Chinese supermodel He Cong started her career with a bang and hasn’t slowed since. Her first job, shortly after moving to Shanghai from her hometown of Changsha to study fashion and design, was to open and close a Valentino show. Since that pivotal moment in 2013, Cong has walked for countless brands, from Chanel and Fendi to Dior and McQueen. In the Autumn/Winter 2017 season alone, she walked at least 42 shows. Starring in campaigns for Burberry, Coach, Fendi, Bulgari, Prada, Chanel, Stella McCartney , Dior Beauty and Guerlain, Cong has appeared on the covers of international editions of Vogue, V Magazine, T Magazine China, Harper’s Bazaar China, Elle China, Wallpaper and Marie Claire China. She was also photographed for the 2023 Pirelli Calendar.
He Cong has welcomed the fashion and modelling industries’ drive to become more diverse and inclusive, but has been critical of the approach taken, suggesting it is often too narrow in scope. “Race is just one of the many issues that the industry needs to address,” she told Vogue Singapore in a 2020 interview. “The modelling world is becoming a more inclusive space in recent years, but it doesn’t mean that diversity and inclusivity are properly represented. Let’s not overlook issues like fatphobia and ageism, just to name two. No one is truly secure in this fickle industry and the struggle is real for everyone.
