Cover Story: Alicia Amin is free from fear (featuring Fendi)
Alicia Amin doesn’t shrink back from adversity — she is resilient and courageous enough to face challenges head on and keep going after them.
I first met Alicia Amin a few years ago. That was our only meeting. As such, when I arrived in the studio at 9 o’clock in the morning and noticed her in the makeup chair, I figured I should reintroduce myself to her just in case. “We met before John,” she chuckled. Yes, that’s the Alicia I recalled meeting, I thought to myself. Direct and straightforward but emanating tremendous warmth and genuineness whenever she cracks a smile. I excused myself to enable the hair and makeup team to perform their magic, and Alicia almost instantly collapsed back into the chair and stopped chatting — and then the caffeine from her hot oatmilk matcha set in. “For fashion shows, I always take my oatmilk matcha and duffel bag to the quietest corner and make it my home,” she later shared with me, and added, “For photoshoots, once my coffee or matcha kicks in — as you saw today [laughs], I start singing and dancing and keep my energy up throughout the shoot,” And no, she wasn’t exaggerating since that’s exactly what she did.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt about yourself through your modelling career?
I’ve learnt that I’ve got incredibly thick skin and that I’m a lot more flexible, both physically and mentally, than I ever thought I could be. I’ve been constantly surprised and forced to adapt to many situations, and if I could show my 15-yearold self what I have pulled off, I think she would be amazed.
Do you feel that you have achieved what you want as a model yet?
My answers to these questions seem to change daily [laughs]. Lately, I find myself on the fence between graciously stepping down and focusing on my acting career or giving the international circuit one last shot.
How do you think the industry can better address issues of cultural appropriation?
When we include more people from diverse backgrounds and their stories and feelings, we become more sensitive to their struggles and the deeper meaning behind their culture. Having these conversations and considerations makes it easier to avoid making light of something that traditionally, in another’s culture, is sacred or carries more weight than we can imagine. Also, learning how to respect and honour these limitations forces us to be more tasteful and creative in our delivery. It makes real diversity come to life and is not just a performative measure to keep up with changing times.
What is your opinion on the current state of body positivity in the industry?
I think one of the best examples of proper body positivity is Savage x Fenty as they’ve left no one out. Locally, we have a few amazing plus-size faces, which is a win, but we are still lacking in the love for mid-size models. I still hear cruel whispers about someone gaining weight or models getting older. It bothers even me; I am constantly worried about my age and the natural progression of a woman’s body, so I don’t think Malaysia has achieved it, but hats off to the brands and bookers who are changing with the times and holding space for all bodies.
How do you think social media has impacted the modelling industry?
I’m a model who has benefited from social media. Sometimes you have to force people to see you, and social media is just that tool. It gives models the opportunity to show themselves and earn extra money. Even for bookers and photographers, you can come across new talent just by scrolling through your phone. Social media doesn’t account for one’s skill level because some people are good at taking their own photos but can’t pose for a photographer, but it’s less tedious than stopping someone on the street.
What is your definition of beauty?
Beauty is anything that moves me. It gets me excited and makes me not want to look away. Watching a sunset, watching animals play on an open field, every photo a creative director selected of me, my friends when they are happy, or even my reflection in the mirror after a good cry — they’re all beautiful to me.
How do you think the industry can better support models’ mental health and wellbeing?
Pay all models on time. Pay all models fairly. If you’re putting us on a billboard, it’s chargeable monthly in the thousands. Brands make so much money from our work; we work hard and long and are subjected to such shallow scrutiny. Give us the monetary compensation we need to eat properly, exercise, and see therapists if necessary. Model call-times should be within reason. Food and water should be provided at shoots and shows if we are standing by for long hours. Models will take care of themselves if the resources are given to them. Yes, all the current brands, bookers, and publications I work with do this. But I will never forget my early days, where I was subjected to terrible working conditions and unfair compensation simply because I didn’t know any better.
What is your opinion on over Photoshopping — and the effects it may have on the models and society?
On one end, Photoshop helps sell the fantasy. We will not achieve the whimsical nature of Tim Walker or the colours of David LaChapelle without Photoshop, and fashion is a fantasy. On the other hand, if you dive too deep into that fantasy, reality becomes a bad place. I’m not sure about other models, but for myself personally, when I look at a heavily retouched photo of myself, I just accept it as part of my job as a model. That was the vision. I am not personally offended. I do not wish to look like that either.
Now we have apps and all these controversies surrounding celebrities editing their photos on Instagrams with filters. It gets to us. Someone out there is prettier; they’ll get booked, not me. That’s the thought process, and it hurts.
As models, we need to stay true to our snaps. The one who gets booked is the one who rocks up to that casting or turns up to that shoot in a rush at 6 a.m. with hair still half-wet out of the shower. If we can somehow learn to remember that as often as we can, we will manage to keep our sanity. Besides, every time a makeup artist touches our face, we kind of look different anyway. If you can’t fight it, keep an open mind, and give yourself a lot of pep talks; that’s my advice and how I survived it.
How do you think the industry can better address sustainability and environmental concerns?
Although I think everyone plays a part, the larger corporations in the world should do more for the world in terms of sustainability and the environment. I’m sure everyone already practises some form of “green” living. However, I think there needs to constantly be conversations about sustainability to encourage these larger corporations to make a change. We can only recycle and upcycle so much, you know!
What is your opinion on the pressure to conform to certain beauty standards in the industry? Do you have any personal experiences that you won’t mind sharing with us?
