Liu Wen‘s rise to international supermodel is a remarkable story of groundbreaking moments, not just for Liu but for the industry as a whole. The Yongzhou born beauty is now a familiar face in pages of glossy magazines, but it wasn’t too long ago that seeing a Chinese model in high fashion’s upper echelon was a rarity. With her undeniable beauty and innate charm, Liu broke boundaries and became the official face of China’s cutting edge fashion scene and its global impact. You can’t talk about the rise of the Chinese luxury market without a nod to its most elegant representative. As the first Chinese face of Estee Lauder, the first Asian model to ever walk the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and the first to land a place on the top earners list, Liu has cemented herself as a game-changer.
Though she never dreamed of modeling full time, a win in a hometown contest gave her the idea that a career in fashion could be in her future. Liu’s fate was sealed after she was discovered in Beijing by a French fashion stylist and immediately cast in Steven Meisel’s Calvin Klein fragrance ads. It wasn’t long before she was whisked away to the runways of Milan and Paris, appearing at shows like Burberry, Jean Paul Gaultier and Maison Martin Margiela. Once the momentum built it only seemed to grow and with each season Liu added another key booking, or enviable campaign to her already impressive resume. By the time 2010 rolled around Liu had the distinction of being one of the most booked Chinese models of all time.
Today Liu stands as a leader on and off the catwalk, utilizing her supermodel status to support charity projects like Make A Wish. Naturally you’ll still find her on the runways for brands like Calvin Klein, Hermes and Chanel and in the pages of prestige publications like Vogue China, Vogue Paris, Pop and W, but her presence extends beyond fashion. You’re just as likely to find Liu Wen on the red carpet at Cannes, or being mentioned as one of China’s top influencers as you are to see her staring back at you from the pages of a magazine. No matter where you find her, Liu Wen manages to shine and her winning combination of beauty, humor and humility is sure to keep her in high demand for years to come.
