The first thing that comes to mind when looking at our cover image is this: Duan Meiyue is a mood. With stiletto nails and a signature model-scowl that accompanies her intense stare, the Singapore-based model nails the vibe without even trying, a trait that’s testament to raw talent, surely. Signed with modelling agency Mannequin Studio, she can list an impressive amount of magazine photoshoots and overseas experience in her resume, since she officially began her career at the age of 18 years old; take walking the Dior couture SS18 show in Shanghai, for instance, quite the mean flex for the then-teenager.
Now at 23, she is also recognised in the industry for her unique facial features, what’s often referred to as ‘editorial’ — and no that’s not a euphemism at all. See, we often look for a face that translates well in photographs, that stands out on a page or screen, even if it isn’t what’s considered textbook-pretty, which Meiyue perfectly embodies. In fact, she pretty much tells us that herself: “Modelling has really celebrated my features, especially since they were always seen to be ugly,” she candidly offers. With wide-set almond-shaped eyes, porcelain cheeks, and full lips, she can look doll-like at times, and yet completely edgy at a turn of her face; even completely still, this is a face that conveys depth. Either way, here she is, a master of effortless expression, which gets her booked for everything from beauty to high-end fashion shoots.
One photograph, though, stands out among her extensive portfolio. It’s a dreamy one lensed by photographer Wanjie Li, that became a viral sensation when it was posted on Instagram in February 2018, so well-received that the post has garnered 11,000 likes, and counting. “It was a test shoot too,” Meiyue tells us, further emphasising that serendipitous moment. Make no mistake though, this one’s no accident. The post sees two images where Meiyue looks completely relaxed; one of the close-up shots has her looking past her shoulder and gazing into the camera, while the other, perhaps more famous one, has her with her eyes closed. Her hair is pulled back, save for a couple of wispy stands that go past her face, a careless windswept style, which, when combined with a little bokeh, creates an ethereal glow to the photograph. But that’s just us making sense of a mood, one that Meiyue so naturally conveys the moment a camera is turned onto her. “It’s such a precious photo to me, because it really captured my innocence when I first started modelling, when I had the most ambition and drive,” she shares. Still, a face that gets people talking could be more of a double-edged sword than we realise.
Above: all makeup by LAURA MERCIER
Pure Canvas Blurring Face Primer, $70
Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30 PA+++ in 1C0 Cameo, $79
Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $70
Matte Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Au Naturel, $49
Lip Glacé Balm Gloss in 60 Creme Caramel, $45
Mei Yue wears:
Versace by Fendi single earring, $680
If you’re here, you’ve probably heard of the bout of controversy related to those images. Just earlier this year, in April, Meiyue found herself in the centre of a copyright dispute with a Russian artist, who had allegedly created two paintings based on those photos of her, without her consent — yes, the same photos that had kickstarted her career. This was a feud waged across social media, where Meiyue chose to speak up, and shared screenshots and several other evidence that showed how the artist had produced, publicly exhibited, and was selling her art. “I just feel very used, violated, and exploited,” she says of the intense feelings she felt then, still feels now. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time the model had faced this issue; an earlier incident, in 2021, involved a Singaporean artist referencing Meiyue’s face for an art installation piece displayed at fashion retailer Love, Bonito. In both instances, the model’s likeness was used in commercial projects without her knowledge or permission, whether intentional or not. For both, Meiyue had reached out to the artists to get them to take down the artwork and put a halt to their promotions, to no avail.
A case of artistic inspiration or a violation of one’s rights? Or, perhaps, an unfortunate but unavoidable expectation that comes with being a model and a public persona? Not everyone can agree on where to draw the line, though we dare say we’re standing with Meiyue on this one. A model is, and we hope to think so, beyond her image — she’s a person too, and one who’s entitled to feeling upset, angry, or wronged when their face is being appropriated without consent or knowledge. Sure, exposure is a good thing, but not at the cost of feeling exposed. If you need some perspective on that, there’s a searing op-ed by renowned model Emily Ratajkowski, published in The Cut, where she talks about literally buying back a painting of a photo of her. In both these circumstances, hers and Meiyue, the women were shamed for not feeling ‘honoured’ that an artist found their likeness so inspiring; instead, as Meiyue puts it, she “feels powerless”, a contrast to the beauty, innocence, and quiet autonomy of the original picture.
Meiyue is currently unable to seek legal recourse, and it would be hard to do so too given the nature of today’s intellectual property laws, where a person’s likeness isn’t as well-protected as we’d think. It’s made more complicated since the second case would involve having to enforce the same rights outside of Singapore’s borders, so the cases remain somewhat unresolved. What has changed though is Meiyue’s attitude towards them. “The only thing I want to do now though is to continue to put energy in myself and my work, to improve myself,” she starts, a far cry from her earlier days of helplessness. “I don’t want to waste any energy on this when I can’t do anything about it anymore. I’m not done fighting, I just want to shift the energy to myself first.”
