Pioneer Chinese supermodel Lu Yan on her label Comme Moi and her catwalk career
Lu Yan became a supermodel before the China story had started to unfold. Now she has her sights set on fresh challenges
Long before the likes of Liu Wen and Sun Fei Fei strutted the world's catwalks, Lu Yan was out there flying the flag for her country. As one of China's first-generation supermodels, Lu's was a rare Chinese face at a time when diverse racial representation on the catwalk was virtually unheard of. Today, at just 34 years old, she is considered a veteran of the modelling world.
By conventional Chinese beauty standards, Lu might almost have been considered the proverbial ugly duckling when she started out, yet the international fashion world quickly embraced her unusual look. Speaking to her in person, it's easy to understand how she has risen to the top. Lu is charismatic and quick-witted, with a vibrant energy and an infectious smile accentuated by those famously high cheek bones.
This aura translates onto the camera - Lu's commanding presence has seen her grace the runways of Lanvin and Hermès as well as the pages of top fashion magazines. Today she's considered one of China's fashion veterans and style icons.
Lu started very much at the bottom. She came from a humble family background: her father was a miner and home was a rural village in Jiangxi province.
