Starting from the Prada fashion stage in Milan and gathering at Burberry in London, New York has become a new highland for Xue Huizi's career. In this vibrant city, she looks forward to seeing more brilliant springs, absorbing endless energy and devoting herself to every moment worth cherishing.
Leave London behind and embrace a more orderly future
2021 is a bumper year for Xue Huizi's career. After stepping off the Burberry runway, she quickly became a recognisable face of the British luxury brand in China, where she was involved in the shooting of the brand's sunglasses, ready-to-wear and beauty commercials. Whether it's at a shopping counter or a busy airport, she can be seen everywhere. In 2022, Xue Huizi took a Burberry ride across the Pacific Ocean to Los Angeles to attend the brand's gala dinner. Her trip to the United States gave her a deep sense of a culture that is very different from London, and it inspired her to think about the future.
In May 2022, she arrived in New York with all her suitcases in London, with a vision for the future, a hint of confusion, and the unknown of the professional challenges ahead. "We're disrupting everything we have, we're arming ourselves to build a more orderly future," she said. This sentence is full of her determination and expectation.
In New York, the sun is always shining after the storm
Having lived in New York for more than a year, Xue Huizi has learned how to balance work and life perfectly. While working tirelessly, she also does not forget to enjoy life: go to the gym alone to inject vitality into her body; Teach yourself how to cook to make your diet healthier; Stroll through the park and feel the breath of nature; Go shopping with friends and enjoy art exhibitions. Her life is simple but fulfilling, aiming to find her place in this colorful world, learning to be independent and self-contained.
"When I first arrived in New York, the language and cultural differences were a big challenge, but now I'm getting used to it," she laughs. "The modeling industry is very competitive, and every audition and catwalk is full of pressure and challenges, and these experiences have trained her "big heart" of perseverance and composure. She insightfully shared, "Sometimes the difficulties don't come from the industry itself. For example, during Paris Fashion Week in Spring/Summer 2018, I almost missed the audition due to visa denial, which was almost a disaster for me. Thankfully, after some hard work, I was able to get my visa before boarding and made it to Paris in time. While this job has brought a lot of luck, more often than not, I have faced rejection and constant change. We need to constantly improve ourselves, develop a good mindset, and stick to our beliefs even in the face of rejection. ”
During her time in New York, Xue was involved in a number of important advertising shoots, such as Oscar dela Renta's Fall/Winter collection, Tibi's Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter commercials, and Zara and La Mer's commercials. She was also involved in the Balmain haute couture series with diva Beyonce, which was also documented in the April issue of Vogue France.
Do not hurry, and create a unique self
In the modeling industry, owning and maintaining a unique style is a constant issue. Xue Huizi knows that a model's unique style not only makes her stand out from the crowd, but also reflects her personality and attitude. As a result, she never stops exploring and shaping her own style, hoping to protect the most precious parts of her personality while maintaining her openness and curiosity about new things.
The essential business skills of a supermodel – such as body management, skin care, stepwork and fashion expression, and even English proficiency – are all aspects that Xue Huizi has been accumulating and improving in her daily work and life. "I often read fashion magazines and watch model street shoots to improve my aesthetic," she says. I also learn from designers, such as how to wear accessories in new ways or creatively adjust the way clothes are styled. ”
Controlling diet and staying in shape are daily issues for every model. Xue Huizi admits that she is not the kind of model who only relies on diets to maintain her figure, and she prefers to manage her body shape through exercise. She combines food and sports and enjoys the process. "Modelling isn't short-lived, and we can't just spend a day putting ourselves in the best shape. Our work is often temporary and requires a healthy body and good physical fitness. Participating in Fashion Week may require you to travel to four different countries in a month, which is very physically demanding. Even wearing high heels requires enough muscle strength to support it, and dieting alone is not enough. She revealed that she goes to the gym at least two to three times a week for a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises.
It was because of the positive impact of fitness that she was part of Vogue Portugal's September Olympian series, showcasing the power of women.
Keep the original intention and chase your dreams
Today, with the rise of self-media, many models have begun to operate their own social platforms, such as Xiaohongshu, Weibo, Instagram, etc., and use these platforms as their side hustles. She's not averse to extending her work to social media, where she actively shares her life and professional experiences. "I hope to document the different stages of my growth and life through these platforms. Whether it's the joy of growing up or the setbacks I encountered, these records will be a valuable source of information for me to look back on how I have grown to be where I am today. How many people I've met, how many places I've traveled, how many sunsets I've seen, all of these things have shaped me into who I am now. ”
Xue Huizi believes that a good model not only needs excellent professional ability, but also should be a person with a charming personality. "Modeling, like any other profession, requires everyone to work together to get things done. While sticking to my principles, I also try to look at the big picture and do everything as well as possible. This is her professional pursuit, and it is also the direction she is constantly working towards.
At the upcoming 2024 Four Fashion Weeks in New York, she was invited as a special guest supermodel to participate in the promotional video shoot of New York Fashion Week. She can be seen everywhere on the streets of New York and has become an integral part of the city.
The cycle of fashion is endless, and Xue Huizi also maintains her original intention and continues to move forward on the road of chasing her dreams. (Text/Li Xin, photo provided by the interviewee)