HoYeon Jung
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If you didn’t know her as a model, you would definitely recognise HoYeon Jung now from Squid Game, the Netflix K-drama that is currently taking the world by storm. But before she was North Korean refugee Sae-byeok in the sensational thriller series, she was already a familiar face in the world of fashion. As the runner-up of Korea’s Next Top Model Season 4, Jung made her international modelling debut as an exclusive model for Louis Vuitton in 2016. Since then she has been walking runways for the likes of Chanel, Prabal Gurung, and Roberto Cavalli, and has graced the covers of Vogue Korea and Japan. In an interview with W Korea, Jung revealed that she was actually at New York Fashion Week when she was asked to send in a video audition for Squid Game.
Sora Choi
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One of the cover stars of Vogue Hong Kong’s September 2021 issue, Sora Choi has always been a familiar face across runways, walking 89 shows in 2019 – the most for any model that year. Last year, she took home the Model of the Year Reader’s Choice Award on models.com and has since gained icon status with a year bursting with bookings from major fashion houses like Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. Off the runway, she continues to catch the eyes of many with her feminine yet dark and edgy everyday style — her viral black wedding dress was a gift from none other than Miuccia Prada!
Mika Schneider
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To those who have cast the briefest of glances towards this season’s runways, Mika Schneider will be a familiar face. Since making her international debut on Prada’s Spring 2020 runway, the 19-year-old has already swept runways across the globe, from being Tom Ford’s first ever closing bride in Los Angeles, to walking for the likes of Prada and Dior in Milan and Paris. Travelling around the world is not new to the French-Japanese model — growing up, Schneider has lived in Paris, Tokyo, Moscow and Chennai and knows five languages. Schneider has been named a rising star by Vogue Japan and crowned Breakout Star 2020 by reader’s choice on models.com.
Sherry Shi
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Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Sherry Shi first crossed paths with modelling while imitating the walks of her older sister, who was signed with a local agency. This newly minted hot-lister broke new ground at fashion week in one of the most turbulent times the world has ever seen — last September, she travelled around Europe to walk for some of fashion’s biggest names, including Burberry, Celine, Chanel, Valentino, and Versace.
He Cong
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Upon arriving in Shanghai from Hunan for fashion school, He Cong was scouted to open and close a fashion show — not just any ordinary show — but a special presentation by Valentino in 2013. Resembling a porcelain doll with her delicate features, the model also has a cool but graceful aura, leading many to regard her as the successor of Liu Wen, a Chinese supermodel who also hails from Hunan. The cover star of Vogue Hong Kong’s January 2021 issue, He was recently invited to walk the historic Fendi x Versace “Fendace” show at Paris Fashion Week.
Yoon YoungBae
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Yoon Young Bae’s heart-shaped face, almond eyes, and thick lips earned her the childhood nickname “Mulan” — the name by which Bae’s 295k followers on Instagram know the model. Despite only turning 23 this year, the Daegu native has already walked over 240 runways since her international debut as a Prada exclusive in 2016, proving her to be luxury fashion’s true runway darling. Bae’s doll-like features and cluster of moles on her left cheek gives her a very distinct look, one which has made her a Chanel Beauty favourite.
Jill Kortleve
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Born in the Netherlands, Jill Kortleve is of Dutch, Surinamese, Indonesian and Indian origin. Raised in a small town in the south of Holland, Kortleve was once bound by a pressure to conform to those around her. Now, the 27-year-old stands at the forefront of fashion’s body positivity movement to challenge the dictates of modelling and beauty, winning the hearts of many with her self-confidence and her determination to represent all women on the catwalk. Kortleve is also one of the cover stars of Vogue Hong Kong’s September 2021 issue.
Mao Xiaoxing
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Since debuting with Marine Serre in 2019, Mao Xiaoxing has been named Top Newcomer by models.com and was a nominee for the Breakout Star 2021 award alongside Jill Kortleve and Mika Schneider. The native Chinese model distinguishes herself with her signature bowl cut and has walked the runways for Bottega Veneta, Max Mara and Giambattista Valli and fronted big-name campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Emporio Armani. The spotlight is on the rising star — off the runway, Mao is already conquering the digital scene with a dedicated following of 92k.
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Kaitlyn Lai