She has broken boundaries in fashion and is busy influencing an entire global industry, but Chinese supermodel FEI FEI SUN is in no rush to leave Shanghai, she tells NATALIE RIGG.
If you are not yet familiar with the striking Chinese supermodel Fei Fei Sun, you soon will be. Not only has the distinctive, bold-browed beauty walked for Chanel, Christopher Kane and Marc Jacobs, but in January this year, she made fashion history as the first Asian model to grace the cover of Vogue Italia solo, and to front an international campaign for the storied house of Valentino.
Born in Weifang, northern China, Sun, 24, first emerged on the international modeling scene in 2008, after winning the influential Elite Model Look competition while at university. Soon after, she scored the cover of Marie Claire China, before being whisked off to London where she made her fashion-week debut at Mulberry.
Capitalizing on her initial success, Sun chose to approach modeling with the same focus and discipline that she had applied to her education. “I needed to grow up, as a model and a businesswoman. I told myself: it’s a new school and you need to learn the rules,” she says. Picking up the pace and finessing her English skills were additional challenges she faced. “At first, I couldn’t adapt to the speed. You have to check your email constantly and they are all in English,” she adds.
Her tenacity paid off, when in 2009 Karl Lagerfeld chose her to walk in Chanel’s pre-fall show in Shanghai. But Sun’s landmark moment came in January 2011, when she appeared in a Vogue Italia shoot by Steven Meisel. Struck by her strong, feminine features, Meisel cast her in a glamorous eveningwear shoot with other supermodels including Arizona Muse and Freja Beha Erichsen. “Meisel’s photos make me feel like I’m in a dream – they are breathtaking,” Sun enthuses.
Further editorial work in US Vogue, V Magazine and i-D followed, as did contracts with Calvin Klein, Chanel and DKNY – not only securing her place as one of the industry’s most exciting talents, but also proving that the diversity of beauty represented in fashion is gradually expanding.
Sun’s global appeal was cemented with an exquisite Vogue Italia cover in January 2013, where she epitomized modern elegance in a tweed jacket and pearls by Chanel. The issue celebrated the multicultural facets of fashion. “Fei Fei embodies a timeless idea of an extremely chic woman. In this world, beauty is king and it brings people together with no racial limits,” explained the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Franca Sozzani. Styled by Lori Goldstein, as Sun is on these pages, and shot by Steven Meisel, the story was a seminal moment in fashion history. “I was honored to be selected,” says Sun. “It gave me self-confidence and I will never, ever forget it.”
A reluctant celebrity, Sun doesn’t court publicity and rarely gives interviews, preferring to spend her free time with her long-term beau in Shanghai, where she lives. Maintaining a suitable work/life balance is also of utmost importance. “At the end of the day, there is more to life than work,” Sun says. “Through it all, I just remember to be myself.” Here, one of the most influential faces in the fashion world talks exclusively to The Edit about fame, style and leading a model life…
What do you love about modeling?
“I feel very lucky to have a job that constantly inspires me. I work with talented people from all over the world, and I also get to wear beautiful clothes and jewelry.”
Tell us about your relationship with über-stylist Lori Goldstein.
“Working with Lori is always so inspiring. She is focused and has a strong sense of fashion history.”
Aside from Steven Meisel, which photographers do you most enjoy working with?
“David Sims lets me be strong in a pure way. And I miss the wonderful Deborah Turbeville [pioneering photographer who died in 2013], who I have beautiful memories of.”
Who has been the biggest support throughout your career?
“My mother. She gave me all that she has, and keeps giving.”
You enrolled in a fashion-design degree before modeling. Would you pursue that in the future?
“I studied fashion design and modeling at university in Shanghai before winning the Elite Model Look competition. It helped me to understand fashion, but modeling is definitely my main focus now.”
How do you feel about being in the public eye?
“I feel honored that people are interested in my journey.”
How do you stay in shape?
“I never diet, as I love food. But I pay attention to my health: I eat organic meals and drink a cup of manuka honey and hot water in the morning to calm my stomach.”
Describe your signature style…
“Simple, chic and comfortable. On a typical day off, I like to wear sneakers, jeans and a T-shirt.”
What’s next for Fei Fei Sun?
“It’s too early for me to predict where my career may lead. I try to live in the present. There is a Chinese saying: ‘People will find the right way when they reach the cross in the road’. Though I am interested in becoming an actress…”
I like the shot from the preview!
