Who is He Cong?
A familiar Asian face I kept noticing as I was scrolling through brand after brand’s runways, was the uniquely cute He Cong. According to The Fashion Spot, the China doll walked the most shows for any model of colour last year, during autumn/winter 17. While many designers and agents still prefer using mainly white models for catwalks, He Cong was definitely one of the stunning Asian faces that have helped lead a movement in encouraging to feature more colored people in catwalks.
He Cong’s introduction to fashion was through Valentino. She was a young teen and moved to Shanghai to study so that she could eventually major in fashion and design. Valentino came to Shanghai to host a special show in 2013, and she was selected to open and close the show, which led her to give modelling a try.
Modelling has helped her come out of her shell, she says “I would describe myself as an independent and disciplined girl. I love working and setting targets for myself. But growing up, I was always shy and slow to warm up. That is getting better since I started modelling, because I get to meet and talk to more people from different backgrounds. I think modelling helps to broaden my horizons.”
Other than modeling, she also hopes to branch out more in the fashion industry with a deep interest in fashion design. But she also explains that if she didn’t proceed with fashion, she would choose to be a kindergarten teacher because she loves kids. Smart, humble, and nurturing, can we please just take a moment and appreciate that there are down to earth public figures like her? Not only must we break down the stereotypes of bratty models, because that’s too vague, but we must also crush the ways of old fashioned, white washed shows that makes the rest of the world wonder if they’d look as good in clothes as people with white skin and features. He Cong, you go Glen Coco.
Text :: Crissy Fan
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