Interview with Nina Mata, Author / Illustrator of Girls to the Front
Please tell us a bit about how the book came to be. It was written during the pandemic and the #StopAsianHate movement, yes?
Yes, how’d you know that? Lol
It was a culmination of things. It was growing up getting picked on from having almond shaped eyes. I witnessed my mom being told to go back to where she came from on our way to school and keeping her head held high all the while she held me with sweaty palms. It’s wanting to protect her now that she’s older and as I watched our elderly get attacked and being blamed for starting the pandemic. Its wanting to protect my own kid from enduring any of that and teaching her she has a voice and a place to stand. It’s The Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate movements and seeing our communities come together because, quite frankly, we are tired of the BS.
I have a quote from the late and great Toni Morrison that I’ve always kept around me since 2016: “In times of dread, ARTISTS MUST NEVER REMAIN SILENT. This is precisely the time when artist go to work.”
My primary language is visual art. So in March of 2021, filled with pent-up anxiety and anger, I did the only thing I could do; I made art. I had spent my whole life in America feeling like I didn’t belong because I rarely came across anyone in history that looked like me. But were they really not there? I was curious to know, so I started digging. And lo and behold, they were there! It was also Women’s History Month, so I challenged myself to find Asian American women in history and took to social media to highlight share some extraordinary women for 30 days.
A few months later, my editor reached out and we were talking about turning this idea into a book and here we are. The initial idea for this was to reassure myself that we did exist in history. But these women did so much more than that. They prove that our voices matter, that we deserve space at the table and we are NEEDED at the front of the room.
I love the diverse backgrounds and contributions represented here. Athletes, artists, politicians, advocates…What was the process of deciding who to include in Girls to the Front?
When you read the book, you’ll notice it’s not arranged chronologically. That was intentional. History is often shaped by people enduring mistreatment and fighting against oppression, and some of the women in this book lived through similar struggles at different times. To keep readers engaged, my brilliant editor, Luana Horry, suggested mixing up the stories so that you can flip to any page and find inspiration.
You’ll see familiar names, like Vice President Kamala Harris, but you’ll also meet women you might be meeting for the first time like Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, a suffragist who fought for women’s voting rights. And then there are women you do know, but might be seeing in a different light—like Lucy Liu, a well-known actress, but did you know she’s also a talented fine artist?
I wanted to showcase the incredible multi-faceted nature of these women because, as a kid, no one ever pointed out these possibilities to me. I want to do better for future generations—to show them that they, too, can take up space, shatter barriers, and lead.
Choosing who to highlight was by far the hardest part of writing this book. Just when I thought I had my list of 40 incredible women locked in, I’d discover three more the next day—then seven more by the end of the week. And it hasn’t stopped since. It’s as if, once I opened myself up to finding these extraordinary women from both history and today, they started appearing everywhere—a blessing, but also a reminder that there are always more stories to tell.
I just hope this book does for others what it’s done for me: that it attunes them to the same wavelength, drawing them toward people who are making a difference simply by being themselves and doing what they love.
Who’s your favorite woman highlighted? Why?
Oh, I can’t possibly choose a favorite! Each of their stories has shaped me in some way—that’s why I chose to highlight them collectively. Mary Tape, for example, is the kind of fierce advocate I aspire to be for my daughter. Anna May Wong reminded me of myself growing up and showed me that following your own path is often the best choice. Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu exemplifies how simply loving what you do is enough, and that passion alone can create a massive impact to those who see you doing it, far beyond awards and industry recognition.
Each of these women has inspired me in a unique way, and their stories bring something essential to the conversation. It would be impossible to pick just one—they all rock.
You have an additional list of women at the end of the book. Any of them from that list, or any other women who didn’t make the cut that you’d like to discuss here? (Or maybe there will eventually be an entire book devoted to that person?)
That’s a wonderful idea! There are so many women I’d love to continue discussing, like Mindy Kaling, Senator Mazie Hirono, and historian Dr. Dawn Malabon.
Dr. Malabon had been such a champion in preserving the rich and deep Filipino American history and ensuring that stories like The Manila Men, one of the earliest groups of settlers in America, who even fought in battles like the War of 1812, are taught in classrooms.
