Liu Wen is a woman of many firsts. She is the first East Asian model to work for Victoria's Secret, the first Chinese woman to appear on the cover of American Vogue, and the first Asian to be listed on Forbes’ highest-paid models ranking. Her journey perfectly illustrates how modeling can open doors worldwide.
Although Liu Wen's success is partly linked to the growing interest of model agencies in Chinese consumers, her rise is primarily the result of hard work and exceptional determination. Models like Liu show how models can inspire a new generation of aspiring talents in the industry.
Based between New York and Beijing, Liu shared with Business Insider her beginnings and career in international modeling. Born in Yongzhou, southern China, she stood out among her peers for her height (1.78 m) from an early age. "I got used to bending down when talking to others, as if my back was curved backward," she said in 2014.
Liu never planned to become a model. Her first encounter with the industry was a contest organized by a local modeling agency in 2008, at the age of 17, where she won a new computer. "I didn’t have a clear goal [at the time]. I just wanted something that would let me travel the world," she told Business Insider.
Soon after, she moved to Beijing to fully dedicate herself to modeling. The same year, she was scouted for her first international runway with Burberry at Milan Fashion Week. "I didn’t understand anything because I didn’t speak English," Liu told CNN. "I just listened to the music and followed my feelings." Her story shows how beginner models, with the support of the right model agencies, can turn their passion into a global career.
In 2013, Liu Wen was named by Forbes among the highest-paid models, earning $4.3 million. She remains the first Asian model to reach this ranking, inspiring many models to follow in her footsteps and showing that talent, perseverance, and agency support are essential for success in the modeling world.
