Kulilay Amit, whose Chinese name is Zhāng Huìmèi (張惠妹), is best known by her stage name A-Mei (阿妹). A Taiwanese singer and record producer of Puyuma descent, she has been leading figure of the Mandopop music scene since the mid-1990s, A-Mei is widely known for breaking ground for Taiwanese indigenous peoples and being a voice for LGBT rights and gender equality. Her career longevity, resilience, artistry, and versatility have established her as a pop culture icon in the Sinophone world. Born and raised in Taitung, Taiwan, A-Mei moved to Taipei at age 20 in 1992. In 1996, she released her debut studio album, Sisters, which saw major commercial success and sold over a million copies in Taiwan. Her second record, Bad Boy (1997), found even greater success, eventually becoming the country's best-selling album overall. Her follow up releases—Holding Hands (1998), Can I Hug You, Lover? (1999) and Regardless (2000)—received critical and commercial acclaim, with the first two albums also selling well over a million copies. Her albums Truth (2001), Amit (2009), and Faces of Paranoia (2014) each won her a Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Female Singer. Having sold over 50 million records, A-Mei is the best-selling female artist in Taiwanese music history. She is recognized as having the influence and cultural impact in Greater China equivalent to artists such as Madonna in Western music and popular culture.