Who Is Liu Wen? 5 Things You Need to Know About China’s First Supermodel
Liu Wen has been paving the way for Asian models since her international breakthrough in 2007.
by Kyla Villena
Published on Oct 26, 2026
Liu Wen captured attention at the recent Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, marking her 10th appearance on the lingerie brand’s runway. While her latest appearance may have introduced her to a new generation of fashion enthusiasts, the Chinese supermodel has actually been breaking barriers for nearly two decades. With a career marked by historic firsts, Liu Wen continues to pave the way for greater Asian representation in the global modeling industry.
Here are five things to know about Liu Wen.
Who Is Liu Wen?
She is 38 years old.
Liu Wen was born on January 27, 1988, in Yongzhou, Hunan, China. “My parents are very supportive of me,” she shared in a 2016 interview with Marie Claire UK. As an only child, Liu Wen believes her parents are happy for her, though they didn't fully understand her profession at the time.
In a separate interview with Business Insider, she revealed that her mother initially encouraged her to pursue modeling to improve her posture. Taller than many of her peers, Liu Wen had developed a habit of slouching.
She is dubbed as China’s first supermodel.
In 2005, at 17, Liu Wen entered a modeling competition hoping to win a computer. “I just wanted to win the computer. Before, I didn’t really understand what modeling was because I grew up in a very small town, no fashion,” she told CNN. She made it to the semifinals.
Two years later, her career gained momentum after she appeared in a fashion editorial for Cosmopolitan China.
She set a runway record in 2009.
Liu Wen made her runway debut in 2008, walking for major fashion houses such as Burberry, Trussardi, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Hermès early in her career. By 2009, she had established herself as a rising force in the modeling industry, walking in 74 shows that season—the most of any model that season and a record for an Asian model at the time.
She was the first Chinese model to walk for Victoria’s Secret.
In 2009, Liu Wen made history as the first model of East Asian descent to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. At the brand’s most recent show, she celebrated another career milestone with her 10th appearance on its runway.
Liu Wen at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show through the years. Photos: Instagram/liuwenlw, China Daily
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She was the first Asian model to make Forbes’ list of the world’s 10 highest-paid models.
According to Sotheby’s, Liu Wen became the first Asian model to enter Forbes’ list of the world’s 10 highest-paid models. She debuted at No. 5 in 2013, with reported earnings of $4.3 million, ranking behind supermodels Gisele Bündchen, Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, and Kate Moss—all of whom have also walked the Victoria’s Secret runway.
Liu Wen remained among the top 10 through 2017, except in 2015, when she ranked 12th.
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.