In 1998, celebrated actress Michelle Yeoh participated in a daring National Geographic photo shoot captured by renowned photographer Joe McNally.The project, part of a feature story titled 'The Globalization of Culture,' explored the rapid spread of cultural icons across the world through movies, television, fashion, and the emerging internet.McNally sought an Asian star capable of performing stunts to highlight the growing influence of Asian actors in mainstream Hollywood cinema.

Yeoh, prepared for the shoot, was safely harnessed and rigged under a helicopter while remaining in a hangar before being flown for approximately 20 to 25 minutes toward the Hollywood sign.

Although wearing a fashionable, form-fitting dress, Yeoh recalled in a 2022 interview that the cold at that altitude was the most challenging part of the experience.

McNally praised Yeoh's magnetic presence in front of the camera and captured numerous striking images, emphasizing both her elegance and the adventurous spirit required for the shoot.The photographs remain iconic examples of 1990s celebrity photography and the intersection of global culture and Hollywood glamour.