The modelling industry as we know it can be a brutal and messy place. So, what is it like to step into this world as a fresh-faced youth?
Beautiful birds of a feather flock together. At least, that’s the growing consensus of those who, like me, are watching from the outside. Entertainers we see on screen tend to carry that flair of performance with them IRL; content creators and influencers are as much the girl-next-door types as one might expect… but models? Models have a certain air about them — one that often gets misconstrued as ‘unapproachable’ or ‘standoffish’, thanks to the model resting face once famously known as the smize. I prefer to call it ‘cool’.
I’ve had my share of speaking with models over the years, both the young and the experienced. And a lot of their stories boil down to a love of fashion, a desire to express themselves creatively, and a unique ability to convey the artist’s vision. Models are muses. To be a model is to allow oneself to be moulded and visually crafted; a blank canvas for the artist. But it’s important to note that ‘blank’ doesn’t mean ‘plain’ — there is, of course, what’s called the “It” factor. Being a muse is to be both the inspiration and the artist. The work that goes into modelling is not easy to describe, especially from a casual observer like myself, but it is easy to understand. Models are art, personified.
As with all art, there will be public opinion. Unwanted judgment. People talk, weigh in where they probably shouldn’t, and then come to their own conclusions. But what of the modelling community? What of solidarity and that sense of belonging? When Alicia Amin shaved her head back in 2019 (and then later, again, in 2023), it was met with backlash from the public. Yet if you had actually been there, scrolling through the comments of her apparently ‘shocking’ Instagram post, you would find more from fellow models and creators who were in support of her then-new look. Of course, this is also backed by history — Alicia Amin has always been unconventional since her career first began. “Dude, I’m a tattooed Malay woman in the industry,” Alicia said to me two years ago, when we discussed the business of ‘rule-breaking’. “Just Google and you’ll find out.” But beyond the streak of ‘controversy’ that follows her, Alicia also had a community behind her.
The community has definitely been much more welcoming to change and diversity lately — at least more than it would have, say, thirty years ago. Take Kavita Sidhu in 1990, who made history as the first Malaysian woman to emerge victorious at an international beauty pageant. At the time it was considered completely groundbreaking for a “darker beauty” to win. But was that really the case of a one-in-a-million-chance, or was it because there was a lack of community support for it?
“There is more inclusivity and acceptance of different types of beauty today, for sure,” she’d told me in October. Kavita was on the panel of judges for Miss Universe Malaysia last year, and she had seen in Sandra Lim a fire and determination to work hard. (Sandra later became the second Malaysian woman to advance to the Miss Universe semi-finals since 1970, ending our 53-year drought to advance that far.) “And that is because of social media, this new generation of accepting people from different nationalities and races and understanding and appreciating that beauty, right? That’s a big thing, I think, compared to before. But because there was a lack of exposure, people weren’t able to… I was one of the lucky ones, I would say. I was from Malaysia, but at that time my contest was in Russia so except for maybe one or two, they were all Caucasian. Blonde hair, blue eyes. But it was nice to see that they chose me. At that time, that’s what I felt was happening. And now, that has changed for the positive. That is not even a question now. Like, people don’t dare to even bring that up because it’s about being inclusive, right? So in that sense, this generation has really broken barriers.”
But it’s one thing to be groundbreaking outside of Malaysia; to proudly carry the country’s name on your back. It’s another thing altogether to be able to shine bright in the place you call home. Plus size modelling only made its ‘debut’ in Malaysia circa 2019, when an increasingly frustrated Nalisa Alia Amin had placed high hopes for the industry to change. “I’ve reached the point of, like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna embrace myself, I’m gonna put myself out there, and whether you like it or not is really not my problem,’” she expressed to me back in 2022. In 2018, Nalisa became the first plus-size model to grace the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week runway in what the plus-size girls hoped to be a culture-changing moment. And while things have changed for the better, it is still taking its sweet time. But the beauty of having a community is that the torch gets passed over. “Modelling isn’t going to be forever for me, so my dream is to highlight more plus-size models and average-body models out there,” Nalisa had concluded back then. Enter Athina Kamarudin, who has recently been reigniting the discussion on body inclusivity in the fashion scene.
