Like a grain of sand that trickles past the momentary prison of one’s palms, a model’s life is unquestionably, and enviably unpredictable. The uncertainty of day-to-day keeps a model steadily at his toes — much like a nomad who is able to ride the wind, exceed boundaries, sail foreign waters, be quick-witted towards duplicitous trials of fire, and metamorphose in search for unstoppable perfection.
A model’s life is no walk in the park. Glamorous as it may seem, it’s laden with hard work, sacrifice, discipline, diet, and an insatiable hunger and curiosity for something more. Each project plots a trajectory towards growth. After all, a model is, and should forever be, treading perfect at the eclipse of his incubation period — an event that is constantly in the making. Take Madonna. Above all, a model should harness a certain X-Factor; lest, he is ruled out as just another tabula rasa or blank slate.
Where competition is a dog-eat-dog affair, and one’s ethnicity and physicality puts a model within closely-knit niches, one model has emerged from the hoi polloi and has definitely stood out. And it’s not just him who’s standing. His signature ‘do is right there too — a Mohawk and a face that have dominated fashion editorials and ad campaigns from the world over, for the likes of Shanghai Tang, Benetton, Motorola, Macy’s, among others. Meet Asian Male Supermodel Brent Chua, who I had the privilege of interviewing during his photo shoot for a top clothing retailer.
Statuesque. Check. X-Factor. Check. Mohawk. Check. Personality. Check. Bettered only by how, for a person of his stature and serious fashion acclaim, his feet seem firmly planted on the ground. Now that’s the real McCoy.
YOUNG STAR: Explain the genesis of your Mohawk.
BRENT CHUA: I did a Redken campaign before. After that, I bagged many editorials. So my agency told me to stay on with this hair. People seem to love it. But when I do shows for brands like Gucci, they put my hair on the side.
At what point did you decide to become a model?
I was spotted in a Zouk Bar in Singapore by a director. His name was Rizal. Then he asked me to do a show the next day. I was 22 then. I’ve been a model since.
What’s the best piece of modeling advice you’ve gotten?
Just be yourself and don’t pretend to be someone else.
Do you feel any pressure with being dubbed as the Asian Male Supermodel? How do you live up to those expectations?
I do sometimes. With the title, the clients expect you to do very well — which I always try to give my 100 percent. But there are still a lot of expectations of me. As a model, you need to always do your homework. When you shoot with a photographer, you have to Google them and study the style they do. So when you come to the set, you know and you’ve psyched yourself up.
Is the modeling industry in New York the dog-eat-dog industry it’s said to be?
It’s actually how you see it. For me, I like to enjoy myself with every work opportunity that comes my way.
Where in New York do you usually hang?
Union Square because I skateboard.
Are you friends with Charo Ronquillo (the Asian Kate Moss)?
We’ve met but I’ve never worked with her.
Talk about your fitness regimen.
I do mostly skateboarding and swimming. I don’t really go to the gym that much.
Seriously? Okay, any diet then?
Everything in moderation. No pork and no chocolate. But everything else I can eat.
How would you define ugly?
For me, ugly is more of how you perceive people through their character but not through their physical beauty. Some people find me ugly. But I say everyone is special.
What’s your definition of beauty?
Beauty is from within. Cliché, but it’s true. And of course in how you treat other people.
And some people say beauty lies in the imperfection. What’s yours?
People say I’m very childish. I play a lot. I like to disturb people.
What’s the downside to being a supermodel?
Maybe work-wise, you don’t really have that much time for yourself. Like I just came back from Singapore for a campaign. And the week before that, I was in HongKong shooting for Shanghai Tang.
You’re the youngest of five brothers? What are the perks of being the bunso?
I get to do whatever I want. As a Chinese from a conservative family, after school, we’re supposed to go back to help in our parents’ business. But I’m the only one who never did that.
How do you manage to maintain a relationship with your family with you being so far?
I think communication is really important. It’s cool to spend a little money just to stay in touch with your friends. I have to learn Skype!
Describe your personal style.
I wear secondhand clothes a lot. A lot, a lot. I don’t believe in spending a lot of money in clothes. I enjoy going to those thrift stores in New York and London. My favorite is Beacon’s Closet in Williamsburg in Brooklyn.
Do you have any freaky talents?
No I don’t. But I have three nipples. But that’s not a talent though. (Laughs)
What has been your favorite photo shoot to date?
Maybe Shanghai Tang because we shot with Wing Sha, who’s a very respected photographer. He does like movies and stuff. And we shot on top of a building in Shanghai.
From your experience, what makes a bona fide supermodel?
I think it’s really how you deal with people. There are a lot of models but there are very few who maintain their career. Because as a model, your goal is to last. And for you to last, you have to treat everyone nicely. You don’t choose the people you are nice to.
What’s next for you?
I just did Gap. It’s coming out in September. It’s for the American and Japanese market. I’m pretty excited for that.
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