KATE MOSS of the East
Central Embassy’s campaign brings Kiko Mizuhara, supermodel and kawaii extraordinaire, to our shores
Central Embassy has worn many faces. Its positioning has shuffled around from ultra-luxury to hipster to a lifestyle hub, but one thing’s for sure. When they’ve reeled in a world-class model like Kiko Mizuhara as the face of their ad campaign, there’s no doubt that it strives to be a world-class destination.
In town last week for the completion of Central Embassy and grand opening of Park Hyatt, the Korean-American model and darling of fashion looked resplendent both on and off the red carpet. While doe-eyed and unimaginably cute like she is in the pictures, the real Mizuhara came across as sunny yet extremely polite — a trait she admires in Thais, noting its similarity in the Japanese culture that she grew up around.
Mostly known on our shores as a style icon and as the star of Noruwei No Mor ( Norwegian Wood), Mizuhara’s career took off when she was 14 and modelled for Seventeen magazine in Japan. Today, she cheerfully hops between being a model, actress and collaborative designer.
In this exclusive interview with Elite Life, we get up close with the “Kate Moss of the East” to find out that she’s just like us mere mortals despite seemingly like a real-life angel: she actually rarely works out, is easily pleased by coconut drinks and prefers to dress up casually in a tee.
How have your experiences in Thailand been?
This Central Embassy campaign was one of my big shoots here. I’ve been here almost four times — it was super hot! It was crazy, crazy hot and you will never experience that in Japan or any other country. I was so surprised because I’m used to being hot or cold but I was sweating all over the place! I like eating seafood here. I ate so much but honestly, I don’t really have time because I’m always working so I couldn’t really explore that much. I want to go buy junk stuff on the street or check out the record shops. Next time I’m definitely doing that because I have a list of all the must-go places my friend gave me.
The campaign’s tagline is ‘This Brings Me Here’. What do you come to Embassy for?
I’m a vintage girl so I always go to buy vintage stuff. That’s why I really like this mall — because they have a lot of vintage stuff here. There’s no mall that really does that. There’s this store literally called Vintage Shop and they have old vintage Chanel bags and stuff.
What is the most common misconception about you?
People like to think that I’m a cool person. I don’t know what cool means or what they think, but lots of people tell me ,‘Oh, I didn’t know you would like laugh like this’ or ‘smile like this’. They think I have a strong personality because of the modelling image. I do so many different types of stuff and there’s a lot of photos where I don’t smile, so maybe that gives the impression of a cool image rather than a happy image.
How do you feel about people mistaking you for being half Japanese when you’re actually half Korean?
I wouldn’t say mistaken, there’s so many people like that in Japan where they’re half Korean but they just don’t say it. I really feel appreciative to have so many different types of cultures inside of me because I am half Korean but I never really grew up in Korea because my mother was born in Japan. She’s Korean but she grew up in a Japanese school and everything so she’s like a Japanese. I know the real Japan but I also learnt so much about Korean culture. I learnt how to read and write and I can speak a little bit of Korean. There’s also an American side of me and currently I’m in LA. I’ve never really lived in America for long because I grew up in Japan so I’m kind of learning all different types of things. It kind of connects in me and reminds me, ‘Oh, this is my American or Korean or Japanese side’.
How would you describe your style?
I go to lots of vintage shops. Vintage vintage vintage vintage. I can’t really describe my style. I wear a lot of UNIF, an LA brand. I recently did a collaboration with them and wear lots of clothes from them. I think my style is really 90s but because of today’s interview I’m dressed up. Normally I’m just wearing a miniskirt or skinny jeans and a T-shirt — really casual. And I always wear a choker so that’s kind of my signature look. I really love chokers, it matches with everything.
Have you ever felt pressured from being in the modelling industry?
I don’t really feel pressured, I just feel awkward. I did a Moschino runway for when Jeremy Scott first started [designing]. It was for his first show and I don’t really do runway because I’m really short. I was really happy that he called me but all the models — their hip was up by my head and they were not even seeing me because I’m tiny. It’s like, ‘Hi, I’m here!’. But I don’t really feel pressured. These days it doesn’t really matter whether you’re tall or whatever. If you have personality and style, I think you can do something interesting and be more than just a model.
What was it like working with The Weeknd for the I Feel It Coming music video?
I was really excited when I got the offer. I was shooting a TV series so my schedule was really tight. I stayed for less than 24 hours: I got there, went to the hotel, freshened up, went to the studio and did all the make-up. Then the next morning I left. The set was really amazing, there was this rock and screen and it was really beautiful. The Weeknd was really sweet and nice — saying, ‘Thank you for being here, I know you’re really busy.’ But he looked really tired. I also met him at the Met Gala and he said, ‘I just got here and I’m leaving right away’. Even that day he said, ‘I have a music video shoot the next day’. I was like wow, superstars work hard. I thought that only Asians work hard, but that’s not true, everyone does.
What are your upcoming projects?
My movie comes out in the summer in Japan. It’s a love comedy and I’m playing this girl that every guy thinks they want to marry. She’s really cute, with bangs, brown hair and that super cute Japanese style, but she’s kind of kick-ass and nobody knows that. I’m acting all innocent and cute, but no one knows I’m really a bad ass. I really like the concept of my character. Guys just see her on the outside and they’re not looking inside of her. She kind of uses that to get what she wants and I think that’s really cool how she’s manipulative and kicks their asses.