With how precarious the profession can be, it’s easy to understand the need to protect its community that much more. This can often be misconstrued as exclusivity or elitism — but even as new (and age-old) issues are brought forth, it’s clear that in today’s world, the modelling community will come together in unity. Just last month, Tuti Noor took to Threads to discuss the issue of having white models at the forefront of various Hari Raya campaigns. This isn’t a new topic of discussion. But it is being talked about on a much wider scale now, and also a lot louder, all thanks to — as Kavita had eloquently put it — the power of social media.
So, what is it like to enter the industry for the first time right now? Make no mistake, the fight is still being fought on just about every side — but every model, no matter where they’re from, has had to work very hard to get somewhere. This is a shared experience for anyone that I’ve spoken with. There’s a lot of mental resilience to be had as a muse, as well as a physical toll to the body from the long hours. “I feel like what it takes for anyone to get there is passion,” Suganya said to me back in November. In less than three years of her career, she made it big by gracing the cover of Vogue Singapore. “You need to want to do it. You need to want to work odd hours. You need to want to physically look after yourself 24-7. Because honestly, if you’re gonna be touched and groomed by people, especially if you’re not used to that, you have to get used to it, you know? It’s not a lifestyle for everyone.”
Still, some of the fight has been fought — and for a young, fresh-faced model, it can be said that while the journey is not completely easy-breezy, it has gotten that much better. I decided to reach out to Hariz Izu. I first met Hariz last May at a Lifestyle Asia party, where he was standing by the bar, nervously glancing around the roomful of people. Before anything else, I noticed his luminous glass skin and cheekbones that could cut right through. He had only been signed to The Models Lab for a few months then. “The industry can seem isolating and intimidating at times, especially when you’re just starting out and trying to carve your own path,” he says now, adding, “but from my personal experience, the local modeling and fashion industry has actually been extremely welcoming.”
Hariz was drawn to modelling the way many others before him were: to explore new sides of himself, while being part of something bigger. “It takes a team of creative minds working in sync to bring a vision to life, and as a model, you get to be part of that,” he muses. “It’s an ever-evolving industry that constantly pushes boundaries, and that’s exactly the kind of space I want to grow in.”
But being in a space with so many existing talents who have pushed the boundaries can of course be daunting. The journey that would’ve been much slower in the past has turned into a whirlwind sort of experience. “Imposter syndrome hit me hard at the start,” he opens up. “I kept questioning whether I deserved the opportunities coming my way, especially since everything was happening so fast.” His first job after getting signed was with Behati for 2024 Suci Raya, which eventually became one of their most viral campaigns ever. “It was overwhelming to step into a space that felt so much bigger than me, but it ended up being a turning point. It taught me to trust in my potential and embrace the moment.” He also made his runway debut at the 2024 Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week for Alia Bastamam (becoming the designer’s first male model), SHALS and Masyadimansoor.
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Despite his rapid slope upward, Hariz acknowledges the community that helped him in his journey. “There’s an incredible wave of talent across the industry with models, designers, photographers, stylists and makeup artists that are putting a real focus on backing local talent,” he says. “It’s exciting to see the level of creativity and collaboration happening in the Malaysian fashion industry. With that said, the industry can still feel limited by a culture of seeming exclusivity, which can be discouraging for new talent trying to break through and navigate the industry themselves, or find guidance.” There are rules in all art, and according to Hariz, there’s much more to gain by breaking them and opening even more doors.
“But at the same time, it would also be silly of me to not acknowledge the hard work and challenges veteran models have already gone through for the industry,” he concludes. “They’ve paved the way for this generation, and I feel it’s our responsibility to keep pushing for positive change so that future generations can continue to find their footing and thrive.”
(Hero and featured image credit: Instagram/@themodelslabkl)
