← Previous revisionRevision as of 08:38, 14 October 2026 Line 8: Line 8: | birth_name = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth_date_and age|mf=yes|1988|1|27|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/fashion/look/2009/spring/models/index1.html |title=The new faces of Spring 2009|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=17 November 2008 |access-date=2009-06-30}} | birth_date = {{birth_date_and age|mf=yes|1988|1|27|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/fashion/look/2009/spring/models/index1.html |title=The new faces of Spring 2009|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=17 November 2008 |access-date=2009-06-30}} | birth_place = [[Yongzhou]], Hunan, China | birth_place = [[Yongzhou]], [[Hunan]], China | residence = | residence = | death_date = | death_date = Line 23: Line 23: ==Early life== ==Early life== Liu was born in [[Lingling District]], [[Yongzhou]], Hunan Province, China.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-liu-wen-china-highest-paid-supermodel-2018-2?r=DE&IR=T|title=The incredible life of Liu Wen, China's highest-paid supermodel who went from being a 'hunched' teenager to walking on a Victoria's Secret runway|last=Ma|first=Alexandra|work=Businessinsider|date=March 13, 2018|access-date=April 7, 2021}} Her father was a construction worker. She is an [[only child]].{{Cite web |last=Halpin |first=Trish |date=2016-03-03 |title=Liu Wen Talks Style, Diversity And What It Means To Be China's First Supermodel |url=https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/fashion-news/liu-wen-interview-china-s-first-supermodel-talks-style-diversity-and-her-mango-campaign-15375 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Marie Claire UK}} Liu was born in [[Lingling District]], [[Yongzhou]], [[Hunan]] Province, China.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-liu-wen-china-highest-paid-supermodel-2018-2?r=DE&IR=T|title=The incredible life of Liu Wen, China's highest-paid supermodel who went from being a 'hunched' teenager to walking on a Victoria's Secret runway|last=Ma|first=Alexandra|work=Businessinsider|date=March 13, 2018|access-date=April 7, 2021}} Her father was a construction worker. She is an [[only child]].{{Cite web |last=Halpin |first=Trish |date=2016-03-03 |title=Liu Wen Talks Style, Diversity And What It Means To Be China's First Supermodel |url=https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/fashion-news/liu-wen-interview-china-s-first-supermodel-talks-style-diversity-and-her-mango-campaign-15375 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Marie Claire UK}} Liu was encouraged by her mother to pursue modeling in order to improve her posture after she developed the habit of hunching her back as she towered over her classmates. Liu was encouraged by her mother to pursue modeling in order to improve her posture after she developed the habit of hunching her back as she towered over her classmates. Line 30: Line 30: ===2005–2008: Early career === ===2005–2008: Early career === In 2005, 17-year old Liu won the semi-final of the New Silk Road World model contest in her home province of Hunan. She was motivated to participate because the winning prize included a new laptop.{{Cite news|last=Parker|first=Nick|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/30/living/liu-wen-supermodel/index.html|title=How a small-town girl became China's first supermodel|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=2021-04-07|language=en-US}} Although she didn't place in the top 10 during the national final, she was offered to model in Beijing.{{Cite news|last=Florsheim|first=Lane|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/liu-wen-china-supermodel-travel-11565353942|title=China's Biggest Supermodel on Traveling to the Arctic|date=2019-08-09|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-04-04|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} When Liu was 17, she moved to Beijing to start her career.{{Cite web |last=Toma |first=Glenda |title='Fall In Love With The Work You Do': Chinese Supermodel Liu Wen On Making Your Career Last |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/glendatoma/2017/07/20/fall-in-love-with-the-work-you-do-chinese-supermodel-liu-wen-on-making-your-career-last/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Forbes |language=en}} She initially struggled to find jobs because her appearance didn't match the commercial look that was in-demand at the time. However, Liu eventually became a sought-after model and gained first attention by the international modeling industry in 2007, when she appeared in an editorial for Chinese ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'', styled in [[Karl Lagerfeld]] and [[Viktor & Rolf]].