Crazy Rich Asians: The Singaporean Elite

ROP Update

Crazy Rich Asians will be having wedding toasts, starting after the end of the first directive cycle. Wedding toasts will be one minute speeches in which delegates are encouraged to get into character and be creative in toasting the couple! These will be “practice toasts;" ie they will not be performed at the actual wedding, but they will replicate what actual wedding speeches would look like. Delegates are encouraged to be as in character as possible and get as creative as they would like!

You’re invited… to help us plan the wedding of the century! Join us in celebrating the union of Nick Young and his mystery bride-to-be as delegates collaborate to plan one of the biggest and most important events of our time. Promoting the union of two prominent families in Singapore is a special occasion not just for those involved, but also for the nation of Singapore as a whole, as the Young family’s influence extends to the entire nation on a political, social, cultural, and economic level. As such, it is critical that this wedding goes off without a hitch… which may be difficult, given Nick Young’s overall hesitation to pursue love in lieu of an expertly-decided arranged marriage. With delegates representing fictional characters taken from Crazy Rich Asians, this committee is sure to be filled with drama, excitement, and struggles for power. Extending beyond the wedding, delegates will work to solve real-world issues within the context of contemporary Singaporean society, as they witness the grasp that one family of prominent Singaporean elites has on the entire nation. The wedding is more than just a celebration of “love”; it is an opportunity to expand the family’s power and influence, and to reshape Singapore as we know it.

Chair Letter

Dear delegates,

Welcome to LAMUN! My name is Lisa Nguyen and I am beyond excited to be your Chair, alongside your CD, Cali, for this crazy, rich committee. 

I am a third-year political science major, history minor, at UCLA. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, binging NCIS, and taking my cat, Nobu, on scenic walks. Before moving to Los Angeles, I lived in San Diego, where I first participated in MUN 10 years ago. Not only did MUN make me a super nerdy teenager, it also gave me an appreciation for international politics and government; I loved the creativity, rigor, and cooperation that debate fostered; specialized committees were my favorite (they were more fun!). This is now my third year of staffing LAMUN and I can’t wait to spend it with all of you, planning the wedding of a lifetime. 

Weddings are not only romantic, they’re expensive. Which is no problem for Singapore’s elite class. To be a part of this exclusive circle is to not only be rich, but to be born of high-class, from a prestigious bloodline. Real-world issues such as the widening wealth gap in Singapore and the lack of affordable housing for locals go unnoticed by this select few. Thus, the upcoming luxurious wedding comes with high stakes, and will force its guests to face the societal and cultural realities that surround them. Singapore houses some of the richest people (mostly men) in the world. It is known as one of the most “capitalist” countries, with low taxes and the government having a stake in the prosperity of its markets. Underneath the surface of this glamorous wedding are the results of corruption and economic inequality. As guests, you will inevitably encounter these issues as you work to bolster your own prestige and popularity. After all, weddings are as much of a display of wealth as they are a display of love. 

Please don’t hesitate to email us if you have questions. RSVP ASAP! Don’t be late to the reception!

Lisa Nguyen

Chair | Crazy Rich Asians: The Singaporean Elite | LAMUN XVIII

CD Letter

Hello Delegates! 

My name is Cali Sheldon, and I will be the CD for Crazy Rich Asians: The Singaporean Elite, alongside our chair, Lisa Nguyen! We are so excited to welcome delegates to this committee, and cannot wait for you all to be a part of the wedding of the century!

I am a third year Psychology and Communications major here at UCLA. I’ve been a part of Model UN since my freshman year of high school, so I’m very excited to be continuing here at UCLA. This will be my second time CDing a specialized committee here at LAMUN, as last year I had the honor of serving as the CD for our MLM Summit. I was born and raised in Hermosa Beach, CA and enjoy reading, snowboarding, and sitting with the turtles at UCLA’s botanical garden. I also really like forcing all of my friends to play Scattergories with me.

I am beyond excited to welcome delegates to Crazy Rich Asians, and I hope you all have as much fun with this committee as we had preparing for it. This committee not only will be focused on the intricacies of planning a (hopefully) spectacular wedding of extreme political, social, and cultural importance, but it also will challenge delegates to tackle the real-world issues associated with the struggle between tradition and modernity we see throughout the world. With particular emphasis on how women are impacted and how those in power have the capacity to influence the politics of an entire nation, we are excited to see how delegates balance the fun, fictional side of this committee with its real-world significance. We hope to see stimulative, fun, and creative debate as delegates not only plan a wedding… but also influence a nation. 

I am so excited to meet you all and thank you for the time, dedication, and passion you will put into preparing for this committee. 

Cali Sheldon

Crisis Director | Crazy Rich Asians: The Singaporean Elite | LAMUN XVIII