Wonderland China by Pablo Sáez | Image courtesy of New York Model Management
Many model scouting stories start with being randomly discovered on the streets, but Chinese Top 50 model Yilan Hua was assertively different. After being inspired by watching the Victoria’s Secret show in 2015, Hua took control of her life, saying to herself with her warm humor, “I’m tall. I can try this out too.” Without overthinking it, Hua traveled solo from her small town in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang province, to Shanghai to interview with her first mother agency and got signed on the spot. Shortly after international agencies, including ones from New York and London, were on scouting trips in the region during that time, saw her, and signed Hua immediately. She had her first big break when she debuted for Schiaparelli’s Couture Spring 2019 show, made it to the Hot List rankings in 2021, and worked her way to Top 50 status last October. Hua has become one of the most in-demand models in the industry, working with luxury houses like Versace, Loewe, Fendi, Max Mara, and Mugler shot by top photographers like David Sims, Mert and Marcus, and Oliver Hadlee Pearch.
Celine Women S/S 22 by Hedi Slimane | Image courtesy of New York Model Management
With her work ethic, bubbly personality, and humility, Hua has risen through the ranks relatively swiftly; understanding the creative director/muse relationship can be essential in building a model’s career longevity. In 2019, Hua first cultivated what has proven to be an essential relationship with creative director Casey Cadwallader of Mugler, growing her portfolio to include a recent appearance in the “We Are All Angel by Mugler: The Film” advertising campaign last Fall. “Working with the Mugler team is more than work. We are more like friends and family, and they encourage me to realize that I’m multifaceted,” says Hua.
Schön Magazine China editorial by Sabine Villiard | Image courtesy of New York Model Management
“Modesty makes people progress, and pride makes people lag behind.”
Versace F/W 2022 Campaign by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott| Image courtesy of New York Model Management
“I had a very childlike dream of traveling around the world, and my dream is slowly coming true because of [this] career,” Hua describes. Walking 230 runways and counting, it’s been a full circle moment for Hua, who has impressed luxury houses like Dior, Mugler, and Chanel, the latter of who she’s walked for eight times at far-flung shows staged in Monte Carlo, Florence, and most recently, Dakar. The 22-year-old’s consistent walks for Chanel even landed her a campaign with Chanel Beauty shot by Thurstan Redding. Looking back at when she first started her modeling journey, Yilan credits her ever-growing confidence to her job and notes that as a child, she was never told she was “beautiful” by her parents. My parents told me to be humble at all times since I was very young,” Hua describes. “Modesty makes people progress, and pride makes people lag behind.” As she continued to book more jobs, Hua began to build up her self-esteem, realizing that “there is not one standard definition of beauty.” In a short amount of time, the 22-year-old is on her way to joining the status of Chinese supermodels like Liu Wen, FeiFei Sun, and Du Juan. In between dominating the runways and multiple campaigns, you can catch Yilan gaming away backstage as a self-proclaimed avid gamer who swears by the PUBG game. With couture swiftly approaching, we’re keeping an eye out for what the fierce model will do next.
Wonderland China by Pablo Sáez | Image courtesy of New York Model Management
