Diamond Yao 🌈
@graceofyul.bsky.social
aka 姚蒙恩 | lost 上海人 in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal) | transnational Chinese | she, elle, 她, 伊 | freelance journo, journaliste pigiste EN & FR | #VeryAsian | [email protected] | signal: diamondyao.97 | diamondyao.com
Pinned
Diamond Yao 🌈
@graceofyul.bsky.social
· Nov 23
Bonjour / Hi new followers!
I’m an Montréal-based journalist who covers environmental justice, social justice, diaspora, sustainability, intersectionality, culture, & Asian communities in English et en français.
Here’s what I wrote about recently dans les deux langues: 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
I’m an Montréal-based journalist who covers environmental justice, social justice, diaspora, sustainability, intersectionality, culture, & Asian communities in English et en français.
Here’s what I wrote about recently dans les deux langues: 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Montreal food people: Can we please stop opening Asian fusion restaurants that have an “East meets West” concept and offer an “elevated” dining experience?
It is unoriginal & boring at this point. And Asian dining does not need to be “elevated”, it is exceptional enough as it is.
It is unoriginal & boring at this point. And Asian dining does not need to be “elevated”, it is exceptional enough as it is.
November 29, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Montreal food people: Can we please stop opening Asian fusion restaurants that have an “East meets West” concept and offer an “elevated” dining experience?
It is unoriginal & boring at this point. And Asian dining does not need to be “elevated”, it is exceptional enough as it is.
It is unoriginal & boring at this point. And Asian dining does not need to be “elevated”, it is exceptional enough as it is.
Reposted by Diamond Yao 🌈
I’ve got an article out in the Star today about the Thomas King issue:
Thomas King’s admission he isn’t Indigenous is just the first step. This is what has to happen next
#Opinion from Robert Jago
#Opinion from Robert Jago
Thomas King’s admission he isn’t Indigenous is just the first step. This is what has to happen next
Though not a shock to some, it's time to reckon with the harm done.
www.thestar.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I’ve got an article out in the Star today about the Thomas King issue:
Reposted by Diamond Yao 🌈
The images are apocalyptic
Dozens killed in Hong Kong high-rise residential fire
www.npr.org/2025/11/26/n...
Dozens killed in Hong Kong high-rise residential fire
www.npr.org/2025/11/26/n...
Death toll in Hong Kong high-rise fire rises to 36, with 279 reported missing
Hong Kong leader John Lee has said 36 people were reported killed in the fire that spread through a dense high-rise residential housing complex Wednesday. He said another 279 people were reported miss...
www.npr.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The images are apocalyptic
Dozens killed in Hong Kong high-rise residential fire
www.npr.org/2025/11/26/n...
Dozens killed in Hong Kong high-rise residential fire
www.npr.org/2025/11/26/n...
When I was a teenager, white dudes would tell me to my face that they would not date me because I was Asian. (ew)
These days white dudes tell me that they love dating Asian women & they love Asian culture & their wife is Asian. (ew)
So which one is it? (for the record I condemn both options)
These days white dudes tell me that they love dating Asian women & they love Asian culture & their wife is Asian. (ew)
So which one is it? (for the record I condemn both options)
November 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM
When I was a teenager, white dudes would tell me to my face that they would not date me because I was Asian. (ew)
These days white dudes tell me that they love dating Asian women & they love Asian culture & their wife is Asian. (ew)
So which one is it? (for the record I condemn both options)
These days white dudes tell me that they love dating Asian women & they love Asian culture & their wife is Asian. (ew)
So which one is it? (for the record I condemn both options)
Growing up in Montreal as a racialized kid with no one to explain to you what is going on is very scary.
There’s people fighting over language, culture, skin colour all the time. As a kid witnessing so much conflict with no one to reassure me, it was terrifying.
No wonder I have anxiety now…
There’s people fighting over language, culture, skin colour all the time. As a kid witnessing so much conflict with no one to reassure me, it was terrifying.
No wonder I have anxiety now…
November 26, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Growing up in Montreal as a racialized kid with no one to explain to you what is going on is very scary.
There’s people fighting over language, culture, skin colour all the time. As a kid witnessing so much conflict with no one to reassure me, it was terrifying.
No wonder I have anxiety now…
There’s people fighting over language, culture, skin colour all the time. As a kid witnessing so much conflict with no one to reassure me, it was terrifying.
No wonder I have anxiety now…
One of the worst parts of it is how socially acceptable it is to go out looking dumpy with layers of dark clothes as it’s too cold to bother looking good. My Shanghainese fashion sensibilities could never. So through great effort (& great expense), I built a warm, stylish, colourful winter wardrobe.
