traveling for the show, but I don't mind. I love to travel anyways. I am always excited to go to new places. Stir brought me to Seattle for the first time and even though I didnt get to look around much it was still fun. The travel doesn't conflict with my academic schedule. I am not a full time student. And right now stir is my only job.

You've had a lot of extracurricular activities to keep you busy - former cheerleader, swing dance champ, high school class VP, and teen model! How have you managed your time? What are your priorities?
First I want to clear this up before its published somewhere, hehe, I was in a swing-dance competition, not the champ. And I was class vice president in 8th grade, even though I did run my freshman year but failed to win. And yes I was a teenager when I modeled, but I was so small that I modeled for children's clothing. But all that is pretty much in the past. I used to be busy all the time but with how things have worked out things are pretty chill and I am tryin to make them busy. There are a lot of things I want to do again like play soccer or start taking dance classes again, but I will get back to those all eventually. Right now I am focusing on Stir, on my family (my sister is having a baby in a couple of months, I am soo excited for that) because I am moving away soon and I just want to enjoy home as much as I can. And I want to be able to enjoy Stir as much as I can, I dont want to miss any chances because I am busy.

What do you think is one of the biggest misconceptions the general public has about women who are part-Asian? Now's your chance to tell it like it is!
Hmm that's a toughy. I mean people usually look at me and think Asian before White. There's always questioning and sometimes it's flattering, but sometimes it's like, why does it matter. Rather than say a misconception about women who are part-Asian. I would tell these women, or girls, that they are special, they are strong. Because in a way we are standing by ourselves, we are supporting each other. I don't stand with the Asian girls completely because I am different from them, whether it's the way I look or because I am living in a house with two different cultures. I don't stand with the German side of me completely, that would mean standing with a group of White women where I stand out significantly. I think its important to embrace both cultures and never try to consider yourself more one than the other and never sacrifice one to fit in. I love my mother and father the same, and I embrace each culture the same. I may look more Asian than White, but I am proud to be both. Everytime I say I am proud to be Asian, it's true, and just because I am only half doesn't mean I am any less proud than someone who is 100%.

What are your pet peeves?
Pet peeves, yikes I am virgo I think I have a million. hehe. My pet peeves would be people who call but don't leave messages. I hate when my nails are significantly uneven lengths. :) I don't like when guys try and hit on me and say what's your nationality? BECAUSE I know they mean what's your ethnicity, but I still say American. And I don't like fake purses!!!! That I guess is my number one pet peeve, knock-off purses. Don't pay to be fake, just buy something you can afford that is unique in itself instead of tryin to be something you're not. I believe fake purses should be banned. Wow. I better stop :)

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years?
Five years from now... Dreaming or not dreaming??? Dreaming I would be working on the set of some TV show that is mainstream and representing the real America, considering America is the land of all sorts of people. But not dreaming, I see myself in Southern California going to school and tryin to get on the set of some TV show that is making a difference. Ten years from now, hopefully I will be married, living in a lovely place close to home and enjoying breakfast with my mom and sisters while all the kids play, and let's see 28, well maybe I will have a big belly by then.

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by the gracious and dedicated
Cynthia Cheng.

Images used with permission of Stir TV. Copyright retained by original copyright holder.