Her voice did crack at points when recounting her story, wavering as she had to relive some of the more emotional moments, and yet, like light peering through the dark, she remained firmly resolute where it counts. “I don’t regret any of my actions at all,” she tells us. The same feeling of powerlessness that she talked about earlier was also what inspired her to, in her words, fight back: “At the end of the day, this work belongs to me and Wanjie, we were the ones who created the image; nobody else can replicate it no matter how hard they try.” This clarity and strength in her words then sheds light on why Meiyue deserves her place in the industry. While her most famous photograph is an image of grace and tenderness, the person behind the photograph conveys so much more, someone daring in her vulnerability and authenticity, even if the odds are stacked against her. Now, that, is a mood we can vibe with.
MODELLED BY MEI YUE FROM MANNEQUIN STUDIO
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ADELE CHAN USING LEICA M11 + APO-SUMMICRON-M 50 F/2 ASPH LENS
MAKEUP AND HAIR BY DOLLEI SEAH USING LAURA MERCIER
HOW SHE BECAME A MODEL
“I really wanted to be a model. When I was growing up, because of my height and quite a unique face, my friends would say, ‘oh, go be a model’. At first I was like, nah, but I happened to watch a Versace runway video and saw how beautiful they models are — they looked so good. What really pushed me to go for it was also because I was in the same Junior College as Diya — yes, we go way back — and I would see her leave school early to go for her jobs, and I was like, I want to do that too! She’s actually a very big inspiration to me.
I went to Basic Models’ open casting, got in, spent four months there, and decided to go to another agency and my current one, Mannequin Studio. From there, they helped me get a placement agency so I can be signed to different agencies around the world, which really boosted my career. I started travelling, first to Tokyo, followed by Seoul, New York, London, Shanghai, and Paris as well. This was around 2018 to 2019, when I was 19 years old; I had started modelling when I was 18.
MODEL MILESTONES; AND WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB
“The best of the best milestone was walking for the Dior haute couture in Shanghai, where I met my favourite models and got to be friends with them. I love how I get to meet people who are of the same vibe as me, of a similar personality and interests; I meet interesting people, I get to travel.
What I also love about modelling is getting to wear these clothes and jewellery, and seeing the pictures that come out of it. I’ll be like, ‘oh my god, that’s me?!’. I’m quite vain, I like to look good, you know! Growing up, I didn’t feel like I was conventionally beautiful — so I wasn’t pretty as a kid, but now I get to be pretty!”
ON SELF-CONFIDENCE — AND HOW THE MODELLING WORLD ACTUALLY CELEBRATES HER UNIQUE FEATURES
“Growing up, I was tall and wasn’t very skinny, so I felt like I took up so much space. I was quite ostracised for looking different too, like my skin was very pale, and I was born in China too, so that was used as a means to pick on me. It did leave a lot of, well, emotional damage, but nothing about my past affects how I model today; when I’m doing a shoot, I get in the zone. It’s just that the self-doubt is still there.
Modelling, though, has really celebrated my features, especially since they were always seen to be ugly. People would basically describe how my eyes were very far apart, or how my nose was flat and all, but now, these features are being celebrated, people love it.”
Above: all makeup by LAURA MERCIER
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Golden, $49
Shimmer Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Amethyst, $49
Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara, $42
Tinted Moisturizer Blush in Sun Drenched, $48
Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Tone Up Rose, $70
Lip Glacé Balm Gloss in 35 Creme Brulee, $45
Mei Yue wears:
louis vuitton lv volt upside down pendant in pink gold, $3,800
THAT FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH
“It was from 2017, shot by Wanjie — and it was a test shoot too! That photo went so viral, and I honestly don’t know why. I remember feeling so cold while we were shooting. It was an outdoor shoot, the wind was so strong and I was standing in the water, and the entire time I was complaining about it! The photo got me a lot of opportunities.
It’s such a precious photo to me, because it really captured my innocence when I first started modelling, when I had the most ambition and drive. It’s such a good picture, and that everyone could see my effort and loved our work, made it more special, which is why I always get so emotional when those things happened.”
HOW SHE FELT WHEN HER LIKENESS WAS USED BY OTHER ARTISTS
“I just feel very used, violated, and exploited. I feel… powerless, like I have no control, which is why I fought back really hard. At the time, I couldn’t leave my house for a month, I couldn’t eat, I would wake up crying.
For the first incident [with the Singapore-based artist], I was like, yeah, you drew that, but it’s still my face, and you did admit to referencing my face. It’s just not fair at all. I feel like anyone with empathy and knowledge of intellectual property, would see that it’s not right. And the reason why I was so emotional about the second one [with the Russian artist] was that she drew me naked, and people were taking pictures of it; it had crossed another line. Even my parents were so angry.”
