Gigi

• Handmade seed bead earrings created with antique-finish brass, glass beads, natural stones, and high-quality Japanese nylon thread for ultimate durability.
• Teardrops: Chinese Glass
• Beads: Toho, Czech
• Ear Wire: 18k gold-plated surgical steel
• Drop Height: 6 in.
• Thread: Nylon
• Nickel Free

Gigi Chao became a global sensation in 2012 when her father, Hong Kong billionaire Cecil Chao, offered $180 million to the man who would marry his daughter – but Gigi Chao is a lesbian who had already married her long-term partner Sean Eav in a civil ceremony a year before. She retaliated by speaking out publicly against the tycoon’s homophobic actions, publishing an open letter in a newspaper saying she would not cave to her father’s wishes despite her love and respect for him, asking instead for acceptance if understanding was not possible.

With such a high-profile maneuver from a high-profile family, Chao quickly became crowned as a champion for gay rights by Hong Kong’s LGBTQ+ community. She has not let them down since, advocating fiercely for LGBTQ+ rights over the years. She founded the Hong Kong Marriage Equality social campaign to fight for the legislation of same-sex marriage, pushing for marriage equality in the city.