Life> Celebrities

More than just exotica

By Gan Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-06 09:15

(Left): Liu Wen is fashion's "good girl never gone bad". Provided to China Daily (Right): Mo Wandan always has a translator traveling with her. Provided to China Daily

Liu was dubbed the "good girl never gone bad" in Western fashion circles. She has a stellar record of never being late for interviews and shows. Despite getting barely three hours of sleep most nights, she manages to appear fresh and energetic, much to others' amazement.

Pei Bei first appeared at Paris Fashion Week in 2007 and has risen fast. At the Dior Haute Couture spring/summer fashion show in 2008, John Galliano, the Gibraltarian-British fashion designer, took Pei's hand, walked out, and announced that she was his favorite model. At DKNY's show this year in New York, Pei donned three outfits.

In just one year, Qin Shupei, 20, has become a well-known face after signing on with New York model agency Next Management in 2007.

The year 2008 was a breakthrough one for her when she walked in 22 shows at New York Fashion Week. Last year, style.com featured Qin as a top-10 newcomer. At this January's Paris couture shows, her client's list included heavyweights, such as Valentino, Chanel and Givenchy.

But these young models still have a long way to go. They are mostly handicapped by their language skills. Most of them, who are in their 20s, have never received any systematic language training.

After Liu Wen made her way into the Victoria's Secret show last year, a video clip began to make the rounds online. In it, Liu introduced herself in English. Though not fluent, she won much praise for her efforts.

Mo Wandan is reported to take a translator wherever she goes. "My Western workmates all think I am super rich, but that is the only way I can communicate with others," she says.

Secondly, whether it is Du Juan, Pei Bei, or Mo Wandan, they are all represent what the Westerners call the "oriental look".

"They lack versatility," says onlylady.com's Yi. She also points out that there are few Chinese male models on the world stage.

Last but not the least, the world fashion stage is still dominated by Brazilian, American and European models. "Western brands and agencies might need a few (Chinese models), but not many. It is just the way they use a few black models at every show, as some kind of exotica," says fashion editor Shi Zhiqiang at Time Out Beijing.

But the mood among Chinese fashion media remains upbeat. The March issue of Harper's Bazaar has six models on its cover for the first time, including Lu Yan, Mo Wandan, Qin Shupei, Li Danni, Sun Feifei and Ju Xiaopei. It has a 50-page feature story titled China's Supermodels, Here They Come about their lives and careers.