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I’m from Hermosillo, Mexico. Life is completely different there from Hong Kong.
Hong Kong people really don’t have any idea about Mexico. No, it’s not dangerous. You have the greatest time there.
I love having two worlds. When it gets too stressful here, I go and relax there when I can.
I grew up with my father and he gave me too much freedom, but I was always responsible.
I partied, of course, but not like crazy. I never did drugs.
I was the smartest in my class. I wanted to become a lawyer.
Sometimes girls don’t have confidence. When you were super skinny and pale in a city like mine—it’s impossible. All the girls were curvy and outgoing. They had more flavor and more color.
I thought someone like me wouldn’t have special opportunities—especially because [modeling] is a job that requires some physical attributes.
But of course, being a girl, you dream about it.
There was a photographer who did some shoots with me. He told me, “You have a job.” But I’m not a model. I did those photos for my birthday.
One big agency came to my city to scout. I wanted to go for it. I never mentioned anything to my family or friends.
I got selected. They took me to Mexico City. It was the first big city that I lived in on my own.
Some people are like, “You’re so beautiful,” this and that. But there are so many beautiful people out there. Anybody can be beautiful if you are polished.
I started working for a law firm [in Mexico]. I didn’t get paid too much, and everybody screams at you all the time.
I was there for less than a year. I’m thankful I could help people solve their problems—but it was not for me, to be doing that at that time.
I first came to Hong Kong to travel and because I had a few friends here. Then I started working with a model agency. By doing that, I could stay in Hong Kong for longer and make some money.
When I first met my husband, we weren’t flirtatious or anything. I started paying attention to him because he is really smart. We are similar in tastes, but very different in personality. That’s the attraction, you know?
He pushes me to do things, and I push him to do other things. The more time we spent together, the more we realized that it was going to happen.
Age was not an issue [Deborah has never announced her age, but according to Eastweek magazine, there’s a 20-plus year age gap between her and Stephen]. But when I met him, everybody was unsure about the age difference.
I started helping some of my model friends work internationally. My husband is the one who gave me the idea to do it bigger and have a model agency.
I was looking into setting up a business. As soon as I saw the rent, I was like, “No. This town is crazy.” He said, “Let me help you.”
Sometimes people see me as this girl who parties a lot, or think, “She doesn’t like to work and gets manicures and pedicures all the time.”
The reality is different. Of course I love a mani-pedi, but not all the time.
Most people—clients and media—ask my staff, “So, Deborah comes to the office?”
I don’t have to. That’s a fact—I’m being totally honest. But I do work. Hong Kong should not have room for divas. Be professional. Do your job.
One thing that I noticed in Hong Kong: most fashion magazines follow what American and European [publications] are doing.
Magazines are the voice of the culture. You don’t have to follow fashion trends in other cities. The weather and the people’s personalities are completely different.
I read this article that was ridiculous. I had a dress that didn’t have a slit for the legs, so when I walked I had to bend down and grab the dress.
The next day in the newspaper, one breast was exposed. They photoshopped it in.
Honestly, if I wanted to show my breasts, I would. I’m Latina—I don’t have any problem with that!
My personality is very explosive. I don’t beat around the bush. I do what I want, and I don’t want to please people.
I used to plan everything. I was going to become a lawyer, live in Mexico, marry a Mexican, have four babies and live with my family. Everything completely changed.
I don’t know what’s going to happen in a few years’ time. I don’t know if I’m going to leave Hong Kong. I hope not.


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Deborah Hung

Magazines

Model-turned-businesswoman Deborah Hung is the owner of model agency Dreamodels. She wed billionaire and casino entrepreneur Stephen Hung in 2012, and the couple is a fixture on the Hong Kong social scene. She tells Andrea Lo about growing up in her native Mexico, and how she went from practicing law to becoming a model… and then running her own agency.
