Alpha Girls Premiere Preview [VIDEO] 

Documenting the hustle and grit needed to succeed in the world of fashion, music and art, Alpha Girls follows the lives of four Asian and Asian American women as they juggle professional hardships and personal drama. Alpha Girls will follow TOKiMONSTA (DJ/ producer), Mina Kwon (artist, illustrator, graphic designer), Lanie Alabanza-Barcena (founder and lead designer of Hellz Bellz) and Soo Joo Park (fashion model) and feature cameos from Skrillex, Pharrell, Swizz Beats, Jay Park and Jeremy Scott.

Why We’re Interested in This Show:

We love fashion, music and design and watching women (and men) pursue their dreams. This series caught our eye because these women have all reached a certain level of success. But have they made it? What do they need to do to take their careers to the next level? How do they pursue personal relationships without letting their professional lives get in the way? We’re looking forward to getting to know these women and seeing how they handle the everyday ups an downs life throws at them.

Meet the Alpha Girls: 

TOKiMONSTA (Jennifer Lee)

Los Angeles native, TOKiMONSTA is known for her unique take on Indie Electronic/R&B/Dance Music.  Her music has been recognized and praised by the very best in tastemakers and mainstream media. TOKiMONSTA has garnered national media attention from Pitchfork, MTV, VIBE, Billboard, Rolling Stone and more as well as being ranked LA Weekly’s #1 female DJ in Los Angeles.  Notably, she is the first female to join Flying Lotus’ crew/label BRAINFEEDER, which is on the forefront of the LA music scene.

TOKiMONSTA tours the world regularly and in 2012 was part of the Full Flex Express Tour, the first electronic music themed train tour that traveled across Canada with Skrillex, Diplo and other big names in the electronic music scene.  She has also performed at Coachella, Electric Zoo, SXSW and more.  She is currently signed to Ultra Records.

Mina Kwon

Korean artist, illustrator and graphic designer, Mina Kwon is known for her distinctive aesthetic and fresh look at modern-day Hip Hop and street culture.  With close ties to YG Entertainment’s G Dragon and BIG BANG as well as Illionaire’s Dok2 and Jay Park, word of her hip and edgy style has travelled globally.  She now travels internationally to design mix-tape and album covers for big name artists such as Chris Brown, Sean Kingston, Soulja Boy, Swizz Beats and many more of the biggest names in Hip Hop.

Long time inspiration and friend Pharrell Williams is known to be a big fan of her work and recently had his birthday cake designed by her.  Currently, Mina is working with Pharrell’s label, I am OTHER, as well as contributing to art direction on his music videos.

Soo Joo Park

Soo Joo was just your ordinary college girl attending UC Berkeley and studying architecture until she was discovered in a vintage clothing store by a well-known model scout. Now she’s New York’s “It” girl, taking high fashion runways by storm. Her resume reflects her top shelf model persona, consisting of the top designers including Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli, Emporio Armani, Ter Et Bantine, Osklen, Alexis Mabille, Vivienne Westwood.

She has been featured in numerous editorial publications including Dazed & Confused, Vogue Korea and Elle Mexico. She is currently signed with Esteem Models in Seoul.  Monster Management in Milan, Union Models in London, Wilhelmina Models in New York. IMG Models in Paris, Jill Models in Antwerp, MD Management in Hamburg and Joy Model Management in Sao Paulo.

Lanie Alabanza-Barcena

Born in New Orleans and raised in San Diego, Lanie Alabanza-Barcena has always been obsessed with fashion. Lanie started her fashion career working at the streetwear apparel company Alphanumeric and eventually spent 3 years as the art director of Rocawear. Feeling restricted by the politics of the corporate world, she decided to redirect her creative juices and launch her own clothing line Hellz Bellz in 2005.

Lanie’s line grew from a few graphic tees into a complete street contemporary collection of denim, tees, dresses, and accessories. Playing on the juxtaposition, the brand features masculine elements mixed with soft fabrics and drapery, emulating that bad girl persona. Now based in Los Angeles, Lanie’s determination and edgy design aesthetic has led to collaborations with companies including Stussy, Vans, Nooka, Reebok, Sanrio Japan and G-Shock to name a few. Finding inspiration in all things subversive, Lanie’s vision has propelled Hellz into becoming one of today’s most sought after alternative clothing labels.

Alpha Girls premieres tonight at 8/7c on Mnet America.

VIDEO