{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121090112/http://nymag.com/fashion/look/2009/spring/models/index1.html|url=https://nymag.com/fashion/look/2009/spring/models/|title=The Girls Have It|website=nymag|last1=Akhtar|first1=Amina|last2=Odell|first2=Amy|date=17 November 2008 |access-date=2021-04-07|archive-date=November 21, 2009}} In 2005, 17-year old Liu won the semi-final of the New Silk Road World model contest in her home province of Hunan. She was motivated to participate because the winning prize included a new laptop.{{Cite news|last=Parker|first=Nick|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/30/living/liu-wen-supermodel/index.html|title=How a small-town girl became China's first supermodel|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=2021-04-07|language=en-US}} Although she didn't place in the top 10 during the national final, she was offered to model in [[Beijing]].{{Cite news|last=Florsheim|first=Lane|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/liu-wen-china-supermodel-travel-11565353942|title=China's Biggest Supermodel on Traveling to the Arctic|date=2019-08-09|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-04-04|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} When Liu was 17, she moved to Beijing to start her career.{{Cite web |last=Toma |first=Glenda |title='Fall In Love With The Work You Do': Chinese Supermodel Liu Wen On Making Your Career Last |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/glendatoma/2017/07/20/fall-in-love-with-the-work-you-do-chinese-supermodel-liu-wen-on-making-your-career-last/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Forbes |language=en}} She initially struggled to find jobs because her appearance didn't match the commercial look that was in-demand at the time. However, Liu eventually became a sought-after model and gained first attention by the international modeling industry in 2007, when she appeared in an editorial for ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] China'', styled in [[Karl Lagerfeld]] and [[Viktor & Rolf]].{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121090112/http://nymag.com/fashion/look/2009/spring/models/index1.html|url=https://nymag.com/fashion/look/2009/spring/models/|title=The Girls Have It|website=nymag|last1=Akhtar|first1=Amina|last2=Odell|first2=Amy|date=17 November 2008 |access-date=2021-04-07|archive-date=November 21, 2009}} She also appeared on the cover of the September issue of ''[[Marie Claire]] China''.{{cite news |last1=Zhang |first1=Tianwei |title=Fashion Editor Joseph Carle, Who Discovered Liu Wen, Dies at 65 |url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/feature/fashion-editor-joseph-carle-who-discovered-liu-wen-dies-1203640681/ |access-date=14 October 2026 |work=[[Women's Wear Daily|WWD]] |date=26 May 2020}} In February 2008, she appeared in four fashion-related articles for ''Chinese Vogue''.{{cite web|url=http://www.nymag.com/fashion/models/lwen/liuwen|title=Liu Wen in NY Magazine's Model Manual|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|access-date=2009-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219081446/http://nymag.com/fashion/models/lwen/liuwen/|archive-date=2010-12-19|url-status=dead}} She debuted on international runways in the same month, walking for [[Burberry]] and closing the fall [[Trussardi]] show in [[Milan]]. The week after, she walked for [[Chanel]], [[Jean Paul Gaultier]], and [[Hermès]] in Paris. A year later in February and March 2009, Liu Wen appeared in 74 shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris for the Fall 2009 ready-to-wear season — this was the highest number shows for a model in that season. It also remains the record for the most shows ever walked by a model of Asian descent in a single season. She followed that up with the Spring 2010 ready-to-wear season, walking 70 shows in the same four cities. This statistic made her the second most booked model for the season following French model [[Constance Jablonski]].{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} In February 2008, Liu appeared in four fashion-related articles for ''[[Vogue China]]''.