AdminMalaysian models dazzle in the fashion industry. They nhave changed the game and continue to inspire many women. Here are the top Malaysian female fashion models who are making waves in the international arena.
Amber Chia
Rising from humble beginnings , Amber Chia went on to conquer the fashion world against all odds. Amber who grew up in a fishing village in Sekinchan, Selangor had to stop school at the age of 15 to juggle three jobs while helping her family.
At the age of 18, Amber went to Kuala Lumpur to fulfil her dreams of becoming a model despite her parents objections. Winning the 2004 Guess Watches Timeless Beauty Contest was the turning point in her career.
The supermodel has now graced runways in cities around the world, endorsed more than 30 luxury brands and featured at the front page of over 200 magazines.
She is also the author of two books and has appeared in movies and television shows. The beauty started the Amber Chia Academy in 2010 to guide new and aspiring supermodels.
Ling Tan
Known as Southeast Asia’s first supermodel, Ling Tan was the first Asian model to walk on the Victoria’s Secret runway.
Tan Mang Ling got her breakthrough after being photographed by the legendary Richard Avedon for the Pirelli Calendar.
She burst into the scene in the mid-90s when there were not many Asian models working in the United States and Europe. She went on to work at all the major fashion weeks and has appeared in countless magazines.
The most important moment of her fashion career would be appearing at the Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture grand finale in Paris. Ling Tan is still rocking it even after 25 years in the fashion industry
Atikah Karim
Dayang Nur Atikah Karim, better known as Atikah is living the dream by working in New York, one of the fashion capitals in the world.
The Sabahan joined her first beauty pageant when she was 16. After finishing school she joined and won the Ford Models Supermodel of the World Malaysia competition, which earned her an international modeling contract.
In the early days Atikah was criticised for her dark skin but she has proved proved her critics wrong by reaching greater heights.
She has modeled for big brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic. She even performed alongside Miley Cyrus as a model dancer in London.
Vanizha Vasanthanathan
Malaysian model Vanizha who is also fondly known as Vee, is among Malaysia’s young talents who are making their mark in fashion.
The Kuala Lumpur born, 181cm tall and dark beauty started modelling at the age of 20. Her first gig was for a fashion design students final year project, while doing multimedia studies at Metropolitan University College KL.
She started rocking the runway in 2014 at Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week and was the only Malaysian-Indian model at the event.
Vanizha made her international debut at the 2016 Lakme Fashion Week in India as the only Malaysian walking down the runway.
She has also modeled for renowned designers like Eve Cina, Chen Wen and Jiwenbo at China Fashion Week. Vanizha also has had her stunning snapshots featured at Vogue.com. In 2022 Vanizha walked at the world renowned Milan Fashion Week for labels Marco Rabaldi and Act N1.
Vanizha is also a talented Indian Classical dancer and had her first big stage performance as an Odissi dancer at Istana Budaya in 2015.
Eleen Yong
In 2005, Eleen graduated with an accounting degree from Tunku Abdul Rahman University before pursuing a career in modeling.
The Malaysian born beauty started her modeling career by participating in beauty pageants and modeling competitions on a part time basis. Her first beauty contest was a charity pageant. Due to lack of training, Eleen took up professional modelling training to equip herself.
In 2009, the 179cm tall model emerged first runner-up in the Ford Supermodels of the World Malaysia reality series. She later won the 2009 Miss Malaysia International Model of the Year competition.
Eleen has also traveled to China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Italy for modeling assignments, appearing for big fashion brands like Gucci, DKNY, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein and Omega Watches.
During her career, Eleen had the opportunity to do a three month modeling stint at one of the world’s fashion capital, Italy. This includes a shoot with an Italian gym equipment maker and walking the runway at the Altaroma Fashion Week in Rome.
She has also appeared at the Sakura Collection fashion and arts show in Kansai, Japan. Eleen went on to start Eleen Y Management to coach and inspire aspiring models.
Gwen Lu
Born in Penang, the Malaysian beauty got her big break when she was scouted by then-director of Elite Model Management, Roman Young at the Singapore Fashion Fest in 2006.
The 175cm tall supermodel has lived and worked in fashion capitals such as New York, London and Paris.
Gwen who is a qualified quantity surveyor has appeared at numerous international shows for major brands like MGSM and Kenzo. She has also been on covers of fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Angie Ng
Penang born Angie Ng started off her modeling career at the age of 16. The law graduate was scouted by a talent agency in the UK, where she was pursuing her studies.
Angie hit it big after moving to Hong Kong in 2000, becoming one of the most popular faces there. Her trendy bob, lips and cheekbones has landed her on TV commercials, beauty campaigns and top magazines like Marie Claire and Elle.
Besides modeling, Angie is also a boxing instructor at the Lights Out gym. She combined her love for fashion and fitness by launching an eco-friendly sportswear in collaboration with Hong Kong label Rising Lotus.
Sheena Liam
Sheena started modeling as a teenager doing editorial shoots and taking up random modeling jobs. She took the world by storm after winning Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 2 in 2014.
