Ling Tan, one of the first Asian models to make it big in the international fashion scene, has a stunning editorial shot in Bhutan for the October 2008 issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. She was undeniably one of two most prolific Asian girls (the other being Russian model, Irina Pantaeva) working in the late 1990s, appearing in numerous ad campaigns including Emporio Armani (perfume ad), Prescriptives (cosmetics ad), Ford Edge (TV commercial), Banana Republic, GAP, Old Navy, Guess and a host of others; there was also a music video for George Michael (Fast Love).
Ling Tan was the Han Jin of her time, walking in more runways shows than most models did during Fashion Week in NYC, Paris and Milan. According to Fashion Model Directory, she clocked in over 30+ shows in Fall 1997/Winter 1998 and Spring/Summer 1998, walking for top designers like Gucci, Fendi, Chanel, Dior, YSL and Valentino.
Prior to Ling Tan and Irina Pantaeva, there was Anna Bayle from the Philippines who walked almost exclusively on runways for Europe designers in the early-to-mid-1980s. But back then runway models rarely crossover to magazine editorials or ad campaigns and vice versa. The trend started with Gianni Versace in the late 1980s when he began using editorial darlings like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington on his runway shows, thereby creating a frenzy over the girls and initiated the phenomenon known as, (gasp) supermodels.
Back to this editorial with Ling Tan for Condé Nast Traveler. I know someone will say, "Oh! There we go again -- another editorial with an Asian girl wearing Asian-inspired clothes shot on location in Asia!" Rightfully so, this is a bit cliché-ish, to say the least but would it be any different if they had used Linda Evangelista in this shoot instead of Ling Tan? [I use Linda E. as an example because she was the go-to-girl for many Asian-inspired editorials shot in Bali, Thailand, China, India, etc. for Vogue.]
Also, what happened to her eye brow?
Hair & Makeup: Dawn Jacobson @ Ford Artists
Source: Scanned by AsianModelsBlog
Model: Koo Kim
