Though it was summer in Europe, you could feel the morning chill in France. Lu Yan got up early. She was 19 and lived next to a railroad in Paris. She rented a 5 m2 room for more than 2,000 francs. The landlords were an old couple. She did not tell them she was a model,which was reportedly not a very respectable profession in France. She told them she was an overseas student.
Born in a village in Jiangxi province, Lu Yan has always dreamt of becoming a model. By Chinese aesthetic standards, the young lady hardly has the qualities that are expected of those on catwalks. A modelling company in China that has groomed a number of famous models refused to sign her up. In 1999, Lu could only work as a helper backstage at Ford's Supermodel of the World Contest held in Beijing. By chance, she was then spotted by a French modelling agency, which opened up a new career path for the unknown young lady. Lu went to France by herself. In the eyes of Europeans, Lu Yan has the features of Mongolians, Japanese and Vietnamese. She has a typical oriental face. Shortly after her arrival in Paris, she landed a modelling assignment for a shampoo advertisement. She had never thought of such an opportunity.
Lu had to meet many photographers from fashion companies and magazine houses every day. Her agents arranged all the appointments. At a show for GR' s new fashion series, she had to complete her turn on the catwalk at a swift pace while bringing out the best of the clothes she was wearing. As a newcomer from China, she found it pretty hard to adapt to the hectic schedules. Though Lu Yan per????ed quite well, the clothes were obviously a bit too large for her. The 1.78 m Chinese model has a smaller build than foreign models of her height. Her agents would only set appointments for her. Lu was on her own to get the jobs.
Lu Yan was a model of Metropolitan, a well-known French modelling agency. She often had to attend interviews with potential clients. Traveling on the subway, she would meet scores of young women like her, tall, slim and holding a pile of in????ation sheets. Paris needs a lot of models every day, and models from all over the world would come here to look for opportunities. Sometimes Lu could enjoy free meals while waiting for job interviews at potential clients' offices. She would try to chat with other candidates in awkward English. After all, language was the greatest barrier for Lu in a foreign land. Lu had to attend interviews and get jobs continuously in order to stay in Paris. Every model is like that.
Sometimes you will see huge fashion advertisements along Champs Ely sees Avenue. Only the top models would appear in these advertisements. Lu Yan aims to become one of them. Lu had been in Paris for some time, but she had not been to the famous tourist attractions such as the Louvre and the Church of the Sacred Heart. She had no friends in this foreign land. She was desperate to occupy herself with jobs. She was afraid of holidays, which meant she would have to stay in her room alone. For her, calling home in a familiar language from a phone box on the street brought the greatest joy.
