Supermodel Liu Wen takes a stand for all Asian women: You can't box us all together

A beautiful face has quite an impact, but a careful consideration of how to affect stereotypes can be absolutely breathtaking.

Supermodel Liu Wen has built an illustrious career in the cut-throat fashion industry, paving the way for models of Eastern Asian descent. The most notable of her campaigns have included representing Estée Lauder as its first Asian face since she signed on in 2010, as well walking the Victoria's Secret runway multiple shows.

The Chinese model spoke with NY Mag on her interpretation of Chinese beauty and the fashion industry's trenchant stereotyping of Asian models.

And considering her extensive experience, Wen gracefully offers her observation on the public's understanding of Chinese beauty.

"Now, there are more and more Asian models and opportunities to understand Asian beauty," she said to the publication. "For example, before, people would put me in red lips because they thought it looked Chinese. But now, they put a lot of red lipstick on Asian models because our skin tone is different than the Caucasian one and they see that it suits us. Asia isn’t just about red."
Wen offers an inspirational hand to young girls who struggle with defining their beauty in a new environment.

"When I first came to New York all the people were saying 'You look so Asian, because you have a different eye shape,'" she said. "They didn't really understand because they didn’t really see that many Asian models."

"As you grow up, you understand more about what beauty is," Wen continued. "It's not just about the outside. Your look changes depending on your confidence."

Hopefully, she can give that confidence to Asian women everywhere.