Nick Barose

Each year, a certain full moon keeps most of Thailand awake. The Loy Krathong festival takes place on the Thai lunar calendar’s 12th month, and people are invited to float krathong on bodies of water, a gesture signifying the release of bad luck. These circular candle-lit vessels are typically made with banana leaves and decorated with flowers; sometimes, they even include pieces of a person’s hair and nails. The tableau is plucked right out of a glimmering Disney film.

Contrary to popular belief, Asians are not homogeneous in look. The inhabitants of Southeast Asia, which compromises of countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, tend to be much darker complected than their East Asian counterparts. And though most of the population of these nations are honey-colored or darker, colorism still holds an ever tightening grip. The Korean beauty standard of fair and light is the ideal for most.