Model of the moment Fei Fei Sun enters fashion's fast lane

When she was 10 years old, Fei Fei Sun suddenly shot up to 5ft 5in in height. Her mother was confused – this was highly irregular for a young girl in China’s Shandong province – but the growth spurt served to confirm Sun’s suspicions that she might, one day, like to be a model. 

"Modelling is my passion," Sun, now 29 and 5ft 10in, reflects, having been one of China’s most successful international runway stars for nearly a decade.

PVC trench coat, £3,850, and Prince of Wales check boots, £1,190, both Fendi

She had contemplated becoming a nursery teacher or opening a coffee shop ("another dream job") but ultimately the glamour and pace of fashion proved irresistible and, with her cheekbones, it was an inevitable career choice. "My life as a model is super busy," she says. "I don’t plan on stopping any time soon."

After representing China and coming third in the global Elite Model Look competition in 2008, Sun was given her big break by Karl Lagerfeld when he asked her and seven other Chinese models to walk in a landmark Chanel pre-fall show, held in December 2009 in Shanghai. Many firsts followed.

Shearling coat, £6,920, satin dress, £1,505, silk twill scarf, £195, crocodile BV clutch, £6,680, and kid pumps, £630, all Bottega Veneta. Bags, from left: suitcase (just seen), stylist’s own; canvas monogram Keepall Bandoulière 50, £1,250, canvas monogram Keepall 55, £1,010, and Horizon 55 My LV World Tour leather-trimmed canvas wheelie case, £2,510, all Louis Vuitton; holdall (just seen), stylist’s own

Her international runway debut came in February 2010 via a coveted booking for the Christopher Kane show in London. Next she was the first Asian woman to be the face of Valentino. Then, in January 2013, she was the first model of east Asian descent to get a solo Italian Vogue cover.

By September 2014, she was on a special pull-out cover of American Vogue, along with Cara Delevingne, Joan Smalls, Karlie Kloss and five others hailed "The Instagirls: Models of the Moment".

Nylon over-dress, £2,410, and nylon under-dress, £2,875, both Prada 

"This industry has many diverse possibilities," Sun says, considering the clients and projects she has been able to take on. "In the future I hope that people will see how I presented myself and understand that I conveyed a different kind of beauty to the world. There are so many great things I have learnt from my job: patience, self-confidence and teamwork. Now I am trying to use the fame to help people who need it, especially in China." 

Toile jacket, £4,250, and embroidered sequin jacket, £11,285, both Chanel. Bags, from left: holdall and case, stylist’s own; Keepall Bandoulière 50 and Keepall 55, Louis Vuitton, as before

In December, Sun married photographer Liang Zi after 10 years together, in ceremonies that fused their Manhattan lifestyle and their Chinese heritage. They allowed her 452,000 Instagram followers just two glimpses: in one post, Sun wears an exceptional brocade qipao in fortune-symbolising red and gold colours, while her husband fits a slipper on to her foot.

Embroidered cotton and wool jacket, £7,700, and matching skirt with embroidered belt, £2,600, embroidered leather-wrap blouse, £6,700, and leather shoes, £1,000, all Louis Vuitton. Bags, from left: Keepall 55, Horizon 55 My LV World Tour case and Keepall Bandoulière 50, all Louis Vuitton, as before; holdall and suitcase, stylist’s own

In another, the pair are in black tie, with Sun wearing a white gown. Married life seems to consist of a mix of Central Park cycle rides, shopping at Dover Street Market, eating good dumplings, flower arranging and taking care of their parrotlets. 

"I have six Pacific parrotlets in my apartment, which sounds crazy," she says, laughing. "Social media is fun. I share my work, modelling, lifestyle and hobbies on there. My fans [both back in China and internationally] always send messages to encourage me." 

Oversized single-breasted blazer in brown and tan plaid, £4,677, and single-breasted coat in grey, black and red plaid, £1,304, both Calvin Klein. Bag, Louis Vuitton, as before

It is only in the last 10 years that she, Liu Wen, Ming Xi and several other east Asian models have broken any number of invisible barriers to become bona fide supermodels in the West, and, understandably, being based in America was helpful to her when landing some of her biggest contracts.

She stars in campaigns for Estée Lauder, Versace, Max Mara and Zara this autumn. "I miss my family when I come back to Manhattan," she says, noting that she gets to return to China "a few times a year", when her schedule permits.

Silk and wool slip dress, £3,085, cashmere Fair Isle muffler, £460, calf-hair-panel bag, £1,660, and silk crêpe de Chine slides, £305, all Michael Kors Collection 

"There is a 12-hour time difference, which makes communication difficult, but my family has never complained and they always support me to follow my dreams. I’m the lucky one."

Model: Fei Fei Sun for Estée Lauder cosmetics
Hair: Orlando Pita using Orlando Pita Play
Make-up: Dotti at Statement Artists
Manicurist: Sheril Bailey using Chanel Le Vernis
Production: Viewfinders

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