Bridging Cultures: The Dream and Persistence of Actress Candice Jiang
“I am Jiang Xiaohua (little flower), a small yet infinitely resilient flower growing out of the cracks in the stone,” says Candice Jiang (Chinese name Jiang Chen), a renowned actress and host in China’s entertainment industry. She first gained fame as Sister Xiaodouzi on Golden Eagle Cartoon and has hosted shows such as “Happy Camp,” “Music Billboard,” and “Big Star Birthday Party.” Jiang has also delivered outstanding performances in TV dramas like “Little Daddy,” “First-Class Ex-Wife,” and “Hanson and the Beast.” Currently, she is pursuing her dreams in the U.S., wholeheartedly dedicating herself to the field of children’s theater and film education, facing new opportunities and challenges.
Arriving in the U.S.: Challenges of Language and Culture
At the peak of her career in China, Candice Jiang decided to move to the U.S., where she initially faced significant language barriers. In daily life, she found that her English proficiency was inadequate for complex communication needs. Jiang admits that, due to frequent interactions with Hollywood’s film resources, she often had to bring a translator. “When they speak too fast, you can’t understand anything,” she said. To overcome this, she dedicated over five hours daily to learning English, striving to adapt to her new linguistic environment. Additionally, she encountered practical difficulties such as renting an apartment and buying a car, which required high deposits and full upfront payments, making her acutely aware of the hardships of starting over.
Adapting to New Life: From Education to Cultural Preservation
Undeterred, Candice leveraged her sociability and noticed that many Chinese-American children struggled with fluent Chinese, while many U.S.-born children had a strong interest in different cultures and a keen desire to perform. This inspired her to establish a training program for children’s theater and film in the U.S. Candice’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2018 under the guidance of prominent entrepreneurs and investors like Sun Taoran and Yu Minhong. She co-founded “Prosper Future Education Technology” in China with her friend Hu Haiquan, securing significant investment. In 2019, she produced iQIYI’s first major children’s reality show “Fairy Tales Under the Stars,” achieving great success. These resources and experiences naturally formed the foundation for her educational endeavors in the U.S.
Expanding Networks: The Establishment and Growth of Starbridge
Candice Jiang founded Starbridge Academy, a children’s theater and film education center in South Irvine. Utilizing her extensive network, she quickly expanded the educational blueprint. She personally collaborates with experts like Stanford child psychologist Dr. Cody Abbey, Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore’s acting coach Peter Frisch, and New York Film Academy’s Kenneth to provide high-quality courses for children. Jiang believes that every child is unique, like a shining star, and needs bridges to connect their interests and dreams at every stage of growth. “Starbridge” aims to accompany and support passionate and dream-driven children on their journey, fostering self-confidence, which she views as the most crucial lesson for a child’s development. Currently, she collaborates with Hollywood director Jeffrey Jacob Abrams and renowned producer Frederic Golchan, offering multilingual services for children whose first languages are Spanish or Russian. Through immersive education, she hopes to maintain children’s interest and passion for diverse cultures in the U.S.
Cultural Exchange: Building a Bridge Between China and the U.S.
Remaining true to her roots, Candice actively promotes cultural exchange between China and the U.S. Through her agency, she introduces more Hollywood stars and projects to China. Recently, she hosted “World Film Tour” on CCTV6, engaging Hollywood filmmakers to help Chinese audiences better understand global cinema. In sports, Candice signed NBA star Tyrese Haliburton for business representation in China, expanding her business scope. She also facilitated Hunan TV in inviting Western artists to participate in the popular show “Singer 2024,” fostering cultural exchange between the two countries.
Growth and Giving Back: Success Lies in Love
Reflecting on her journey, Candice expresses deep gratitude to Hunan TV. She says, “Hunan TV nurtured and nourished me.” Her years of work not only honed her hosting and acting skills but also helped her amass a wealth of industry resources. Now, she aims to use her experience and resources to provide a platform for talented, passionate children to showcase their abilities.
“When I saw my mentor Yu Minhong donate all the desks and chairs from New Oriental during the pandemic and stand in the rain to help others, I realized that success isn’t the most important thing—giving love is.” Candice joined the “Charcoal Fire Alliance” charity, regularly supporting families and children in need. She hopes to one day give an English speech, sharing her growth story to inspire more young people to bravely pursue their dreams, undeterred by cultural and language barriers.