Wednesday, 16 Dec 2020 02:43 PM MYT
BY JERRY CHOONG
Jocelyn Yow was elected as the mayor of the city of Eastvale in California, with a population of 55,000 located an hour east of Los Angeles. Picture via Facebook
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 Congratulations and praise from Malaysians over Jocelyn Yow’s appointment as a mayor in a city in the United States has come as a surprise to the 25-year-old.
In an interview with
Malaysiakini, Yow said she did not expect that her achievement would make headlines in her father’s country of birth.
Jocelyn Yow Is The Malaysian-Vietnamese-American Woman Who Has Been Elected As A US Mayor
Her father is from Alor Setar, Kedah! channel for the latest stories and updates.
While women politicians here in Malaysia struggle to be heard, one woman of Malaysian heritage has made history by being the youngest woman of colour to serve as a mayor in California, United States.
Jocelyn Yow is a 25-year-old woman of Chinese Malaysian and Vietnamese descent who was born in the United States.
Mayor Yow is a shining example of what can happen when women – especially women of colour – are provided opportunities to run and win political office.
This is Jocelyn Yow
Over the week, 25-year-old Yow was appointed as the new Mayor of Eastvale, a city in northwestern Riverside County, California, after having served in the position as Mayor pro-tem this past year.
Yow with her son, Kayden.
With her appointment on 10 December, Yow has become the youngest woman of colour ever to serve as mayor of a California city
She took to her Twitter on 11 December to announce the news, writing, Local government makes decisions that affect our daily lives and is where we can directly see democracy in action. It is crucial that we include the perspectives of young women and mothers while making important decisions that impact the families we serve, Yow wrote, adding, While I will be the youngest woman of colour and one of the very few young mothers to serve as a mayor in the state of California, I am hopeful that more young women and mothers will follow suit.
Jocelyn Yow s Malaysian father and Vietnamese mother moved to the United States in the 1990s.
The mother of a six-month old baby boy said in an Instagram post that she was proud to be a Malaysian-Vietnamese-Chinese-American. My dad came here from Malaysia in the 1980s in order to pursue a higher education and a better future. In 1996, we had to move to Malaysia when my paternal grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, and I ended up spending over 10 years there, allowing me to learn more about our family history, heritage and culture, she said in an Instagram post.
She added that despite having little to nothing when her parents were just starting out in their career, they always emphasised the importance of public service and giving back.
25-year-old new mom becomes youngest woman of color to serve as a mayor in California
By Mary Stringini
25-year-old new mom becomes youngest woman of color to serve as a mayor in California
EASTVALE, Calif. - At just 25 years old, Jocelyn Yow, a new mom, has become the youngest woman of color to ever serve as mayor in a city in California. On Wednesday night, the councilwoman took the helm as mayor of the city of Eastvale, a city of over 73,000 residents in Riverside County. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the mayor of Eastvale, the city I am proud to call home. Being a new mom to a six-month-old further fuels my passion to serve my community, Yow said. Local government makes decisions that affect our daily lives and is where we can directly see democracy in action. I am servicing the city to ensure a better future for my son and the next generation of Eastvale residents.