About

Kristian Fanene Schmidt [or Krit] was born and raised in Porirua, Aotearoa/New Zealand while both his parents hail from Samoa.

He earned a conjoint degree in Law and Arts majoring in Pacific Studies from the University of Auckland and a Master’s in Education at Lehigh University as a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship. In 2014, Kristian shifted gears and went from lecturing in Pacific Studies to hosting for MTV Australia as a VJ.

Since beginning his career in television and entertainment, he has relocated to Los Angeles where he is now a writer, host, and consultant, contributing to a number of media outlets and organizations such as HuffPost, BuzzFeed, Sundance, Paramount, Amazon, BET, Rotten Tomatoes, Netflix, The Root, Spotify, GLAAD, Them, Starz, Extreme Reach, NQAPIA, Washington Post and Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity. His work covers everything from Pacific Islander (or Pasifika) representation and cultural appropriation to LGBTQIA+ issues and the impacts of colonisation. He is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti [PEAK].

Krit continues to follow his passions for education, art, and advocacy in working towards equitable outcomes for people from communities that mirror his own identity and upbringing as a young, queer Samoan.