You've mentioned that you've always been a chubby girl, when was the moment that you wanted to change that?
I've always been chubby since the day I was born, but I didn’t realize that it was a problem. I got used to how my schoolmates were making fun of me. However, when I was in secondary school, people started to overly bully me, they'll post about me on Facebook pages and HKGolden forums for discussions. At that time I felt so bad about myself and I was depressed.
I'll ask my mum, why everyone hates me even though they didn’t know me in person.
My mum said people would see your face first and then your personality, like the words, “Your Face, your fate”, so I swore that I would make them rub their eyes and view me in a new light. I started to diet and exercise when I was 15 years old. After three years’ hard-work, I finally had a stunning transformation.
What was it like to be modeling during High School and how did you manage it?
There were challenges, I was studying in a band 1 school (band 1 schools are high achieving schools in Hong Kong, and Meiki was studying in one of the top high schools in Hong Kong) but I got dropped by them in my final year because they think that me, being a model will destroy their prestige reputation.
Because no school was willing to accept a student in their final year, I went from a top band 1 school to a band 3 school.
Other than changing schools, I tried my best to take balance between academics and modeling. I studied hard in school and to go castings after school. I'd change into my casting outfit(s) and do my makeup in the metro's toilet.
There was once when I went to an interview and a magazine photoshoot after my HKCSE accounting exams and I was still in my school uniform.
Now that you're so fit! Do you have any tips to stay fit? Do models really have to starve themselves?
To be honest, there are two types of models, ones who are naturally skinny, so no matter how many calories they eat, they are still super skinny. The other type is like me, a normal human being who will gain weight if we eat. Most models are the latter type, we need to really control our diet aka starving ourselves, and exercise a lot to stay fit. My tip to stay fit is to move more and eat fewer calories, so as to keep a calorie deficit.
People usually see the glam side of being a model, but before appearing in magazines and shows (s), models have to go through casting(s), how stressful were they?
It's very stressful. When I went for castings during fashion week, I had to queue for hours, occasionally hours in the rain. To add to the stress, I'll also see famous models in the queue too. Finally, when I think it's my time to "shine'', I will try to showcase my best catwalk to the casting directors, but sometimes they don't even glance at you before saying "Thank you, next''.
Who's your fashion icon?
Definitely Sora Choi. I love her face and her style. She is my goal.
How did you learn to pose?
I'll study a lot of magazine editorials and practice it in front of the mirror. Practice makes perfect.
Which brand is your goal to walk the runway for?
Saint Laurent/ Maison Margiela/ Balanciaga/ Prada. I know I am greedy.
The Modeling industry can be harsh, how do you handle mean criticisms?
I've been judged and bullied and I think the best way to deal with it, is to self-reflect first, if you believe you have done nothing wrong, just ignore them. Remember haters gonna hate.
What would you like to say to your young self who was 200 lbs?
You only live once, don’t make yourself regret it.
Photo credits:
From Meiki's Instagram & Team,
https://www.instagram.com/yiumeiki/