This friendship circle has transformed not only how fashion is worn, but has also changed the way the game is played. Their luxury style, experiences of feeling othered and exposing social justice issues ushered in a pop culture movement across social networks.

Although the Slaysian network continues to grow every day with millions of people identifying themselves as part of the group, there are five originals who bonded over food and the emotional confrontation of representation on TV, per Elle.

Here’s what you need to know about the OG Slaysians …

1. Tina Leung, 40

Leung’s introduction into fashion royalty began when she was out having her hair done in Hong Kong, as previously reported. Her stylist introduced her to his friend Gordon Lam, the associate publisher and creative director of Prestige Magazine. Leung, a lover of fashion, impressed him enough to land a job.

Born in Hong Kong, Leung grew up in Orange County, California. She is the eldest of four daughters and moved back to Hong Kong in 2005, where her street fashion and high-end style quickly earned her the respect of major fashion houses, per Business of Fashion.

Leung lived between New York and Hong Kong for some time. In an interview with Elle, she said she noticed “tokenism” and a typical mold in fashion campaigns, adding, “I guess you can’t reach enlightenment or whatever without some pain first.”

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In the same report, the powerful influencer said she was part of the first generation of style influencers. She was aware that, when she started out, the fashion industry was still ticking boxes: “One black model. One white talent.”

2. Prabal Gurung, 43

In 1999, he moved to New York City and did an internship with Donna Karan. A decade later, in 2009, he launched Prabal Gurung at New York Fashion Week. He then had his stage debut a year later at Bryant Park. Gurung has won multiple awards and was selected for the 2010 to 2012 CFDA Fashion Incubator, a programme aimed at uplifting emerging designers, per Famous Fashion Designers.

Gurung is outspoken about his love of the fashion industry, but in an interview with Hong Kong media he said fashion used to be a “you can’t sit with us environment”.

With his net worth estimated to be around US$5 million, according to All Famous Daughter, Gurung has a strong fashion following and is considered to be somewhat of a mentor to the Slaysians. In his interview with Hong Kong media, he spoke up about the importance of finding your voice as early as you can and using it.

3. Laura Kim, age unknown

Oscar de la Renta, Monse and Carolina Herrera – these are just a few of the major fashion houses Laura Kim has worked with. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim started sewing when she was just three years old, according to Coveteur. In an interview with the publication, she said it was Seoul that awakened the creative inside her, as young children had designer backpacks and were competing to be fashionable before they were even 10 years old.

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When she was nine, she moved to Calgary, Canada, explains the same source. She attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NYC where she studied fashion and began her working life as an intern with Jeremy Scott and Donna Karan. Donna Karan was in the same building as Oscar de la Renta and, after dropping off her resume, Kim landed a job at the iconic fashion house.

She worked with De la Renta for 13 years. From intern to design assistant, by 26, she was running De la Renta’s studio. She eventually graduated to design director, working alongside him until his death in 2014. In 2015, she launched Monse with her fashion partner Fernando Garcia.

4. Phillip Lim, 49

He had a weekend job at Barneys and was unpacking boxes labelled under designer Katayone Adeli, states the same source. On a whim, he called Adeli and asked for a job, and succeeded in landing an internship. The rest is history, as they say.

Lim worked hard, eventually starting his own label and moving to Soho, NYC. In 2005, his brand 3.1 Phillip Lim debuted at New York Fashion Week and he was quickly recognised for his talent. Bags and shoes have become his signature and carrying a Phillip Lim tote can set you back around US$900.

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He’s had lucrative deals with big brands like Target, putting his net worth at reportedly around US$12.5 million, reports Celebrity Net Worth. But it is his staying power in the industry that has made Lim a key figure in the Asian-American fashion world, earning him the respect and admiration of many.

5. Ezra J. William, 33

If it’s designer and straight from the runway at fashion week, then you can bet Ezra J. William owns it. Or is about to add it to his expansive luxury wardrobe. Born in Jakarta, he is the son of an Indonesian real estate tycoon and got famous overnight when he starred in the Rich Kids of Instagram TV series back in 2016.

He has lived in Singapore, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, eventually making his home in New York City where his father bought him a four-storey town house in the West Village, reports First Classe.