Interview with Lovely Lily

Famous in the Malaysian modeling scene is internationally acclaimed fashion and runway model Lovely Lily. With her dark, flawless skin, beautiful piercing eyes and tall and slender figure she is known as much for her outer beauty as for her professionalism, grace and the kindness she shows to all around her.

One of her first modeling assignments was walking the runway for famous Malaysian designer Orson Liyu for Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week in 2005. After that experience, Lily began to attract the attention of the major fashion designers of the dayand has graced the pages of many famous publications, worked with notable photographers and has appeared in fashion shows, and on the web. She was chosen by fashion designer Hatta Dolmat for Malaysia Project Runway and has worked other designers such as Wanpa, A.L.L.I.EN, Danny Tang and Jyeik Couture O’oi. She has appeared in Rias,Remaja,Wedding, Pengantin, Oxygen, Juice, Herworld and other local magazines and has represented designers at KL Fashion Week in 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Lily, it is a pleasure to meet you. Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you grew up?

Pleasure to meet you too. I was born in Banting Selangor Darul Ehsan which is one of the largest cities next to Kuala Lumpur.

When you were a child were you interested in beauty and modeling? Is it something you wanted to do when you got older?

Since I was a child my attitude showed that I always liked fashion. I had a dream of being a fashion designer but never expected to be a model. Everything began when I was a teen. My friends always pushed me and inspired me to try and accept any opportunities to be a model because of my look, my height and my physique but I just took it easy and never did as my friends told me. When I was 18 I started to get involved in the performing industry as a dancer. I was very happy and enjoyed it but it made me forget about being a designer. Time flew by and I caught the eye of a designer while I was on the stage performing a show. The designer knew one of the dancer who is also my good friend and everything started to give me an opportunity at a new carrier that I had never expected.

Do you remember the first time you modeled? What was it for and how were you discovered? Were you nervous? When you first walked the runway for famous Malaysian designer Orson Liyu what did you wear?

First of all everything started with a photo shoot. I was chosen as one of the models for a wedding magazine for a designer who is very well known named Orson Liyu. He was satisfied with my work and he offered me the chance to walk the catwalk for his runway show. That is the beginning of me becoming a model. I was so surprised because I never knew how big an event for Kuala Lumpur Fashion week 2005 it was and was his Muse. As a first timer I was so nervous but the rest of the models would, behind the scenes, try to calm me down and gave me a lot of support. I was wearing a beautiful white wedding dress. It was like a miracle to me and I did the catwalk with butterflies in my stomach. After the event Orson Liyu was happy and people in the fashion industries started talking about me and I started to get more offers in fashion, catwalk or print modeling.

You have done runway and print modeling. Both are very different. What do you prefer?

Yes I do both runway and printing modeling. Of course I would like to say that I love to do both because I always enjoy doing the job.

What was your experience like working on Project Runway Malaysia?

The first experience for Project Runway Malaysia was with Hatta Dolmat. Since then I have gotten to know many more professional models and designers. We started to exchange experiences and I learned a lot of new things related to the fashion industry. They give me some tips to be a great model.

What do you look for when you work with a photographer?

When I work with photographer I don’t mind what kind of the behavior that they have. All I know is to give my best in all the opportunities that I get. I always want the best results and I always enjoy doing the job.

Do you sometimes do your own hair and makeup on shoots?

Yes, sometimes I do my own hair and makeup on a shoot because I like to learn new things and challenge myself too.

What is the modeling industry like in Malaysia?

The modeling industry in Malaysia is raising up and I think it will soon look similar to other countries.

Can you tell us about some of the designers, models and photographers that you admire?

I do love a lots of international fashion designers such as Donatella Versace, Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad and John Galliano because the designs are very elegant and different. The way they choose the materiels and cut are just perfect and I do really adore all of them. My favorite models are of course Twiggy, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Gissele Bundnchen. They are all different in their ways and they have their own trademarks during a show or shoot. In my opinion newcomers can’t beat the older supermodels.

You recently were chosen as a celebrity judge in the Bite My Music 2013 VIMA music awards. What do you think about being part of this globally recognized music award show?

I am so honored and very thankful to be chosen as a celebrity judge in the Bite My Music 2013 VIMA music awards. This is my first experience of this kind of program so I will do all my best to be a part of this.

In the last year during Fashion week in NY, there were many more Asian models. Why do you think this is and do you think that designers in Asia are getting more attention?

Yes I think Asian designers and models are getting more attention in NY fashion industries because there a lots of talented people who can produce more ideas and incorporate new features based on ethnicity and culture.

What are your own goals for the future?

My goal is to be one of the international supermodels. I wish my dream will come true.

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