The Fight for Positivity

From the darkest depths of an eating disorder, fashion model Mia Kang has fought her way to the top. She opens up about her challenging childhood, how starving herself nearly killed her, and how martial arts helped her reclaim her power

- Coco Marett

Growing up was confusing for Mia Kang. Born and raised in Hong Kong, the half-Korean, half-British model recalls her days at Discovery Bay International School, where she would be “bullied for having Asian food in my lunch box at primary school by the white kids. How crazy is that, to be bullied for being Asian in Asia?” says Kang, who is now based in New York. She was also picked on for being overweight.

Tired of the merciless teasing, at 13 years old, Kang hung a poster of Tyra Banks’ 1997 Sports Illustrated cover in her bedroom, halved her weight, and was swiftly scouted by a modelling agency. It was the acceptance she had always hoped for; or so she thought—because even though she had transformed her appearance, Kang was still fighting an internal battle.

“To this day, I consider Hong Kong to be my home, but I don’t feel like Hong Kong fully accepted me because I am not Chinese. I always felt like an outsider. I never felt Korean enough, I never felt white enough, I never felt I really belonged anywhere,” says Kang, who went to Island School during her secondary school years in Hong Kong. “I remember we used to have Cultural Day, where kids would dress up representing their culture or bring traditional foods for the class to try, and I never knew where I was supposed to be from. As a child forming my sense of self and developing confidence, it was confusing. I always felt like there were these pre-existing boxes that I just didn’t fit into, and it caused me to develop deep, core insecurities.”