A PRESTIGE HONG KONG EXCLUSIVE
DU JUAN: SHANGHAI EXPRESS
by Stephen Short

Chinese supermodel Du Juan’s skyrocketing success was evidenced by her majestic stroll down China’s historic Great Wall, writes Stephen Short

Seldom can a catwalk model have indulged such a historic moment. When fashion house Fendi staged its US$10 million Fendi Great Wall show in China at the end of last year, with guests wrapped in sumptuous Fendi furs to keep out the chill, of the 88 international models to grace the catwalk, Shanghai-born supermodel Du Juan was selected by Karl Lagerfeld and Sylvia Fendi to stroll down the ancient structure as the final model of the event, styled as an empress in a black cheongsam gown, a Western interpretation of how a Chinese empress-cum-princess should be. Breathtaking beyond words and majesty, Du Juan and Fendi took us to dreamscape and fantasy like we’d never witnessed before.

Twenty-five-year-old Chinese supermodel Du Juan’s name has two meanings: the azalea and the cuckoo. And with her rapid ascent as one of the most in-demand fashion models, she has come to represent something more – the contemporary epitome of Chinese beauty.

The hits and accolades have been relentless. The first Asian model to grace the cover of French Vogue, she has taken the fashion world by storm since her debut at the spring 2006 haute couture shows in Paris, where she walked for the House of Chanel, Valentino, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier and Anne Valerie Hash.

She has worked with some of fashion’s most renowned photographers – Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Testino, Mert and Marcus, David Sims, Paolo Roversi, Mario Sorrenti, Karl Lagerfeld, Juergen Teller, Michael Thompson and Craig McDean, to name a few.

Du is also the most prominent face of Chinese Vogue, chalking up a record-breaking three covers – including the inaugural issue and the first year anniversary issue – and at least one major fashion editorial in every issue since the launch of the magazine in September 2005. She was awarded the magazine’s first ever Vogue Achievement Award in 2006.

For autumn 2006, her first international show season, she walked down 43 runways for top brands such as Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Roberto Cavalli, Hermès, Kenzo, Bottega Veneta, Emanuel Ungaro, Dries Van Noten, Oscar de la Renta and Badgley Mischka. Style.com named her one of its top 10 models of the season.

Du started modelling by chance. A ballerina by training, her childhood dream was to be a world-class dancer; she studied dance and traditional opera at the prestigious Shanghai Dance School from the age of eight. When she grew too tall, she entered a national modelling competition, taking top prize.