Yes, I am so afraid of gaining weight now [laughs]. Like, FEARFUL! During my younger years, I was called out for having chubby cheeks and thick thighs. On AsNTM, they tried to make flawsome a thing, but thinking back... Why are my thighs even a flaw? Why even use the word “flaw” to describe them? I was a 55kg, 175-cm-tall, 21-year-old girl.
I understand the requirements of being lean and fitting into a sample size, and proportions make all the difference in photographs, but my pear-shaped body is no longer my worst enemy; I just learned how to utilise it. I had an extremely stressful time back then, but my life is in balance now. I have a system that allows me to eat whatever I want while maintaining the figure and stamina needed for my work.
I am aware that not everyone’s story ends happily, and many people experience body dysmorphia and eating disorders because of these experiences. I think times are different from when I was younger, and the media representation of the female body is much healthier now, but it does cause an imprint, especially in young girls, as it did with me.
I managed to pull away from it because I managed to focus on other aspects of my modelling: ideas, shapes in poses, how I handle clothes, etc. I stayed away from typical poses, always trying to bring something new. When I was convinced that my value as a model was in how I made the final image look with my skills and extensive study of pose and not simply the shape of my body, my own relationship with my body improved. I’m 28 years old, and what happened 13 years ago still sits there rent-free in my mind. It’s not great, but it’s better.
What is your opinion on the use of models as brand ambassadors and influencers?
Models as brand ambassadors are pretty much like being the face of a brand plus a little more work. If we are compensated fairly for our experience, it should be advantageous to us. If a model can develop the skill set of an influencer as well, go for it. It’s an expansion of the skills we already have. We lose nothing and possibly gain more. To each their own, but there’s nothing wrong with doing or not doing it in my opinion.
You staged an extremely brave solo protest at KL Fashion Week for delayed model payments last year. What is your opinion on the role of experienced models not only in promoting change in fashion, but also social and political?
Malaysia has a long way to go before being able to be a fashion capital. Many large brands and companies take advantage of models and talents by lowballing them and offering fair pricing only to celebrities or those who have the privilege of management.
Because of this status quo, it forced me to elevate my identity as a model into that of an actress a couple of years ago in hopes of gaining some celebrity status to demand a fair wage. I will never not be a model; I will never forget my roots, and because I care so strongly about the industry that made me who I am today, I have done and will continue to do whatever I can in my power to improve the landscape. The protest was one of my ways of giving back.
While I wish others took this stance, it’s difficult for me to criticise others who aren’t or weren’t able to make the decisions I made. Post KLFW, many senior models and celebrities stood by me, albeit silently, and while I understand the Asian culture of not stirring the pot, we do need to improve as a community when it comes to calling out those who exploit and mistreat as a way of supporting the new generation and improving the working conditions.
This responsibility shouldn’t fall on any specific group of people, I think the whole industry should work together to assure fair compensation, fair treatment, and being paid on time. If it happens to one of us, it’s happening to someone else, so please learn how to watch each other’s backs.
What is the most common form of workplace misconduct — and how do you think the industry can better address issues of misconduct?
Bad paymasters, low rates, and unfair cancellations or withholding of payments. Since the KLFW incident, youngmodels and talents have messaged me to ask for advice on handling situations. I think models need to learn how to read contracts collectively. All of us need to be stricter with what we sign. Having the fear that “if I don’t sign this contract as is, someone else will” is only a detriment to our industry.
While I condemn people who take advantage of models or freelancers, we need to learn how to protect ourselves. Unionising is something that has crossed my mind, but as I’ve said before in my press statement about this issue, it is a heavy burden to bear, and while I do care, I am not able to drop everything to handle it on my own. It’s a communal effort; everyone must step up together.
How do you stay motivated and focused in such a competitive industry?
During the early days, when I wasn’t getting booked because I was simply “too edgy”, I flooded my book with “pretty” shots. When someone said maybe Alicia can’t pull off a certain idea, I would do a test shoot with that exact concept and post it online. Now they say “Ah, it’s you; anything I put on you, you’ll figure it out”. The combination of teenage angst to prove people wrong and developing my discipline and professionalism is my deadliest weapon.
What is your fondest memory of your career so far?
I’ve done some pretty hardcore stuff in my 13 years, but my best feel-good memory was when I walked a show where Bella Hadid was a guest. Bella Hadid watched me walk, and we even took some pictures together afterwards.
How do you handle criticism or negative feedback?
There are only five people in the world right now to whom I’ve given the power to dictate some of my actions, words, or appearance. If they don’t like something, I’ll do something about it. But for anyone else, I’ve learnt to graciously hold space for people’s opinions while not taking them personally.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in modelling?
No matter what, keep your chin up and listen to your body. The mirror is your best friend but also your worst enemy; learn how to tell the difference. If you can’t walk, keep walking until you can. If you can’t pose, keep practising until you don’t realise you’re doing it. Also, Study of Pose is your bible.
You’re also as passionate about acting as you are of modelling. Is fulltime acting your ultimate career goal?
I’ve hit the glass ceiling in Malaysia as a model; my dreams need to be carried over to Milan, Paris, New York and London if I want to try and grow. I care a lot about my newfound passion as an actor. I don’t know if my talent and hard work will get me to the world stage, but I know that acting is where I want to end up. Will I give up modelling? Perhaps; it’s difficult to say.
Our May 2023 "Freedom" issue featuring Alicia Amin in Fendi will be available in selected major bookstores and newsstands in Malaysia and online on www.magzter.com.
Cover Credits:
Photography Chee Wei Lock
Creative Direction & Styling Colin Sim
Makeup Sharman Yee, PLIKA MAKEUP
Hair Juno Ko
Hair Colourist Maeda Riko, HAIR MOVEMENT BY DICK CHIN
All Clothing & Accessories Fendi
