Michin (Mia Yim) Ethnicity, Race & Heritage: Is She Mixed Race? Full Background Explained

Quick answer: Yes, Michin (real name Stephanie Hym Bell, ring name Mia Yim) is mixed race and biracial — her father Arnold Bell is African American, and her mother Sun Hong Yim is Korean. She has spoken proudly about representing both heritages, and her ring name "Michin" (미친) is itself a tribute to her Korean heritage.

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Is Michin Mixed Race? Is She Biracial?

Yes — Michin is mixed race and biracial. Her father, Arnold Bell, is African American and served in both the U.S. Military and later as an FBI Special Agent. Her mother, Sun Hong Yim, is Korean, having immigrated from South Korea to the United States.

Michin has been vocal about her biracial identity throughout her professional wrestling career. When fans have questioned whether she is "really" Black or "really" Korean, she has pushed back firmly — stating that she is proud to be both, and that her mixed heritage is central to who she is.

So to answer the most-searched questions directly: Michin's race is mixed (Black and Asian/Korean). Her background is African American on her father's side and Korean on her mother's side. Her heritage spans the African American community and South Korea. Yes — she is biracial.

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What Is Michin's Ethnicity?

Michin's ethnicity is biracial — African American and Korean. She was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up partly in Vienna, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Her upbringing was shaped by both her father's African American cultural background and her mother's Korean heritage.

Her ring name "Michin" (미친) is Korean for "crazy" — a word her Korean mother used as a childhood nickname for her. By adopting it as her professional name, Michin has permanently embedded her Korean heritage into her wrestling identity. She has stated it "holds something special to me, because it's something that I'm used to growing up."

Growing up as a biracial person in America presented the familiar challenge of being told she wasn't "Black enough" or "Korean enough." She has spoken about fielding those comments her whole life and choosing to respond with pride rather than defensiveness.

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Father's Side: African American Roots

Michin's father, Arnold Bell, is African American. He served in the U.S. Military before joining the FBI as a Special Agent, where he worked in units covering gangs, missing and exploited children, and cyber operations. Due to the sensitive nature of his FBI work, Michin and her siblings were instructed not to discuss his career or the associated risks growing up.

Arnold Bell's African American heritage connects Michin to the broader Black American community and its cultural traditions. Despite growing up in a household where both cultures were present, Michin has consistently identified with and celebrated her Black heritage alongside her Korean heritage.

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Mother's Side: Korean Heritage

Michin's mother, Sun Hong Yim (also known as Sunhong Bell), was born in 1949 in South Korea and came to the United States as an immigrant. She worked as a hairstylist. The surname "Yim" — which Michin uses as her professional wrestling ring name — is her mother's Korean surname, a further tribute to her maternal heritage.

Korean culture, language, and family traditions shaped Michin's upbringing alongside her African American background. Her mother's nickname for her — "Michin" — became the foundation of her entire professional identity in WWE, showing how deeply her Korean roots run.

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Grandparents: A Complete Picture

Paternal Grandfather: [Unknown Name] — African American; contributed to Michin's Black American heritage.

Paternal Grandmother: [Unknown Name] — African American; part of Michin's African American family background.

Maternal Grandfather: [Unknown Name] — Korean; part of Sun Hong Yim's family in South Korea.

Maternal Grandmother: [Unknown Name] — Korean; contributed to Michin's Korean heritage and the cultural traditions passed down through her mother.

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Nationality vs. Ethnicity

Michin is an American citizen by birth, born in Los Angeles, California. Her ethnicity is biracial — African American and Korean. She has been outspoken about the reality that biracial individuals are often made to feel they must choose one identity or another, and she has consistently rejected that false choice, proudly embracing both halves of her heritage.

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Spouse's Ethnicity & Children's Heritage

Michin (Mia Yim) has been in a relationship and was previously reported to be engaged to fellow professional wrestler Keith Lee (real name Dominique Dijakovic), who is African American. As of 2025, they have no children publicly reported. If they were to have children together, those children would blend African American, Korean, and additional African American ancestry.

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Michin in Her Own Words on Race & Identity

"I am half Korean, half African-American, so I always do what I can to represent both my heritages. I've dealt with the 'you're not black (or Korean)' comments my whole life. Ain't nothing new but to be proud of who I am."

— Michin (Mia Yim), responding to fans questioning her racial identity, 2020

This statement captures the challenge that many biracial individuals face — being questioned about the authenticity of either part of their heritage. Michin's response — choosing pride over defensiveness — has made her a role model for biracial and mixed-race fans worldwide.

▶ Watch on YouTube →

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Is Michin Alive?

Yes, Michin is alive. She was born on April 16, 1989, making her 35 years old as of 2025. She is an active professional wrestler signed with WWE, competing as "Michin" — a name that celebrates her Korean heritage. She has been one of the more outspoken performers in WWE about biracial identity and cultural pride.

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Visual Family Tree

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Sources

Interviews & Direct Quotes

• Ring Side News: "Mia Yim Claps Back At Fan Questioning Her Race After Black History Month Message" — https://www.ringsidenews.com/2020/02/01/mia-yim-claps-back-at-fan-questioning-her-race-after-black-history-month-message/
• 411Mania: "Mia Yim on Story Behind Nickname" — https://411mania.com/wrestling/mia-yim-on-story-behind-nickname-something-special/

Genealogy & Ethnicity Research

• Wikipedia: Mia Yim — https://en.wikipedi