Seasonal depression & cold weather worsens my cultural dysphoria. There are no winters this cold in Shanghai. Even though I grew up in Montreal, the many traditions and rituals - Christmas, skiing, cozy days indoors, etc. - associated with a cold Quebec winter still feel very foreign & alien to me.
November 16, 2025 at 5:41 AM
One of the worst parts of it is how socially acceptable it is to go out looking dumpy with layers of dark clothes as it’s too cold to bother looking good. My Shanghainese fashion sensibilities could never. So through great effort (& great expense), I built a warm, stylish, colourful winter wardrobe.
Seasonal depression & cold weather worsens my cultural dysphoria. There are no winters this cold in Shanghai. Even though I grew up in Montreal, the many traditions and rituals - Christmas, skiing, cozy days indoors, etc. - associated with a cold Quebec winter still feel very foreign & alien to me.
November 16, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Seasonal depression & cold weather worsens my cultural dysphoria. There are no winters this cold in Shanghai. Even though I grew up in Montreal, the many traditions and rituals - Christmas, skiing, cozy days indoors, etc. - associated with a cold Quebec winter still feel very foreign & alien to me.
Very saddened to hear about the passing of Alice Wong. She was one of the most prominent Asian American voices in disability activism and did so much to fight for access, visibility, representation and collective liberation.
Her last words? “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Her last words? “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
November 16, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Very saddened to hear about the passing of Alice Wong. She was one of the most prominent Asian American voices in disability activism and did so much to fight for access, visibility, representation and collective liberation.
Her last words? “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Her last words? “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
My tips to survive seasonal depression & cold weather (road tested over many years):
* collection of floofy things
* thermal underwear
* humidifier
* therapy lamp
* tons of tea
* antidepressants
* vitamin D
* wardrobe of warm clothes that are stylish & colourful
* moisturizers
* hair masks & oils
* collection of floofy things
* thermal underwear
* humidifier
* therapy lamp
* tons of tea
* antidepressants
* vitamin D
* wardrobe of warm clothes that are stylish & colourful
* moisturizers
* hair masks & oils
November 15, 2025 at 5:03 AM
My tips to survive seasonal depression & cold weather (road tested over many years):
* collection of floofy things
* thermal underwear
* humidifier
* therapy lamp
* tons of tea
* antidepressants
* vitamin D
* wardrobe of warm clothes that are stylish & colourful
* moisturizers
* hair masks & oils
* collection of floofy things
* thermal underwear
* humidifier
* therapy lamp
* tons of tea
* antidepressants
* vitamin D
* wardrobe of warm clothes that are stylish & colourful
* moisturizers
* hair masks & oils
I am really, really burnt out (I am not burnt out from work, but other things).
If you are expecting something from me, I will get back to you when I can. Thank you for your patience.
If you are expecting something from me, I will get back to you when I can. Thank you for your patience.
November 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I am really, really burnt out (I am not burnt out from work, but other things).
If you are expecting something from me, I will get back to you when I can. Thank you for your patience.
If you are expecting something from me, I will get back to you when I can. Thank you for your patience.
I did all my education until high school graduation in French, so for a long time my French was better than my English.
It was destabilizing to see so many francophone white people in school & in the workplace think that my English must be better than my French just because I’m not white.
It was destabilizing to see so many francophone white people in school & in the workplace think that my English must be better than my French just because I’m not white.
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I did all my education until high school graduation in French, so for a long time my French was better than my English.
It was destabilizing to see so many francophone white people in school & in the workplace think that my English must be better than my French just because I’m not white.
It was destabilizing to see so many francophone white people in school & in the workplace think that my English must be better than my French just because I’m not white.
Reposted by Diamond Yao 🌈
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
This is terrible. I really appreciated Teen Vogue’s political reporting and their important work in centring youth voices in political coverage.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM
This is terrible. I really appreciated Teen Vogue’s political reporting and their important work in centring youth voices in political coverage.
Pour cell.eux qui croient que voter ne sert à rien: Robert Beaudry (Projet Montréal), le conseiller municipal sortant de Ville-Marie St-Jacques, vient de perdre son siège après avoir reçu 13 votes de moins que Claude Pinard (Ensemble Montréal).
November 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Pour cell.eux qui croient que voter ne sert à rien: Robert Beaudry (Projet Montréal), le conseiller municipal sortant de Ville-Marie St-Jacques, vient de perdre son siège après avoir reçu 13 votes de moins que Claude Pinard (Ensemble Montréal).
DERNIÈRE HEURE: Luc Rabouin laisse sa place en tant que chef de Projet Montréal.
November 3, 2025 at 3:58 AM
DERNIÈRE HEURE: Luc Rabouin laisse sa place en tant que chef de Projet Montréal.
DERNIÈRE HEURE: Soraya Martinez Ferrada d’Ensemble Montréal sera la prochaine mairesse de Montréal.
