ASIAN models are hot.

And there are more of them at this year's fashion festival.

The New Paper on Sunday spoke to three, all from China, one of whom is already a veteran of the Paris catwalks.

KIKI KANG

In her one year as a professional model, she has already done shows for Hugo Boss, Bulgari and Fendi.

Ms Kiki Kang, who joined a modelling school when she was just 17, said her parents have been very supportive.

She is 18 now, and with her fair complexion and slender frame, you would never guess that she used be an avid basketball player back in Sichuan.

Her interests? Shopping and photography.

And for her, the best part of modelling is being able to be in close contact with fashion designers.

'Fashion designers are very professional. They personally help us with our clothes and even help us tie our shoe laces just to make sure everything is right,' she said in Mandarin.

Her favourite designers include Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano.

SHEN LI LI

At 20, she has already walked the runways of Hong Kong, Milan and Paris.

Ms Shen Li Li has modelled for names such as Giorgio Armani and Ferragamo.

Despite her success, she said it is still difficult being an Asian model in Europe.

'I needed to adjust my attitude and not feel bad when I was rejected. In the beginning, I felt sad when I was rejected. Now I am used to it,' she said.

She never dreamt of being a model when she was younger.

And it was her complete unfamiliarity with modelling that made her take part in a modelling contest in Shanghai, which she won.

'I had joined just to try something new. I had no knowledge of modelling at all,' she said.

Then, a photo-shoot for Hong Kong's Elle magazine jump-started her now one-year-old career.

She is overseas half the time, and the only child misses home a lot, especially her mum's home-cooked food.

'I prefer to stay at home with my mum and dad. I am very close to them,' she said.

Her skin care regimen?

'I don't wear any make-up when I am not doing a show,' she said.

ZHANG XU CHAO

This is the first time the 22-year-old from the coastal city of Dalian has travelled out of China.

Ms Zhang Xu Chao was discovered by a photographer one year ago and has been based in Beijing since.

She likes art, drawing and designing and said she would be a fashion designer if she were not a model.

She told The New Paper on Sunday that she has no strict diet or exercise regimen and admitted to enjoying junk food.

The best part about being a model?

'Getting to wear the clothes of famous brands,' she said.

She has walked the runways of the Shanghai and Beijing fashion week and has worked for some of Beijing's top designers such as Liang Ji and Guo Pei.

The only child said her parents had never objected to her modelling career.

- Cheryl Teo, Newsroom intern

This article was first published in The New Paper on Mar 30, 2008.