In today’s episode, Cynthia Sun—senior researcher at the Falun Dafa Information Center and Miss NTD 2023—shares how her work bridges human rights advocacy, national security research, and traditional values.
Raised in Texas and initially skeptical of beauty pageants, Sun entered the NTD Global Chinese Beauty Pageant after discovering its focus on inner virtue and cultural tradition. “It wasn’t about height or looks—it was about who you are,” she says. Her experience led to personal transformation and, ultimately, the Miss NTD crown.
Offstage, Sun investigates transnational repression, tracking bomb threats and harassment campaigns allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party. She details disturbing findings—ranging from interference with the performances of Shen Yun Performing Arts to the academic intimidation of Falun Gong practitioners at U.S. universities.
“We’ve seen threats traced back to IPs in Huawei’s research institute,” she reveals, explaining how the CCP exploits democratic systems to silence critics abroad.
From personal stories of loss to the emotional weight of trying to rescue persecuted families in China, Sun opens up about what motivates her—and why she believes her generation can’t afford to wait before they act.
Join us for a powerful conversation about courage, culture, and confronting global injustice.