{{cite web|url=http://www.nymag.com/fashion/models/lwen/liuwen|title=Liu Wen in NY Magazine's Model Manual|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|access-date=2009-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219081446/http://nymag.com/fashion/models/lwen/liuwen/|archive-date=2010-12-19|url-status=dead}} She debuted on international runways in the same month, walking for [[Burberry]] and closing the fall [[Trussardi]] show in [[Milan Fashion Week|Milan]]. The week after, she walked for [[Chanel]], [[Jean Paul Gaultier]], and [[Hermès]] in [[Paris Fashion Week|Paris]]. She followed that up with the Spring 2010 ready-to-wear season, walking 70 shows in the same four cities. This statistic made her the second most booked model for the season following French model [[Constance Jablonski]].{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} ===2009–2013: Rise to prominence === ===2009–2013: Rise to prominence === In 2009, Liu appeared in 74 shows for the Fall 2009 season, including those for [[Calvin Klein (fashion house)|Calvin Klein]], [[Roberto Cavalli (company)|Roberto Cavalli]], [[Alexander Wang (designer)|Alexander Wang]], [[Dolce & Gabbana]], and [[Oscar de la Renta]] — this was the highest number shows for a model in that season. It also remains the record for the most shows ever walked by a model of Asian descent in a single season. She appeared on the covers of ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] China'' and ''Vogue Portugal''. She also became the first model of Asian descent to walk in the [[Victoria's Secret Fashion Show]].{{cite news |last1=Piazza |first1=Jo |title=First Asian model on Victoria's Secret runway |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/25/victorias.secret.model/index.html |work=CNN |date=2 December 2009}} In 2009, Liu became the first woman of [[Chinese people|Chinese]] descent to walk in the [[Victoria's Secret]] Fashion Show. Liu also participated in the 2010-2012 shows.{{Citation |url=http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/11/liu_wen_is_the_first_asian_mod.html |title=Liu Wen Is the First Asian Model Confirmed for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show |newspaper=New York Magazine |date=November 12, 2009}}{{Citation |url=http://news.instyle.com/2012/11/08/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2012-liu-wen/ |title=Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Liu Wen's Tattoos Took Six Hours to Prep |newspaper=InStyle |date=November 8, 2012}} She returned to the Victoria's Secret runway again in 2016, 2017, and 2018.{{Citation |url=http://www.glamour.com/story/asian-models-walking-victorias-secret-fashion-show-2016 |title=A Record Number of Asian Models Are Walking in The 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show|first=Kate|last=Friedman |newspaper=Glamour |date=December 16, 2016}} In the same year Liu worked with top brands such as Calvin Klein, Roberto Cavalli, Alexander Wang, Dolce&Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta and she also appeared on the cover of Vogue Germany, Spain, Italia and America. Liu was the first Chinese model to appear on the cover of Vogue USA. In 2010, Liu worked with Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo and Givenchy. For the Spring/Summer 2011, Liu walked 48 shows held in Milan, New York and Paris. In April 2010, it was announced that Liu along with [[Constance Jablonski]] and [[Joan Smalls]] would help to represent the cosmetics company [[Estée Lauder Companies|Estée Lauder]].[http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/04/estee_lauder_signs_liu_wen_and.html Liu Wen the First Asian Face of Estée Lauder]. Retrieved 2010-04-17. In March 2012, ''[[The New York Times]]'' featured Liu Wen on the cover and in the main feature for their Style "T" Magazine's Travel Issue, and she was dubbed "China’s first bona fide supermodel". In the same year, she attended the [[Cannes Film Festival]] for the first time. In Spring 2013, Liu Wen was dubbed one of "The New Icons" by [[H&M]] for her widely admired street-style.{{Citation |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/03/22/hm-new-icons-collection---joan-smalls-lindsey-wixson-daphne-groeneveld-liu-wen|title=H&M's New Model-Inspired Collection|newspaper=Vogue.co.uk|date=March 22, 2013}} Liu appeared in the Spring 2010 campaign for [[Ck Calvin Klein|ck by Calvin Klein]].