Fresh face
From small town girl to the spokesperson of a beauty brand, Chinese model Sui He is going places.
SUI He’s make-up for photo shoots and runway shows enhances her God-given loveliness, but this Chinese bombshell says the beauty tip that works better than any product, came from her mother. “The most important beauty tip is one I got from my mother when I was very young. It’s so simple: wear a smile,” said the 23-year-old – who was recently appointed Shiseido global face – in a press release.
And what a smile she has – the native of Wenzhou, China, who stands at 1.79m, possesses a fresh, happy smile complemented by her stand-out feature, her cheekbones, and her long, thick black hair.
Known in the industry as being a kind, polite, patient and friendly woman, it’s not hard to picture this model flashing her perfect pearly whites at photographers, make-up artists and industry people, day-in and dayout.
Her engagement with Shiseido has brought Sui He nothing but delight, as she has always been obsessed with skincare.
“So representing Shiseido, the skincare powerhouse, is both an honour and a dream come true,” said He. “I love the way my skin feels every day and every night using Shiseido products. And since my career began in Asia and grew to an international level, I feel a strong connection with Shiseido, because the company grew in a similar way over the past 140 years.”
“My skin is mine for life, and I intend to keep it in its best condition, forever. To me, skincare is one of the greatest investments I can make in the way I look now, and the way I will look for the rest of my life.”
She has come a long way from the modelling competition that changed her life – according to He, she participated just for fun, and ended up winning.
This launched the then 17-year-old swimmer’s (her parents encouraged her to swim as a child to improve her poor health) modelling career, and before long, big designer names came calling.
The leggy lass was the first Asian model to ever walk the opening of Ralph Lauren Fall/Winter 2011, and the second Asian model (after fellow Chinese Liu Wen) to model for Victoria’s Secret.
Over the years she has become a standout on the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris, walking for designers such as Chanel, Proenza Schouler, Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen, Hermes and Christian Dior.
For the small town girl, it must all still feel like a dream, and He has been enjoying the journey so far.
“Growing up in Wenzhou, I always knew people who left our area to live in Europe or the US, so for me, it was natural to imagine growing up and having an international life,” said He.
“I won a modeling contest when I was 17, and that set my career in motion. I just wanted to see where it could take me, because I have always loved to travel. The world is full of so many incredible places, and I want to see them all. Now, I split most of my time between New York City and Beijing, and I feel like I have the best of both worlds — I keep the traditions I love in my home country, and in America, I have access to amazing opportunities.“
While it is important for a model to have great skin, grace and height, He believes that dedication and modesty are also key traits to have to make it in the industry.
“I was raised with a very strong work ethic,” she says. “I believe that if you do a job, you should do it with all your heart and soul. Modeling demands focus and stamina, so I’m lucky that I love what I do enough to give it my all, every day. I keep in mind that it’s not about me looking good. It’s about making what I’m wearing look good, in my special way. That’s the creative challenge that I love.
“I try to be straightforward, honest, and kind-hearted. When it comes to work, I am dedicated and persistent, which I think are the two most important keys to success in any area,” added He.
Her recent partnership with Shiseido has brought her back (somewhat) to her Asian roots, and He is loving every minute, including working with artistic director Dick Page.
“What can I even say about the man? He’s brilliant with colour. I’m always amazed by his choices and ideas. He’s so well known, and yet he’s really warm and down to earth. I just love hanging out with him,” she said.
Always experimenting with eye make-up, especially for evening events, He loves eyeliner and lots of mascara.
“The colour is one aspect. You need to love the colour. Then, when it goes on really easily, feels great, smells nice and does its job better than you expect, that’s when I am hooked. When technology and artistry are both working together. Shiseido make-up is like that for me.”
“For daytime, I like a clean, natural look. Great skincare is the key to making my skin glow. I use make-up to enhance, rather than to cover my skin,” said He, whose daily skincare regime includes using cleansing oil, cleansing foam, softener/lotion, serum and cream.
With many more photos to pose for, runways to walk and campaigns to take part in, He is on the fast track to becoming a household name, and face.