the #legend100 issue
WHAT IS INFLUENCE? There’s no better issue to explore this question than our #legend100, where we present to you our annual list of those who are making the biggest waves in the arena of key opinion leading.
As it turns out, when asked, the 100 individuals (page 96) have similar yet varying interpretations of what it means to make an impact. Some, like our inside cover star
Sue Chang (page 65), are looking to shed more light on different cultures including her own as a Korean, while others like Yvette Kong find that philanthropic work speaks louder than outfit posts. A few members of the fashion set photographed in “Finding the Way” (page 74) didn’t even set out to be influencers and instead fell into the occupation – now they’re making the best impact they can with the clout they wield.
Yes, influencing is an occupation now as many erstwhile KOLs are turning their brands of personality into actual fashion brands that stockists are taking on board. Read about this phenomenon on page 28.
Of course, this being released right as the Tokyo Olympics are being held, we can’t omit the incredible well of emotion many of us on the #legend team felt as Edgar Cheung won the first gold medal in fencing for Hong Kong, marking the city’s first Olympic gold in 25 years and sparking a surge of enrollment at fencing academies, while swimmer Siobhan Haughey gave another big boost to hometown pride with her two silver medals.
On our cover (page 44) are obviously two of the biggest influencers of them all, Lisa of K-pop sensation Blackpink and Zendaya, Gen Z’s It girl who represents the new world and its new cool.
Influence is everywhere. And so, we’ve compiled additional lists of celebrities and musicians in Hong Kong who are part of Cantopop’s new wave. One of them is modelturned-actor Jeffrey Ngai, who earned his massive fan base from a reality show in which he allowed audiences to see a more vulnerable side of himself (page 84). It’s an exciting time and we want you to know the key names that are a part of this movement. So, sit back and relax as our #legend100 issue takes you under the influence.
ZANETA CHENG / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR