Every makeup artist or stylist with whom I work has many special ideas, tips, and creations. I can always learn so much from them.
Your look changes depending on your confidence, and then your beauty changes. When I first came to New York, all the people were saying, 'You look so Asian because you have a different eye shape.' They didn't really understand because they didn't really see that many Asian models.
I have a strong appreciation for oversize sweatshirts, loose mohair sweaters, and jeans that are frayed at the ankles.
When I was little, I never wanted to be a model or really thought of doing this job. I'm from a small city, Yongzhou Hunan in the south of China - not a big place for fashion.
Fashion is constantly evolving throughout the seasons and within various cultural changes, but the one thing that has stayed constant is how I always want my style to be an authentic, intrinsic part of myself.
People probably think I'm cute because I have dimples and am friendly and always smiling. But beauty is different. In Chinese, people say I have chi ze, which means aura or a strong sense of presentation. It's not about my look.
I've learned what looks too sexy or too tomboy or too cool for me! I know what suits me now.
I feel the most beautiful when I'm the most relaxed - for example, after a productive day of work or during a comfortable, rested afternoon. But I also feel great when I reunite with friends after a long time.
Before I modeled, I never thought I was beautiful. Even right now, I don't think I'm beautiful. I think it's my personality that makes my beauty different and unique. If you look in the past, Chinese people have always considered things like big eyes, pointy nose, or big lips beautiful. I had the same thoughts as a child watching movies.
I don't use any makeup if I'm not doing work.
You'll encounter difficulties at any job, and the best way for me to get through them is via endurance.
I'm not that big a celebrity. I'm just an ordinary person.
I used to see Estee Lauder's ads everywhere in the subways of Beijing, and I thought how wonderful it would be if the model on them was myself!
When I'm studying English I love to watch 'Friends' or 'Nikita.'
No one else in my family works in the fashion industry.
Now, there are more and more Asian models and opportunities to understand Asian beauty.
I hope that when people see Asian women, they realize we are all different. A lot of time with Caucasian people, they just group us together as Asian. But even with different cities in China, people have different personalities... We look Asian, but we still look different. We don't look the same.
Fashion is a good job for a young girl. I like clothes - I like to play with clothes. I like DIY; I like to make outfit.
For my beauty routine, it's kind of complicated. It's not easy at all. I like being natural, but natural is not really natural. To be natural, you need to have really good skin. This is really important.
When I was 17, I entered a modeling contest in my home province in China because my mother wanted me to learn better posture. And the rest is history!
