On the evening of September 10 local time, Liu Wen opened and closed Tory Burch’s Spring/Summer 2027 show at New York Fashion Week. With years of experience behind her, she confidently commanded the runway in a classic purple dress, becoming a focal point both on and off the catwalk.
Taking on both the opening and closing spots is a rare honor at major fashion weeks and reflects the brand’s trust in Liu Wen’s appeal, runway skills and standing within the industry.
At 38, the supermodel continues to challenge age-related stereotypes in modeling, maintaining her position as one of Asia’s leading runway stars at major fashion capitals across Europe and the United States.
Learning How to Walk in Heels and Speak English
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Born in 1988 in Yongzhou, Hunan, Liu Wen is widely regarded as China’s first internationally successful supermodel. She did not come from a family with a fashion background. As a child, Liu had almost no exposure to the industry until her mother encouraged her to enter a local modeling competition. She took part, won an award and received a computer as her prize—a turning point that eventually took her from her hometown to Beijing to pursue modeling before gradually leading her onto the international stage.
What made Liu Wen particularly distinctive was that her appearance did not conform to traditional Chinese beauty standards. She once told Vogue that as a child, her small eyes and exceptional height meant she was not considered conventionally beautiful in her hometown and was even criticized for her looks. Yet those very differences later became an advantage on international runways. Western fashion media have regarded Liu Wen as one of the faces who helped reshape the industry’s perception of Asian beauty.
Her career was far from an overnight success. In an interview with Forbes, Liu Wen recalled moving from southern China to Beijing at 18 with almost nothing and struggling to find work. When she first arrived in Paris and Milan, she had to relearn even the most basic skills, including how to properly walk in high heels, as she told The Wall Street Journal.
Language was another major barrier. Liu Wen once told Tiffany & Co. that she could not speak English or Italian at the time, and everything felt so unfamiliar that it was like “becoming a baby all over again” because she could not understand what people were saying. It was an extremely lonely period. Through persistence, however, she gradually overcame each obstacle.
A Supermodel Defined by “Firsts”
Liu Wen’s career has been marked by a series of groundbreaking achievements. In 2009, she became the first Chinese model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. In 2010, she became the first Asian face of Estée Lauder. By 2013, Liu Wen had become the first Asian model to enter the top five of Forbes’ highest-paid models list.
During the Fall/Winter 2009 season, Liu Wen walked in 74 shows across New York, London, Milan and Paris—a record for an Asian model at the time, according to British Vogue. The following season, she continued her momentum by appearing in around 70 shows.
Her success was not limited to commercial runways. Liu Wen also earned recognition from the high-fashion world, appearing on the cover of American Vogue and fronting campaigns for numerous major fashion houses. In 2024, she became the first Asian-born model to appear solo on the cover of Vogue France.
