Liu Wen considers beauty to be a journey rather than a destination.

No one ever told me I was lovely when I was younger. I was a tall girl who grew up in the Chinese city of Yongzhou. Although it is a city, it is not a significant one. In slouchy clothing, I dressed more like a tomboy. I was really modest because I didn't consider myself to be attractive. I hadn't given it a second consideration.

If all the beauty looks the same, it’s not interesting. We just have to be ourselves.

It's not interesting if all the beauty is the same. All we have to do is be ourselves.

Everyone in my generation felt double eyelids were attractive, and I didn't have them. I have monolids, or single eyelids. However, I did not perform any operation. I went off on my own. My mother urged me to try modelling when the opportunity arose so that I could travel and see the globe. She has always been a happy, upbeat person with a generous heart. She's the one who told me to "just try." If you fail, don't worry; you can always try again.

Modeling isn't just about being slender and gorgeous; it's also about being able to express yourself. Are you able to exude confidence and strength? The most crucial factor is one's personality.

My job taught me how to look well. It's not only about your appearance. Modeling isn't just about being slender and gorgeous; it's also about being able to express yourself. Are you able to exude confidence and strength? The most crucial factor is one's personality. All of this can be captured by the camera. Their beauty, on the other hand, is uncontrollable. I imagine myself as a sea sponge, soaking up all that is wonderful in my life, which might come from anyplace and in everyday life. It may be architecture, which I've recently discovered to be a new passion of mine. It can also happen at specific points in time. Normally, I only spend about ten days a year with my folks. However, I stayed with them for 45 days under quarantine. There was nothing that could be done! At home, we began putting together Lego sets. I used to think Legos were only for kids, and after a long day at work, I often just want to go home and do nothing. But this time we spent together, building Legos, I was able to re-establish a strong bond with them.

Normally, I'm in New York, but I've been in China for over a year due to the virus. I've noticed that the young ladies here are really trendy. It's most likely due to social networking. They are highly confident and self-assured, and they know exactly what they want. The current generation of parents in our country is likewise quite open-minded, so they let their children do whatever they want. All of this contributes to our current understanding of beauty. Beauty, like fashion, is subject to change. Maybe huge lips are hot right now, but next year another trend will emerge.

The more I create, the more I realise that beauty must be unique. In 2008, I attended my first Fashion Week in Europe. In each show, there were just one or two girls of colour. On the runway now, there are so many different body shapes and sorts of beauty. It's not interesting if all the beauty is the same. All we have to do is be ourselves.