Why Asians rule the runway

MANILA, Philippines - What makes Asians a hit on the world runways? “There is no secret formula or magic ingredient. It’s the little things in our physical makeup — like eye shape, body build or skin tone — that makes people see the designs and outfits in a brand new light,” explains Charo Ronquillo, 2nd runner-up, Ford Supermodel of the World 2006 search.

This is also in addition to the fact, she says, that Asians are just as fierce on the runway.

“People are now looking to see something fresh, something different. Our ethnicity offers exactly that. Asians have so much talent waiting to be seen. In technical terms, we are also trained to master our walks, find our best angles, learn how to work the camera, and so on. Aesthetically speaking, we all have different looks to offer. Now that the world is recognizing this, the demand and market for Asian models in the fashion industry is increasing,” Ronquillo adds.

Even though she is experiencing steady success as an Asian model herself, Ronquillo remains level-headed, with feet firmly planted on the ground.

“Modeling teaches you a lot of life lessons. For one, I’ve learned that the benefits and perks you get, like salary and travel, can only take you so far. Many girls my age are so enamored of the glitz and glamour of being a model that they fail to see beyond it,” she muses.

The biggest challenge about the fashion industry and the key to success in it is staying true to oneself.

“I have to always find the balance between representing and following a trend and never straying away from who I really am,” she shares. “It’s an ongoing learning process. It never stops whether I am on or off the runway.”

For the longest time, the fashion industry revered models who fit a certain mold: thin, white, and preferably blonde. The likes of Twiggy, Claudia Schiffer, and Kate Moss were the only types of beauty that were generally accepted on the runway. This was not surprising as most of the industry’s movers and shakers were predominantly white.

Today is a different story. While the ever-exclusive world of fashion still has an abundance of white models, beauty of a different kind is now on the rise. Designers and agencies are beginning to see that there is a market for the exotic allure that these models offer.

The face of fashion is changing, as the industry now slowly embraces the idea of racial diversity.

“Asians have so much talent waiting to be seen. In technical terms, we are also trained to master our walks, find our best angles, learn how to work the camera, and so on. Aesthetically speaking, we all have different looks to offer,” stresses Ronquillo.

While black models had their share of the limelight in the ’80s, Asian beauty did not significantly surface on the runway until recent years. One of the very first Asian models who made the industry take notice was Du Juan. The catwalk sensation, who is of Chinese descent, made her debut in spring 2006. In that same year, she was declared one of the top 10 models to watch. Since then, Du Juan has graced the shows of some of the world’s most respected designers, including Valentino and Gaultier.

There’s also Hye Rim Park, the Korean-American model, who made her big break in the industry when she was chosen to walk in the Prada and Miu Miu shows in Milan Fashion Week by no less than Miuccia Prada and Russell Marsh themselves. This marked a historic milestone in fashion, as she was the first non-Caucasian model to do so since Naomi Campbell in 1997. Hye has walked for major designers such as Christian Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry.

But before Du Juan and Hye Rim Park rose to fame, a Filipina was already making waves in the industry. Anna Bayle was a name known and respected in the modeling circuit even then. The stunning beauty was among the top three and highest-paid models in the world during the ’80s.

Dubbed “the first Asian supermodel,” Bayle has worked for countless New York designers and appeared in fashion books for major labels including Chanel, Scaasi, Versace, YSL, and Dior.

Ronquillo continues that tradition today. This vivacious yet humble 21-year-old from Cabuyao, Laguna is now based in New York and is a regular fixture in the international modeling scene, having walked for top brands such as Lacoste, Kenneth Cole, BCBG, Sisley, and Benetton.

The soft-spoken Ronquillo, who has also graced major fashion and beauty magazines like Vogue, Marie Claire, and Glamour, believes that Asian models will continue to make their mark in the fashion industry.

“Asian models have a lot to offer on the runway, and a large part of this is due to their native roots. The very reason why people are taking notice of Asians now is because of who we are, what we represent, and what we bring to the fashion and modeling industry. We should embrace our uniqueness and not let ourselves be boxed in by stereotypes,” she explains.

Despite her impressive achievements in the world of modeling, Ronquillo admits that she still has a lot to learn

“I have a long way to go,” she says. “Like I said, it’s a continuous learning experience. But that’s what makes the journey great. After all, it’s the unexpected turns, mistakes, and tough times that will eventually make you a better person. And this is true for everybody, regardless of where they are in life.”