The 5 Singaporean models that you should know (and love!)

Not since the days of Hanis Hussey, Ethel Fong and Junita Simon has Singapore made such an impression on the international modelling scene.

Back in the '80s and '90s, it was the golden age for the local modelling scene, with many of these household names walking the runways for the international runway circuit as well as global fashion and beauty campaigns.

But with the recent rise of local modes like Layla Ong walking in Gucci during Milan Fashion Week as well as Kaigin Yong gracing the couture runways, this crop of new-gen models are proving that they're definitely ones to watch, and the spotlight is back on Singapore.

Just who exactly are these girls? 

Layla Ong

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Who would have thought a spontaneous open casting at Basic models would segue into a full-on career that saw Layla Ong walking the runways of international fashion weeks?

After seeing a post on fellow model Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw’s Instagram, the 24-year-old (then 21) decided to try out modelling for fun.

Two short months later, she was cast on Asia’s Next Top Model season five, and the rest as you say, is history. While Layla only placed 10th and was booted off the show early, her career has only sky rocketed since.

Her unique looks caught the eye of local fashion publications and even granted her the cover of Female magazine — twice.

She’s since gone on to model for brands like Pomelo, MSGM, Rodarte, Dolce & Gabanna and was recently cast in Gucci’s beauty campaign.

Kaigin Jean Yong

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For Kaigin Yong, her route to fashion fame came via a more traditional route. She took part in The New Paper New Face competition in 2017 and quickly beat out her competition with her androgynous features.

After the 25-year-old (then 22) took the top spot, she quickly signed with a local agency and began modelling for numerous fashion publications and shows.

She’s since gone on to model for many brands, her recent stint being Couture Fashion Week in January where she walked for couture brands like Ralph & Russo and Viktor & Rolf as well as Autumn/Winter 2020 where she clocked in 14 shows in Paris for brands like Yohji Yamamoto and Lemaire.

Duan Mei Yue

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Ever since she was a child, Mei Yue had always longed to be part of the fashion industry. While she initially wanted to be a designer, she ended up settling for modelling instead.

Inspired by seeing her K-pop idols attend shows during fashion week, the 20-year-old thought becoming a model would be a great way to meet them.

From there, her love for fashion grew as she admired the models walking and decided to try and make her aspirations come true.

Since then the model has gone on to walk for Dior Haute Couture at SS’18, starred in Sephora Singapore’s Chinese New Year campaign, and had her face grace the pages of i-D Japan and Vogue Korea.

Diya Prabhakar

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Just like Kaigin, Diya was also part of The New Paper New Face alumni, winning the coveted award in 2014 at the tender age of 15.

Now the 21-year-old is represented by one of the biggest modelling agencies in the world like Storm in London (that’s where Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell was first represented) as well as The Industry Model Management in New York.

The model has quietly built her career over the past four years and can now proudly list accolades such as walking the runway for brands like Christian Siriano and Prabu Gurung and features in international publications such as Tank, Grazia China, Marie Claire UK and Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore.

Kaci Beh

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Like Layla, Kaci also chanced upon Basic Model’s open casting call when she was just 18-years-old.

The then-teenager was looking to step out of her comfort zone and decided to take the plunge into the modelling scene.

She quickly dropped out of school as she felt she wasn’t cut out for it and decided to concentrate on her modelling full-time.

Now the model regularly travels to European cities such as Milan, Paris and London modelling for brands such as United Colours of Benneton and Dolce & Gabanna.

This article was first published in CLEO Singapore.