November 3, 2025 at 2:59 AM
DERNIÈRE HEURE: Soraya Martinez Ferrada d’Ensemble Montréal sera la prochaine mairesse de Montréal.
Reposted by Diamond Yao 🌈
LIVE MAP: Live results from the Montreal municipal election
montrealgazette.com/news/local_p...
montrealgazette.com/news/local_p...
LIVE MAP: Live results from the Montreal municipal election
Live results from the Montreal municipal election and mayoral race.
montrealgazette.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:20 AM
LIVE MAP: Live results from the Montreal municipal election
montrealgazette.com/news/local_p...
montrealgazette.com/news/local_p...
Unpopular take but I think it’s easier to make friends as an adult.
As an adult you have more agency over your social circles to find the people you’re truly compatible with, whereas as a child you are stuck around people schools, family and hometown impose on you (even if they suck).
As an adult you have more agency over your social circles to find the people you’re truly compatible with, whereas as a child you are stuck around people schools, family and hometown impose on you (even if they suck).
October 28, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Unpopular take but I think it’s easier to make friends as an adult.
As an adult you have more agency over your social circles to find the people you’re truly compatible with, whereas as a child you are stuck around people schools, family and hometown impose on you (even if they suck).
As an adult you have more agency over your social circles to find the people you’re truly compatible with, whereas as a child you are stuck around people schools, family and hometown impose on you (even if they suck).
Genuinely think high school turned me off academia forever. In my last year I was given a month to write a 70 page paper. Some classmates wrote 150 pages. We also had to do preliminary research, a project proposal, a full on project in 4 months. This was on top of other classes.
I burned out at 16.
I burned out at 16.
October 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Genuinely think high school turned me off academia forever. In my last year I was given a month to write a 70 page paper. Some classmates wrote 150 pages. We also had to do preliminary research, a project proposal, a full on project in 4 months. This was on top of other classes.
I burned out at 16.
I burned out at 16.
We all go through struggles in life. It is an inescapable part of being human.
The difference between you and the unhoused on the street is that, unlike them, you have resources and a community that has the capacity to care for you in the way you need during your time of struggle.
The difference between you and the unhoused on the street is that, unlike them, you have resources and a community that has the capacity to care for you in the way you need during your time of struggle.
October 19, 2025 at 4:35 AM
We all go through struggles in life. It is an inescapable part of being human.
The difference between you and the unhoused on the street is that, unlike them, you have resources and a community that has the capacity to care for you in the way you need during your time of struggle.
The difference between you and the unhoused on the street is that, unlike them, you have resources and a community that has the capacity to care for you in the way you need during your time of struggle.
I am really, really not doing well right now.
If you’re waiting to hear back from me for something, sorry for being slow. I promise I have not forgotten you.
If you’re waiting to hear back from me for something, sorry for being slow. I promise I have not forgotten you.
October 16, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I am really, really not doing well right now.
If you’re waiting to hear back from me for something, sorry for being slow. I promise I have not forgotten you.
If you’re waiting to hear back from me for something, sorry for being slow. I promise I have not forgotten you.
Ay! I found the multilingual people who speak my exact combo of languages!
(The most surprised reactions I get are always when Europeans find out I speak French and Latinx find out I speak Spanish)
www.instagram.com/reel/DPl8Nag...
(The most surprised reactions I get are always when Europeans find out I speak French and Latinx find out I speak Spanish)
www.instagram.com/reel/DPl8Nag...
mellienoo on Instagram: "growing up multilingual but sounding like a confused toddler in every language 💀View all 233 comments"
growing up multilingual but sounding like a confused toddler in every language 💀
www.instagram.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Ay! I found the multilingual people who speak my exact combo of languages!
(The most surprised reactions I get are always when Europeans find out I speak French and Latinx find out I speak Spanish)
www.instagram.com/reel/DPl8Nag...
(The most surprised reactions I get are always when Europeans find out I speak French and Latinx find out I speak Spanish)
www.instagram.com/reel/DPl8Nag...
My account is restored! Thank you for your patience!
It has come to my attention that someone is impersonating me on Bluesky. If you received spam links and got hacked by an account pretending to be me, DO NOT CLICK ON IT and block this person. It is NOT ME.
October 15, 2025 at 2:31 AM
My account is restored! Thank you for your patience!
It has come to my attention that someone is impersonating me on Bluesky. If you received spam links and got hacked by an account pretending to be me, DO NOT CLICK ON IT and block this person. It is NOT ME.
October 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
It has come to my attention that someone is impersonating me on Bluesky. If you received spam links and got hacked by an account pretending to be me, DO NOT CLICK ON IT and block this person. It is NOT ME.
