May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Ency Abedin sat down exclusively with BachelorNation.com to discuss the importance of celebrating and supporting the AAPI community.

She shared why it’s important to celebrate Asian heritage for more than just a month, her AAPI role model, and what it means to be a role model herself in the AAPI community now.

Check out Ency’s full interview below.

Bachelor Nation: Ency, thank you so much for chatting with us about the importance of AAPI Heritage Month! What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month mean to you?

Ency Abedin: Thank you for having me! For me, this is a crucial time to be a voice and to be extremely engaged with other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in order to learn from one another stories and experiences that will enhance our knowledge of our heritage.

BN: Absolutely. What makes you proud to be a member of the AAPI community?

EA: What makes me proud to be a member of the AAPI community is the confidence I have gained in representing my heritage/community. Throughout my adolescent years, I was insecure and shy of my heritage due to the racism I received. Growing above that and now sharing my experiences as a pillar to connect with others in the AAPI community has brought me lots of joy and strength!

BN: That’s amazing; we love to see your joy and strength shine through in everything you. Were there any prominent AAPI leaders or mentors who inspired you while growing up?

EA: Yes, definitely my mom, grandmother, and uncle who emigrated here to the U.S. In addition, when I lived in South Korea for a period, I joined a mentorship club at Yonsei University and that is where I really connected with some great professors and mentors who helped propel me in academics and Korean culture. (I am still in touch with them :))

BN: Wow! It’s great to have so many incredible role models. And what does it mean for you to now be someone that other AAPI people may look up to?

EA: It gives me strength and courage to continue speaking up, to continue educating myself further to understand the AAPI community, and to continue spreading stories and experiences that many others may relate to!

BN: Love that so much! And lastly, what are some things Bachelor Nation fans can be doing to support the AAPI community, both this month and beyond?

EA: I believe being a voice is always a powerful tool to support, so maybe speaking up in an Instagram Story, having conversations about the AAPI community within your community, and volunteering is always a fun way to support a community :)