{{cite news |last1=Elizabeth |first1=Joanna |title=CK by Calvin Klein Spring 2010 Campaign |url=https://www.fashiongonerogue.com/ck-by-calvin-klein-spring-2010-campaign-liu-constance-mirte-by-craig-mcdean/ |work=Fashion Gone Rouge |date=2 February 2010}} In 2010, she also appeared on the cover of ''[[Vogue China]]''. She became the first Asian face of [[Estée Lauder Companies|Estée Lauder]].[http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/04/estee_lauder_signs_liu_wen_and.html Liu Wen the First Asian Face of Estée Lauder]. Retrieved 2010-04-17. She also attended the [[Met Gala]] for the first time. Liu also participated in the 2010-2012 shows.{{Citation |url=http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/11/liu_wen_is_the_first_asian_mod.html |title=Liu Wen Is the First Asian Model Confirmed for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show |newspaper=New York Magazine |date=November 12, 2009}}{{Citation |url=http://news.instyle.com/2012/11/08/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2012-liu-wen/ |title=Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Liu Wen's Tattoos Took Six Hours to Prep |newspaper=InStyle |date=November 8, 2012}} She returned to the Victoria's Secret runway again in 2016, 2017, and 2018.{{Citation |url=http://www.glamour.com/story/asian-models-walking-victorias-secret-fashion-show-2016 |title=A Record Number of Asian Models Are Walking in The 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show|first=Kate|last=Friedman |newspaper=Glamour |date=December 16, 2016}} In 2010, Liu worked with Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo and Givenchy. For the Spring/Summer 2011, Liu walked 48 shows held in Milan, New York and Paris. In March 2012, ''[[The New York Times]]'' featured Liu Wen on the cover and in the main feature for their Style "T" Magazine's Travel Issue, and she was dubbed "China’s first bona fide supermodel". In the same year, she attended the [[Cannes Film Festival]] for the first time. In Spring 2013, Liu Wen was dubbed one of "The New Icons" by [[H&M]] for her widely admired street-style.{{Citation |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/03/22/hm-new-icons-collection---joan-smalls-lindsey-wixson-daphne-groeneveld-liu-wen|title=H&M's New Model-Inspired Collection|newspaper=Vogue.co.uk|date=March 22, 2013}} In 2013, she also became the first Asian to make the ''[[Forbes]]''' list of the world's highest-paid models, as number 5.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/vannale/2013/08/19/the-worlds-highest-paid-models-of-2013/|title=The World's Highest-Paid Models, 2013: Gisele's Earnings Down, Kerr's Are Up|first=Vanna|last=Le|magazine=Forbes|date=2013-04-19|access-date=2016-03-29}} She repeated the feat in 2014, with her salary rising from $4.3 million the previous year to $7 million.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/emjl45edfdd/12-liu-wen/|title=The world's highest paid models of 2015|magazine=Forbes|year=2015|access-date=2016-03-29}} Also in 2013, Liu ranked third on the Models.com Top 50 Models Women List.{{cite web|url=http://models.com/model_culture/50topmodels/top50.cfm?fnumber=10&lnumber=6|title=Top 50 Models|publisher=Models.com|access-date=2016-03-29}} She is the highest-ranked model of Asian descent in history. In July 2014, Models.com elevated her to the status of "New Supermodel", the first Asian model to ever receive that honor. She remains on that list as of February 2015. In 2013, she also became the first Asian to make the ''[[Forbes]]''' list of the world's highest-paid models, as number 5.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/vannale/2013/08/19/the-worlds-highest-paid-models-of-2013/|title=The World's Highest-Paid Models, 2013: Gisele's Earnings Down, Kerr's Are Up|first=Vanna|last=Le|magazine=Forbes|date=2013-04-19|access-date=2016-03-29}} She repeated the feat in 2014, with her salary rising from $4.3 million the previous year to $7 million.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/emjl45edfdd/12-liu-wen/|title=The world's highest paid models of 2015|magazine=Forbes|year=2015|access-date=2016-03-29}} Also in 2013, Liu ranked third on the Models.com Top 50 Models Women List.{{cite web|url=http://models.com/model_culture/50topmodels/top50.cfm?fnumber=10&lnumber=6|title=Top 50 Models|publisher=Models.com|access-date=2016-03-29}} She is the highest-ranked model of Asian descent in history. In July 2014, Models.com elevated her to the status of "New Supermodel", the first Asian model to ever receive that honor. She remains on that list as of February 2015.