Hong Kong was introduced to a little bit of California culture last night when famed import models Jeri Lee and Nikita Esco gave a brief dance performance.
What exactly is the import scene all about?
As a generalization, the import scene deals with cars imported from Japan that are modified for street racing. The scene is particularly popular on the West Coast of the United States, in California. (Hong Kong also has a street racing scene with similar tricked-out cars.)
A whole subculture has developed around interest in these cars, and certain aspects of the car modification scene in Japan were mimicked in the U.S.. One trait that gained popularity across the Pacific was featuring Asian models at import car events. This gave birth to the “import model”. Unlike runway models, import models need not be tall and lanky.
Jeri Lee and Nikita Esco are both top models in the import scene, gracing the covers of magazines that cater to the subculture and also making live appearances at shows. With no cars to be seen inside of Racks, the girls were scheduled to give a Go Go dance performance.
By the time I arrived, close to midnight on Monday night, Racks was completely packed. As usual when it gets crowded, the bartenders had that shell-shocked look on their faces and glasses were piled all over the counter of the bar. The show had yet to start and guests were anxiously awaiting the dance routine by the duo.
Arriving later than expected, Jeri Lee and Nikita Esco quickly changed and made their way to the make-shift stage.
The crowd crammed around the first billiards table for a look at the performance. The audience was made up equally of men and women.
While their outfits were slightly provocative, dancing in a suggestive, Go Go style has become so mainstream as to not seem out of the norm or have much of an impact. Pop music videos have brought moves out of the strip clubs and onto mainstream dance floors. There’s not much we haven’t seen before or grown accustomed to over the years.
Jeri Lee and Nikita Esco performed two sets together. The second set was more wild and included audience participation. The show didn’t get out of hand and everyone was respectful to the dancers. It was an interesting way to start off the week!
For more information about the import car scene in America and profiles of import models go here.
Good article. As an Import OG, I have been involved in the tuner scene since 1981. It is incredible to see how it transformed over the years.