Annie Chen is Nominated for a LABA Icon Award

Annie Chen

Annie Chen is a distinguished and influential business leader who has made a substantial contribution to the advancement of issues impacting the Chinese American community. Her achievements have received international recognition, and she has been nominated for a 2026 Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) Icon Award.

Born in Shanghai, China, as the youngest of three children, Chen excelled early, graduating with top honors in mechanical engineering from the University of Shanghai. Based on her stellar academic record, Chen was selected as a fellow at General Electric Company—an opportunity that later positioned her to help launch one of the largest marketing firms in Shanghai.

Annie Chen

In 1995, Chen decided to move to the United States, leaving behind an extraordinary career in search of greater opportunities. Despite the challenges she faced establishing herself in a new country, her professional trajectory advanced rapidly. Within five years, she was honored with the John Hancock Manager of the Year Award, a firm-wide distinction granted to only one individual annually. She later founded her own agency, which has consistently been recognized for outstanding performance by institutional partners such as AIG and Blue Shield.

Annie Chen

While achieving significant professional success, Chen has remained deeply committed to nonprofit advocacy, dedicating much of her time to advancing issues relevant to the Chinese American community. After more than 20 years of living in the United States, she developed a nuanced understanding of the dual cultural experience of being both Chinese and American. This perspective led her to join the Diamond Bar Chinese American Association, where she became the longest-serving president in the organization’s history. In this role, she helped preserve and promote Chinese culture among first-generation students, ensuring the continuation of a rich cultural heritage.

Annie Chen

Recognizing the need for a strong support network for Chinese American women, Chen went on to serve as the second president of the Jinguo Committee from 2020 to 2022. Under her leadership, the committee made significant strides in advancing female community leadership and strengthening Chinese American relations. In 2020, the Jinguo Committee was widely praised for its proactive response to the Wuhan public health crisis. Led by Chen, the organization launched a coordinated campaign to support public health efforts in China.

Annie Chen speaks at the 2022 Jinguo Committee Awards Gala

In addition to her business career, Chen has embraced her love of fashion and began fashion modeling training at the end of 2023. Her rapid progress quickly earned her spots on prestigious runways including Silicon Valley Fashion Week, Italy Gold TV Fashion Show, and Paris Fashion Week. Some of her other fashion accomplishments include:

• 2024 Global Supermodel Contest - Top Ten in the Charm Category

• 2024 New Silk Road World Model Contest Los Angeles Division - Charm Category Champion

• 2025 IMTA - Top Ten in Six categories 

Annie Chen

Honors and Awards:

• 2020-2022 President of Jinguo Committee

• 2020 Orange County "Women of influence- Breaking Barriers Leadership" Award 

• 2019 AIG National Top 100 Broker

• 2015-2018 President of Diamond Bar Chinese American Association

• 11th World Outstanding Chinese Youth Award

• Gold and Platinum Partner of Largest Insurance General Agency

• Honorary Member of Royal Society of St. George, California Branch

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