Liu Wen is a Chinese model who made history in the fashion industry as China’s first supermodel and one of the most influential and successful models in the world.
She has walked for top designers, appeared on the covers of prestigious magazines and signed lucrative contracts with global brands.
She is also known for her charity work and fighting for diversity and inclusion in the modeling world.
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- Full name: Luu Van
- Date of birth: January 27, 1988
- Age: 36 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Yongzhou, Hunan Province, China
- Nationality: Chinese
- Occupation: Model
- Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
- Parents: None
- Siblings: None
- Spouse: None
- Children: None
- Relationship status: Single
- Net worth: $40 million
Early life and education
Liu Wen, now 36 years old, was born on January 27, 1988 in Yongzhou, Hunan Province, China. Her father is a construction worker, she is an only child.
Her mother encouraged her to pursue modeling to improve her posture after she developed a habit of slouching because she was taller than her classmates.
In 2005, she entered the New Silk Road World modelling competition in her hometown and won the semi-finals. She was motivated to enter because the prize was a new laptop.
Although she did not make it to the top 10 in the national finals, she was still invited to work as a model in Beijing. At the age of 17, she moved to Beijing to start her career.
She initially had difficulty finding work because her appearance did not fit the commercial style that was sought after at the time. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology.
Personal life
Liu Wen has no wife or children but was in a relationship with Korean singer Choi Siwon in 2015.
They met on the Chinese reality show We Are In Love, a spin-off of the Korean show We Got Married.
They were paired as a virtual couple and showed off their chemistry and affection on screen. However, they never confirmed their relationship status and eventually broke up. Liu Wen is currently single and focusing on her career.
Career
Liu Wen became a sought-after model and first came to the attention of the international modeling industry in 2007 when she appeared in an editorial for Chinese Cosmopolitan magazine, styled by Karl Lagerfeld and Viktor & Rolf. In February 2008, she appeared in four fashion-related articles for Chinese Vogue magazine.
She made her international runway debut that same month, walking for Burberry and closing the Trussardi fall show in Milan. The following week, she walked for Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, And Hermes in Paris.
A year later, in February and March 2009, Liu Wen appeared in 74 shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris for the Fall 2009 ready-to-wear season—the highest number of shows for a model that season.
This still holds the record for the most shows by an Asian model in one season. She followed that up with the Spring 2010 ready-to-wear season, showing 70 shows in the same four cities.
This statistic made her the second most booked model of the season, behind French model Constance Jablonski.
In 2009, Liu became the first woman of Chinese descent to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She also walked in the shows from 2010–2012 and 2016–2018.
She is the first East Asian model to represent Estée Lauder cosmetics, signing with the brand in 2010.
She was the first Asian model to make Forbes magazine’s annual list of highest-paid models, ranking 10th in 2013 with estimated earnings of $4.3 million.
She has remained on the list every year since, reaching number 8 in 2017 with $6.5 million. In 2017, Liu became the second Chinese model to appear on the cover of American Vogue, and the first to appear on the cover rather than the fold.
She appeared on the cover of American Vogue for the second time in April 2020 and the third time in May 2023, becoming the first person of Chinese descent to appear three times. She is based in New York City and is represented by The Society Management.
Liu Wen has also appeared in the Chinese editions of Harpar’s Bazaar and Vogue, walked the runways for designers such as Lagerfeld, Trussardi, Chanel, Gaultier and Hermes, and appeared in advertising campaigns and editorials for Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Hugo Boss and Benetton, among many other companies and designers.
She has also collaborated with brands such as Coach, Puma, and H&M. She has also tried her hand at acting, appearing in a short film called A Little Romance in 2022 alongside bandmate Liu Yao Wen.
Prize
Liu Wen has received several awards and honors for her achievements and contributions to the fashion industry. Some of them are:
- Model of the Year at the China Fashion Awards 2009.
- Style Icon of the Year at ELLE China Style Awards 2011.
- Model of the Year at the 2012 Harper’s Bazaar China Fashion Awards.
- Model of the Year at the Asian Fashion Awards 2012.
- Model of the Year at the ELLE China Style Awards 2013.
- Model of the Year at Harper’s Bazaar China Fashion Awards 2014.
- Model of the Year at the Asian Fashion Awards 2014.
- Model of the Year at the 2015 ELLE China Style Awards.
- Model of the Year at Harper’s Bazaar China Fashion Awards 2016.
- Model of the Year at the 2016 Asian Fashion Awards.
- Model of the Year at the 2017 ELLE China Style Awards.
- Model of the Year at Harper’s Bazaar China Fashion Awards 2018.
- Model of the Year at the 2018 Asian Fashion Awards.
- Model of the Year at the 2019 ELLE China Style Awards.
- Model of the Year at the 2020 Harper’s Bazaar China Fashion Awards.
- Model of the Year at the 2020 Asian Fashion Awards.
- Model of the Year at the 2021 ELLE China Style Awards.
- Model of the Year at Harper’s Bazaar China Fashion Awards 2022.
- The model is nominated for Model of the Year at the 2023 Fashion Awards.
Net worth
Liu Wen has a net worth of $40 million, earned through her successful career in the modeling industry.
She is recognized as the first Asian supermodel and East Asian model to walk for Victoria’s Secret. She is also the first Asian model to be included on Forbes’ list of Top-Earning Models and the only person of East Asian descent to appear on the cover of American Vogue three times.
Social media
- Instagram: @liuwenlw
- Twitter: @LiuWenLW