Above: all makeup by LAURA MERCIER
Roseglow Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Strike A Rose, $49
shimmer Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Burnished Bronze, $49
Matte Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Tuxedo, $49
Tinted Moisturizer Blush in Southbound, $48
Face Illuminator in Indiscretion, $73
Lip Glacé Balm Gloss in 150 Melon Sorbe, $45
Mei Yue wears:
clash de cartier hoop earrings (small), $11,200
clash de cartier ring in rose gold, $7,000
clash de cartier ring in rose gold (small), $3,200
WHETHER SHE REGRETS HOW SHE DEALT WITH IT
“I never asked for this. I’ve tried to reason with them, and the only thing they’ve done is ignore me or lie to me. I gave them the chance to make up for it, but they decided to ignore or lie to me, or say racist things. I don’t regret any of my actions at all. I feel like everything I’ve done is fair. Like, I can’t blame my reaction for something that was brought onto me.”
THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS
“So, 99% of people sympathised with me, and the 1% would probably never understand. There were really mean comments, but at some point, I didn’t have to reply to them anymore, because my followers were defending me. Honestly, that helped me so much! I felt that relief, like I didn’t have to think about this because somebody was already fighting for me. I’m so touched by that.”
SUPPORT FROM HER MODELLING AGENCY
“They can’t do much about it legally, but they’ve been very supportive with the public relations stuff, like helping me with journalists asking questions, and checking up on me to see if I’m okay. They do whatever they can to help me, and they have helped. My bookers are so supportive of me always.”
Above: all makeup by LAURA MERCIER
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Intense Taupe, $49
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Intense Moonlight, $49
Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Bleu Marine, $42
Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara, $42
Tinted Moisturiser Blush in Promenade, $48
Longer Lip Liner in Rosewood, $37
Lip Glacé Balm Gloss in 15 Vanille, $45
Mei Yue wears:
clash de cartier single earring in rose gold, $3.950
clash de cartier earrings in rose gold (small), $4,100
ON MOVING ON, AND GAINING A NEW PERSPECTIVE
“People still ask me about it, like if I go to a party, and even on dating apps! The only thing I want to do now though is to continue to put energy in myself and my work, to improve myself. I don’t want to waste any energy on this when I can’t do anything about it anymore. I’m not done fighting, I just want to shift the energy to myself first.
I’ve since gotten lots of advice from successful friends, and they told me, don’t waste energy and money on people who are losers, thieves as they are the ones who did wrong, and that these things only happen to people who are good at they they do. My friends helped shift my perspective so I wouldn’t be so stressed about it, and these make sense. It really woke me up.
At the end of the day, this work belongs to me and Wanjie, we were the ones who created the image; nobody else can replicate it no matter how hard they try.”
ADVICE SHE WOULD GIVE TO SOMEONE ELSE IN HER SITUATION
“Always speak up, don’t let it go. I think a lot of people tend to let things go because they don’t want to bother with it, but at least try to speak up about it, because it will help in some way. It helped me. Yeah, it did create a lot of emotional turmoil, to be spreading this story, reading comments, having so many people perceive it — which is a part of why I was so broken also, this other wave of attention — but at least I know I fought for it. “
AN IMPORTANT LESSON
“I definitely do dwell on my problems a lot, it’s very hard for me to get out once I’m stuck in the pit, but my friends made me realise I had to shift my perspective. As much as this terrible thing has happened to me, it has also shown me my friends, given me a chance to see that I have people who love me.”
Above: all makeup by LAURA MERCIER
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Intense Taupe, $49
Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Intense Moonlight, $49
Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Bleu Marine, $42
Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara, $42
Tinted Moisturiser Blush in Promenade, $48
Longer Lip Liner in Rosewood, $37
Lip Glacé Balm Gloss in 15 Vanille, $45
Mei Yue wears:
clash de cartier single earring in rose gold, $3.950
clash de cartier earrings in rose gold (small), $4,100
clash de cartier bracelet in rose gold (small), $9,900
WHY SHE’S CURRENTLY TAKING A BREAK
“To keep it real, I’ve been taking a break from everything, creating content, and I just stopped trying to be a model. I’m tired. I want to get away and be a human again, and not a personality or role model. I want to be chaotic and live life normally for a bit, before getting back into it full force. What happened has been so fresh, and it happened twice in two years.
I do want to influence people in the best way possible — that’s what I want to be for my friends, and of course, I want to be that for the people who support me. But for me to be that, I have to build myself up first. I, maybe, wasn’t very good at it when I was younger, when I was 18 or 19, but now that I’m 23, I know how impressionable even 18 year olds are, and want to be more responsible.”
WHAT SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO NEXT
“My current goals are to be more mentally healthy, and to heal. The way to do it is to surround myself with people who care about me, and who inspire me. When I’m back, I want to travel, do placements, do shows — meet my friends again!”
FOLLOW meiyue ON INSTAGRAM HERE.
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