What does your image of Taiwan look like? 21-year-old Lea Dumortier, whose mother is from Taiwan and father is from France, grew up in the United States. She uses her mobile phone to record Taiwan and disseminate it through social media in five languages to promote Taiwanese lifestyles, democratic elections, and more. Dumortier is honored to be a candidate for Taiwan’s “International Youth Ambassador,” hoping to showcase Taiwan to individuals of different ethnicities.
A recent graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, Dumortier is fluent in Taiwanese, Mandarin, English, French, and Spanish. Despite growing up in a multicultural environment, her love for Taiwan has always been unwavering. She fondly recalls eagerly anticipating summer vacations to visit her maternal grandparents in Tainan, Taiwan with her mother. During the pandemic, Dumortier spent a year living in Taiwan, immersing herself in the local culture and lifestyle. She obtained a Taiwanese driver’s license, ID card, health insurance card, and the right to vote, truly grounding herself in the Taiwanese experience.
Active in Southern California community activities, Dumortier has garnered 27,000 followers on her Instagram account. In 2023, she participated in the Miss Taiwanese American pageant and was crowned the “First Princess.” Delivering a fluent introduction in Taiwanese, she shared her insights about Taiwan in her grandparents’ language, receiving praise from the audience. Being involved in Taiwanese American community events since childhood, Dumortier actively collaborates with the UC Berkeley Taiwanese Student Association and Miss Taiwanese American organization to promote Taiwan’s international image.
On July 9th, Dumortier collaborated with the Taiwan Hotel/Motel Association of Southern California (THMASC) to host the “Heart for Taiwan, Building Dreams Across the Ocean” internship program and dinner for Taiwanese youth studying abroad. She believes that overseas compatriots are an extension of Taiwan’s national strength. Through international internships, Taiwanese students can gain diverse perspectives and inspire younger generations to pursue their dreams. Dumortier is delighted to interact with young people from Taiwan and share the spirit of Taiwanese American entrepreneurs succeeding abroad and giving back to society and their homeland.
On July 21st, Dumortier participated in an exchange event organized by the Overseas Taiwanese Youth “Diaspora Program” and the Foreign Affairs Society for Cultural Exchange Orange County Chapter (FASCA-OC) at the OC Travelers’ Center. She gave a presentation on her experiences during her university exchange program in Taiwan. Visiting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company with a German exchange student, she documented the visit and shared it on her social media accounts. Dumortier said, “Taiwan not only boasts delicious cuisine but also a powerful semiconductor industry.” Through promoting Taiwan, she has gained more followers and friends.
After sharing photos of Taiwan’s cuisine and scenic views online, Dumortier received feedback from people worldwide, with many expressing their desire to travel to Taiwan. While occasionally facing unfriendly comments, Taiwanese netizens quickly come to her defense. Dumortier emphasized, “Sometimes, before I can even respond, Taiwanese people are already there supporting me.” She noted the strong community ties and civic awareness among Taiwanese netizens, with her French and American friends also expressing strong support for Taiwan.
During her university exchange program at National Taiwan University, Dumortier invited her American friends to travel to Taiwan. They visited Jiufen and were met with many warm greetings. She observed that Taiwanese people are very friendly towards international friends, with even strangers warmly greeting her when she buys an egg pancake at a breakfast shop. While most Taiwanese students may be shy and reserved, they are willing to help foreign exchange students.
Recently, Dumortier has actively participated in video production for the Southern California Hotel Association’s summer internship program and the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission’s Youth Overseas Development Program. Engaging in enterprise visits, seminars, and dinners, she aims to build a bridge between the youth of Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans in the United States. She believes these activities facilitate interactions between young people from Taiwan and second-generation Taiwanese Americans, allowing Taiwan to showcase itself to the world and vice versa. Dumortier also gifted Taiwan and U.S. flag lapel pins to members of the “Diaspora Program” and Overseas Youth Cultural Ambassadors, commemorating the friendship between Taiwan and the U.S. while providing an opportunity to showcase the close interactions between people from both countries. ◇