The list of incredible women is endless, and I’d love to dedicate an entire book (or several!) to telling their stories.
I’m an author who got back into my art within the past couple of years (I’m fascinated by visual storytelling). What advice can you offer for our young artists?
That’s amazing! Welcome back!
Just draw. Keep drawing. There’s no other way to get better at something than doing it repeatedly. If you want to be an illustrator, storyboard artist, or comic artist, take an anatomy class to study how muscles move. If you can, take a life drawing class. If not, practice by sketching a plant or a fruit bowl under different lighting conditions. Don’t try to “fix” what you see—just draw it as it is.
Most of all, be patient with yourself and trust your process. Growth takes time, but if you keep going, you’ll see the progress.
Your portraits are stunning–how do you approach drawing faces of real-life figures (rather than fictional characters)?
Thank you so much! I’ve always loved drawing portraits. When it came to capturing their likeness, I started by gathering as many photo references as possible. For some historical figures, like Mary Tape or Tye Leung Schulze, only one or two photos existed, so I also researched the fashion and hairstyles of their era to help bring their portraits to life. That way, if I couldn’t perfectly capture their likeness, I could at least capture the essence of the time they lived in.
As for my drawing process, I usually start with the nose or eyes and work my way outward. I also made a deliberate choice to have each woman look directly at the reader—as if they were inviting them to hear their story firsthand. I wanted their gaze to hold the reader’s attention, making their presence feel as powerful on the page as it was in real life.
How did you approach writing life stories for young audiences? How did you boil it down to a page?
I think my writing voice is naturally tuned to younger audiences. I love talking to kids. They have the best questions and insights they ask the best questions, and their insights are often profound in ways adults don’t expect. Since their vocabulary is still growing, they get really creative with how they express themselves, which I find inspiring.
I also have a 10-year-old daughter who prefers hearing me tell stories rather than reading them herself. So, I wrote as if I were speaking directly to her—almost like writing letters. I focused on the key moments that would resonate most with kids—bravery, resilience, and the power of community—framing them in a way that would help young readers navigate their own lives. And I made sure to use accessible language, because there’s nothing more frustrating than coming across a word you don’t know, asking a grown up, and being handed a dictionary instead of an answer. (Speaking from personal experience! Haha)
I love the phrase you included in the opening pages: the purpose of history is to nurture personal identity. Can you speak to that a bit here?
Sure. As an adult, I’ve come to understand that learning history allows us to see ourselves as part of a much bigger story. It connects us to the past, helps us recognize patterns, and shows us how we can contribute to progress.
But when I was growing up? I hated history! Honestly, I hated learning anything that didn’t feel relevant to my life. I was an inquisitive kid, and some of my teachers never took the time to explain why it mattered to know things like what river George Washington crossed. Their answers were always some version of, “You need to know this to pass the class.” That wasn’t enough for me.
Now, if a teacher had told me that history helps nurture our identity—if they had introduced me to someone like Patsy Mink and explained how she kept getting rejected, how she was told she couldn’t be a doctor or a lawyer because she was a woman of color, and how she decided to change the system by becoming a congresswoman—that would have stuck! That would have been meaningful to a kid like me, still trying to figure out where I fit and how I wanted to be seen.
Learning about these incredible women as I wrote this book has actually inspired me to revisit history with fresh eyes. Now I can see that Washington crossing the Delaware wasn’t just about memorizing a fact—it’s a story of risk, bravery, and believing in your own vision. That’s something any kid (or adult!) can relate to.
What’s next?
Ah, what IS next? Well, I’ve got a few illustration projects in the works that I can’t wait to share when it’s ready.
I’m also writing a lot more now. Many of my current projects are inspired by personal experiences and the stories my Lola used to tell me. Whatever comes next, my goal is always to grow—push myself a little further, stay curious, and I always try to avoid complacency.
Where can we find you?
You can find me on my website: www.ninamata.com.
I’m most active on Instagram @ninamataart,
and I try to update my Substack: niamata.substack.com (I’ll get better at it eventually!).
I also post occasionally on Bluesky: @ninamataart.bsky.social.
Thank you so much for having me!
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