Liu Wen
Liu Wen is a Chinese fashion model. She is the first model of Chinese descent to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. In 2010, she became the first spokesmodel of Asian descent for Estée Lauder, alongside Constance Jablonski and Joan Smalls.
Liu was born into a working-class family on January 27, 1988, in Yongzhou, a city in the Hunan province of China. Liu is an only child. In her teens, her mother encouraged her to be professional, to eat well, and to enter the modeling contest which led to Liu’s discovery.
Liu started her modeling career in 2005 when she entered the New Silk Road World Model Contest, a contest previously won by international covergirl Du Juan. Although she did not win the competition, Liu soon began working fulltime as a model, becoming a national success story when she landed the cover of Chinese FHM. She has accepted modeling work with Chinese fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
In September 2007, Liu caught the attention of the international fashion industry when she shot a Cosmopolitan editorial in clothes designed by Karl Lagerfeld and Viktor and Rolf and would later walk for each of those firms. She was invited to Paris in 2008, and signed with the Marilyn Agency.In February 2007 she appeared in four fashion-related articles for Chinese Vogue. She debuted on international runways in the same month, closing the fall Trussardi show in Milan. In 2007 she walked for Shiatzy Chen, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Hermès.
Liu has appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta, Hugo Boss, Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, Marni, Lane Crawford, Bergdorf Goodman, Diesel, Gap and Vivienne Tam. Her record for a single season is seven including DKNY Jeans, The GAP, Barneys New York, Benetton, Alexander Wang, Converse, and cKone in Spring 2009. She has been featured as the only female in major Vogue editorials for Vogue Germany, Vogue Espana, Vogue China, Vogue Italia, British Vogue and American Vogue. She has also been featured in editorials for Numéro GQ, V Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Pop Magazine, and W Magazine. She has also appeared in fashion articles for Chinese Elle, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, i-D (as well as a cover), Interview, Numéro (as well as a cover), V magazine, W, and the Italian, American, Chinese, British, Portuguese, German, French, Spanish, and Teen editions of Vogue.
In 2009, Liu became the first woman of Chinese descent to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Wen also participated in the 2010 show. Liu said that she was somewhat surprised to be chosen because most Victoria’s Secret models “have big boobs.” She has walked the show for four consecutive years as of 2013. For the Spring 2010 ready-to-wear season, she walked 70 shows in New York, Paris and Milan which made her the second most booked model for the season following French model Constance Jablonski. In April 2010, it was announced that Liu and Jablonski would help to represent the cosmetics company Estée Lauder. Liu is the first Asian face of the company. As of August 2012, Liu is ranked #5 on the Top 50 Models Women List by models.com.
In the past, Liu has said that after modeling she might enjoy working as a stylist or, were the opportunity to arise, as an actress – she feels that modeling and acting have much in common, but for now she enjoys modeling and working in the fashion industry. She has stated that she knows that, as a career choice, working as a fashion designer or stylist would be “very hard work,” but she is now more seriously considering becoming a stylist because she would like “to share her fashion style – tomboyish, vintage, and comfortable – with the world.”
Liu is known in the fashion industry for her professionalism and her friendly, outgoing, down-to-earth personality. She is friends with fellow models Joan Smalls, Constance Jablonski and Lindsey Wixson and fellow Chinese models Shu Pei Qin, Du Juan, Fei Fei Sun, Sui He, Ju Xiaowen, Ming Xi and Shu-Yu Liu.
Models.com says ‘The game-changer from Bejing just keeps on breaking boundaries. Liu Wen stands out as the first Asian face of cosmetics giant Estee Lauder and her bookings continue to be flawless. Multiple Vogue China covers, campaigns for Calvin Klein and Lane Crawford and a slew of editorials that showcase that irresistible smile’.
Liu Wen hails from Beijing, China, and is one of China’s brightest fashion stars. First establishing her career with the Chinese editions of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, she broke onto the international stage in Paris on the Spring 2008 runways of Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier. Since then, Liu Wen has become a fixture on the runways of New York, Milan and Paris, walking a total of 49 shows for the Autumn/Winter 2010 season including Rodarte, Derek Lam, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo and Balenciaga and shooting editorials with the world’s top fashion photographers including Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Sorrenti, Terry Richardson and Dan Jackson. Liu Wen recently appeared on the cover of Chinese Vogue and in editorials for W as well as the French, Japanese and Chinese editions of Vogue. Constance joins Estee Lauder’s roster of beauties with the campaign debuting 2010. The signing of Liu marks the first time Estée Lauder has signed a Chinese model.
Liu Wen’s most recent campaigns:
- H&M The New Icons Spring 2013 Campaign (H&M)
- Tiffany & Co. Spring 2013 (Tiffany & Co.)
- Esprit S/S 13 (Esprit)
- Oscar de la Renta S/S 13 Campaign (Oscar de la Renta)
- Estee Lauder Contract 2013 (S/S 13) (Estee Lauder)
- Hugo Boss Women S/S 13 (Hugo Boss)
- Tory Burch Resort 2013 Campaign (Tory Burch)
- Rag & Bone DIY F/W 12 (Rag & Bone)
- Estee Lauder Contract 2012 (F/W 12) (Estee Lauder)
- cK Calvin Klein F/W 12 (Calvin Klein)
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