STRETCHING in THE HORIZONS

'90s Malaysian supermodel Ling Tan emerges as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring Asian models who strive to redefine the conventional norms that have long dominated the fashion world

- Phyll Wu

Fashion, a realm brimming with visionary pioneers and luminaries, is imbued with a symphony of compelling tales of triumph and transformation. Ling Tan’s journey stands out as one of those, a story that began in the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur and culminated on the global runways of the 1990s. As a result, she created an enduring legacy that transcends the confines of fashion runways, emerging as one of the first Asian supermodels to grace the international fashion scene.

With that remarkable recognition tied to her name, it’s only appropriate that the words I use live up to the indelible mark she has left on the fashion world. But the significance of such an inspirational legacy can only be properly encapsulated by first, peering through the lens of those she has empowered—of which I am one.

Like many who were enchanted by the extraordinary universe of fashion from a young age, I grew up buried between the pages of my mother’s fashion magazines. Spread across those pages were gorgeous models that often had blonde hair, large, defined eyes, and thin, pointed noses—everything I didn’t have. These models were carefully selected as the personifications of beauty, but none of them looked like me. 

The lack of diversity in the fashion industry has given rise to countless issues that transcend the scarcity of opportunities for people of colour, which seep into societal perceptions and shape cultural narratives with harmful stereotypes against those who do not fit the mould of fashion’s ideals. For many who are of Asian descent, we are all too familiar with the trials of discriminatory beauty standards.