On March 27, 2024, Qin Qin (2013 ACYD Alumni) published her book named Model Minority Gone Rogue – the story of Qin Qin. The book unpacks her incredible journey as a model Asian daughter growing up in Australia and how she decided to take the path less walked by which will no doubt inspire many. Congratulations Qin Qin!

Please find below further details about Qin Qin and her exciting new book from her media release.
Qin Qin was all about the rules: do your homework, be good, don't rock the boat.

She was the model daughter, model student and model minority – holding four university degrees, from Harvard, ANU and The University of Melbourne.

But doing everything right? It made her lost and miserable. So she decided to take a spectacular risk and change everything.

In Model Minority Gone Rogue, Qin Qin shares her story, and unpacks how she internalised the “model minority stereotype”, which emerged to describe Asian migrants' societal success. Qin Qin defines it as a “myth that is problematic at best, and dangerous at its worst. This convenient narrative has been used to pit non-white communities against each other. The reasoning goes, if the good immigrants can work hard, overcome racism and become exemplary citizens, why can’t the ‘problem’ minorities do that too?”

At 23, Qin Qin was an unhappy overachiever working for a prestigious law firm. So, after years of playing by the rules and pressuring herself, she quit. Qin Qin didn't know what else was out there, but she wanted to find out. She changed paths, changed careers, changed countries, changed her entire view of what the world could be, and who she could be.

In the process, she discovered the person she truly was.

With dry wit, Qin Qin explores the cultural pressures to succeed at all costs, her growing disillusionment with tying happiness to professional success, while dealing with difficult relationships and her own healing journey.. while at the same time reflecting on studying at Harvard and working at the UN.

Model Minority Gone Rogue is a funny, sad, exhilarating and thought-provoking true story about what happens when you want to live life on your own terms, even when those terms go against everything you've ever known. It's a story of what happens when you choose love over fear and honour your authentic self: life can be bigger and brighter than anything you had ever imagined.

Qin Qin was born in Southwest China and grew up in Canberra as a first-generation Chinese Australian. By 29, she was a Harvard graduate with four degrees working for UNICEF. Qin Qinhas been recognised for her work and named a 40 under 40: Most Influential Asian Australian in 2020 and a past winner of the Young Australia China Alumni of the Year Award. She now lives in Canberra with her husband James and golden retriever Oprah. After recovering from an internet and technology addiction, Lisa rediscovered her love of writing. She was shortlisted for Penguin Australia's 2021 Write It Fellowship and received a residency at Varuna The National Writers' House in 2023.

Follow Qin Qin on her social media:

•LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qinqin1

•Insta: @qinqin_writer

TikTok: @relaxqueen888