It catapulted her name into the limelight and got her signed to Storm Model Management in London. Sheena’s career went upward as she debuted in London Fashion Week and landed on top magazine spreads and covers like Harper’s Bazaar.
Besides modeling, Sheena is also an accomplished embroidery artist. She landed her first solo exhibition in 2018 at Item Gallery, Paris. She later partnered with Coach Malaysia to create a collection of bags that carries her unique embroidery designs.
Arinna Erin Wira
Born in Ohio, USA, Arinna spent her childhood in London before moving to Malaysia in 2005 to continue her studies.
Her modeling career took off when she finished in the top 10 at a beauty competition while still a student at HELP College, Malaysia.
Arinna went on to complete her Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Social Media from Brunel University in London.
In 2019, the London-based Malaysian model collaborated with Nike for the brand’s first swimwear line targeting Muslim women, the Victory Swim collection.
Arinna who is signed under BAME Models has also worked with other leading modest fashion brands such as Awra London and Nea Wear.
Soraya Jansen
Jansen is a Malaysian-German model who is represented by Nevs modelling agency in the UK. She started modelling while studying fine art photography at Glasgow School of Art, before moving to University of Art London.
Jansen rocked the fashion world after being the first female model to walk the runway at Vivienne Westwood’s menswear show at London Fashion Week in 2017.
The 1.78m tall model has catwalked for Giles Deacon, Ashish, Casely-Hayford and Astrid Andersen. She has also been on the front page of Harper’s Bazaar.
Jansen currently is balancing between modeling and being an artist by advocating for gender equality and cultural diversity through art.
Kea Lee
Kea Lee Jia Min made her debut into the fashion industry through her first gig with Malaysian shoe brand, Vincci.
The finance and accounting graduate from the University of South Australia had her first breakthrough when she walked for KL Fashion Week 2014.
She also represented Malaysia as a finalist on the fifth season of the Asian modeling reality series, SupermodelMe.
Kea who is currently based in the UK has collaborated with many top fashion brands like Alexander Mcqueen, New Look, Topshop, Schwarzkopf, Goldwell. She has also appeared in magazines like Hunger, Dazed and Confused, Heroine and Mixmag.
Shir Chong
Shir got her breakthrough as a model after winning the Season 3 of 8TV’s I Wanna Be a Model reality show in 2009.
She has modelled for Harper’s Bazaar, Cittabella, Style, Jasmine, Glam and Nuyou while appearing in numerous fashion campaigns and magazine covers.
Shir also dabbled into acting with Leon Lai’s directorial debut, Wine War and French director Fabien Duflis’s short film, Linggan.
In 2016, Shir returned to the I Wanna Be a Model reality show as a judge and mentor. The Sabahan recently ventured into entrepreneurship with her very own talent and creative agency called ‘Art of Pout’.
Tengku Azura
Tengku Azura Tengku Awang was just an ordinary girl from Terengganu before she became a supermodel. She was shopping at Lot 10 one day when Cilla Foong saw her potential and invited her to join her modeling agency.
She got her big break after modeling for Malaysian designer Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi’s collection in Rome. After modeling for French brand Christian Dior from 2000 to 2001, Azura started to receive many modeling offers from top international brands.
The supermodel was awarded the Mifa Model Of The Year in 2002 and STYLO Model Of The Year in 2010. She is still strutting her stuff even in her 40’s.
Sherine Wong
Kuala Lumpur born Sherine Wong Sook Ling was the Miss Universe Malaysia 1998 pageant title winner.
She later went on to model for top international brands such as Prada, Christian Dior, Chanel, and Cartier in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Sherine debuted as an actress with the 2005 movie Scary Incident starring Mark Cheng. Her second film was titled Fly Me to Minami which was released in 2013.
The multi talented Sherine who is currently based in Hong Kong also ventured into singing by releasing her first self titled solo EP in 2018.
Mandy Lieu
Born to an American father and Malaysian-Chinese mother, Mandy was raised in Kuala Lumpur. Mandy rose to fame after appearing in a television commercial for Pantene Malaysia.
She later moved to Tokyo and got to work on several modelling gigs there before moving to Hong Kong at the age of 18.
Mandy has been featured in the covers of top magazines including HIM, Marie Claire, Fashion & Beauty, Wedding Deluxe, and Elle Wedding. She has also been the face of major brands like Hugo Boss, TAG Heuer Watch, Dior, and Swarovski amongst others.
Mandy broke into film by playing a supporting role in the 2012 film Tai Chi 0. She experienced box-office successes with Black & White: The Dawn of Justice (2014) and To the Fore (2015).
Hartini Mat Jasin
Hartini Mat Jasin who is also known as Tinie has had an extraordinary career spanning over 20 years. She got her big break after being scouted by Andrew Tan, the founder of Andrew Models. Tinie went on to participate at fashion shows in South Korea, Hong Kong, Paris and London.
Being an iconic figure in the fashion industry, Tinie has judged competitions such as Estee Lauder Model Search 2010, the Air Asia’s Runway Ready Search 2018 and Runway Supermodel Search Malaysia 2019.
