SOME PEOPLE (okay, some people at the New York Times) are asking, “Where’s the Asian American Justin Timberlake?” Well, that’s like asking, “Have you seen a unicorn lately?”

The fact is, mainstream America is far from accepting an Asian male as a sexy pop star, but an Asian female? We’ve got three words for you: Me so horny. And no one exemplifies that sentiment better than 25-year-old MySpace pin-up and aspiring pop star Tila Tequila. She’s already one of the 50 Most Important People on the Web, and here’s why she’ll be the first major Asian American pop star:

10) A Sony/BMG bigwig told us so

9) She already has a huge fan base, with 1.6 million friends on MySpace and half a BILLION page views.

8) She had the the balls to walk away from a record deal in order to sell her music directly to the public, hoping to become the first unsigned artist to make the Billboard charts. Or as she writes: “We can do this and prove the big corporate labels wrong!” She just released her single, “I Love U,” on iTunes, with a wider release set for March 13. Hell, we’ll pony up 99 cents to support a sista.

7) Her music’s pure pop, with “rap-singing” that’s no worse than Fergie’s. In fact, “I Love U” (produced by Lil’ Jon) is damn catchy and the video certainly stands up to repeated viewing.

6) Sex sells, as the Pussycat Dolls and every girlie pop act can attest. And Tila is one well-oiled sex machine, judging from her appearances in Playboy, Maxim, Stuff magazines and the Fuse TV stripping contest “Pants-Off Dance-Off.”

5) She’s already tabloid fodder—she’s been linked to Hollywood scenester Jared Leto, though we hope she’ll trade up to Adam Levine.

4) With her tattoos and gangsta past, she’s got tough girl cred, especially when she sings, “I’m that crazy bitch who will fuck you up.” We are scared…but so aroused.

3) She’s got the blonde ambition and the ruthless personality of a world-class attention whore. There is no stopping a determined Vietnamese woman. Resistance is futile.

2) Her stage name is an inspired choice. It’s alliterative (like Marilyn Monroe). Multi-ethnic (is she Latino, Filipino or just plain nympho?). It’s suggestive (of licking and sucking and drunken hook-ups after closing time, though ironically she’s allergic to the fermented nectar of the blue agave plant). As a marquee name, it’s a little catchier than Tila Nguyen.

1) And the number one reason she will crossover into the mainstream… the American fascination with the feminine East—its hardcore Asia fetish (Asia Carrera anyone?). Misogyny CAN be empowering and enriching to women! Besides, who better do a cover of 2Live Crew’s “Me So Horny”? As a post-feminist anthem, of course. Like her other song, “Playgirl Central,” in which she declares, “We girls have a right to get nasty.” And filthy rich too. •