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Asian angel

With her violet eyes, white hair and snowy eyelashes, Connie Chiu doesn't have the typical supermodel look. But she has managed to carve out a niche for herself in the fickle world of modelling. Possibly the first Chinese albino model, Chiu is a lucky girl who has rubbed shoulders with supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.

'To some extent, being an albino has been an advantage, rather than a disadvantage, for my modelling career,' confessed Chiu, 35, who has been a full-time model since 1997.

'If I was born with black hair like ordinary Chinese girls, I probably wouldn't have been able to model as much as I have done. People in the fashion business are quite open-minded.'

'Some people say I'm using my unusual looks to become a model. Yes, but what are other models doing? And what's wrong with it? You do get more time in the spotlight if you're a little bit different,' the unique beauty said.

Chiu migrated to Sweden with her family when she was eight. At 24, she worked as a radio DJ and did part-time modelling for her eldest sister who studied fashion design.

She made a life-changing decision when she was 28. 'It was just a mad idea, I guess. I asked myself: why not send my photo to Jean-Paul Gaultier? He's quite open-minded and imaginative. I think that might be fun. So I sent a photo of myself to his office in Paris,' Chiu recalled.

The famous fashion designer called and invited her to model for his fall collection in a train station in Paris. 'He (Gaultier) said to me: 'Just be yourself. Walk really, really slowly and you'll be fine.' The show was a big surprise and was great fun,' she said.

After this auspicious start, Chiu moved to London and has since modelled for such brands as Diesel, L'Oreal and Toni & Guy. While 35 may be considered too mature for the modelling industry which constantly looks for new blood, Chiu stands out from the other young, pretty faces. 'I have a specific look. If people are looking for the girl-next-door, then I'm not the right model. I think that's fine,' she said.

Although many people envy the onstage glamour of modelling, Chiu is more fascinated by the excitement modelling can bring to her life. 'Modelling is rewarding when I have to do mad or crazy things. I'm a daydreamer. Modelling, in a way, is also about daydreaming,' she said. 'One time I had to stand next to a big Scottish cow. Another time, they hung me from the ceiling and I had to pretend to be an angel. It can be painful but once or twice is fine.'

But Chiu never forgets her childhood dream - writing. She is now studying literature and will be getting her literature degree in two years. In the meantime, she also works as a part-time researcher for BBC Radio and BBC Television. 'As long as people still want to work with me, I will model. But I won't model full-time. Life is too short. If there're things you want to do, I think you should go for it,' she said.

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