“Runway is fantastic because it is so high energy. Anything can happen, anything can go wrong, and everything can be phenomenal.” — Brent Chua
ISSUE: Fall 2011
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: Shirley Lau
Brent Chua’s inimitable look graces designer clothing ads and high fashion catwalks.
Killer abs, a signature Mohawk and a fabulously fierce mug have made Chinese- Filipino American model Brent Chua a hot commodity in the modeling world. The 26-year-old now calls East Village in New York City home, but he used to spend his days traveling around Europe and Asia, strutting down the runway for Versace and Gucci, and starring in ad campaigns for Macy’s and United Colors of Benetton.
“Creating images for editorials or fashion houses with talented individuals is an amazing experience; [I’m] constantly trying to bring something new,” says Chua. “And runway is fantastic because it is so high energy. Anything can happen, anything can go wrong, and everything can be phenomenal.”
That anything-can-happen mentality was what actually started Chua on the road to fame. He was spotted by a fashion show producer in a club — at this point he’d never even considered being a model — and his career skyrocketed. In 2004, he was voted Male Model of the Year at the Singapore Fashion Awards.
So why is Chua’s look so sought-after? It may well be his androgynous mien, epitomized in a series of photos where he’s donning a blanket of feathers and a hot pair of heels. Chua’s a bit more philosophical about it. “Your perception of yourself seems to basically be a gathered perception of what others have thought of you and made you aware of,” he says.
Whatever it is that makes Chua supermodel-worthy, it doesn’t seem to affect his down-to-earth perspective on life. He recognizes that modeling isn’t a lifelong career, so he wants to reverse roles and become the man behind the camera.
“I really enjoy taking photographs so it would be great to keep doing that,” he says. “I find a lot of inspiration in cinema and reading and observing the passersby in the city.”
— Shirley Lau
More stories from Audrey Magazine’s Archives here.
Earlier this year, we featured Filipino-Chinese-American model Brent Chua as a one of the hottest male models we’ve ever laid eyes on. We were lucky enough to snag an interview with the 26-year-old, despite his busy schedule living and working in New York City. Make sure you check out the Personalities section of the Fall 2011 issue of Audrey, out now. Here, enjoy a bit more of our interview with Brent Chua. Continue Reading »
Who are the Cole Mohrs (hip and happenin’), Baptiste Giabiconis (pretty boy muses), and even Fabios (I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butterface) of the Asian male modeling industry? I know this perturbing question taps into the taboos of Western media, but trust me, there are quite a few, albeit rarely seen, who fall under each category. Here is a guide to some of the hottest Asian faces in the male modeling industry. You can thank me later.
Model hotness: Godfrey Gao.
