Danielle Yen: Sometimes people get lost, but finally find an exit
- By Tom Cunliffe
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 30, 2015
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| Danielle Yen [Photo provided to China.org.cn] |
Danielle Yen is a model from Taiwan currently based in London. She graduated in Information Management from a university in Taiwan and worked there for a few years in a job related to her major. She decided to quit her job after obtaining a UK working holiday visa. She moved to the UK to pursue her dream of being a model.
In terms of how easy it is for East Asian models to find work in the UK, Yen stated that it is still not easy since more and more East Asian models are joining modelling agencies here. In some ways however it is actually easier finding work than it is for non-East Asian models since "more and more brands would like to use at least one Asian face in their campaign."
This is due to Yen's view that Western fashion magazines and media are increasingly shifting their focus to Asia as all big brands and films want to sell and promote themselves in Asia, especially China, which has the largest growing market. To pull in Asian audiences, brands need to find the right face to represent that particular market. You could see Asian role-models are wanted rather than Western role-models we are so used to seeing in media, especially in movies.
Yen says that she guesses this period is "a big chance to stand up and join the big projects in Hollywood or be part of big fashion brands" for Asian models.
The picture of being a model isn't entirely rosy however. Yen says she has been rejected countless times for different jobs and so it's hard to stay positive all the time. In such cases, friends and food are what she finds very helpful. Working in the modelling world is not for the faint of heart, as constant rejection and difficulties in establishing yourself are incredibly common.
She has already had some quite big achievements in her career, and she was singled out for appearing in advertisements for Song, Dyson and Uniqlo, as well as being filmed in the most recent James Bond movie "Spectre" and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" as particular highlights.
She likes the fact that being a model allows her to live anywhere in the world, and she would like to live in New York or Los Angeles once her UK Visa runs out. However, she says she hopes the UK would welcome her back in the future, since she started her career here.
As well as being a model, Yen would also like to become an actress. Being eternally optimistic -- a characteristic which seems a must in the modelling business -- Yen says she is trying to take acting classes now but since she supports herself in London, it is not easy. "I'll need to find a way to continue my journey."
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