Fil-Japanese model Rina Fukushi, 17, was discovered she was 14. However, she has already walked down the catwalk for Korean brand Fleamadonna, Japanese label Maruyama, and fashion giants Alexander Wag and Marc Jacobs. More recently she has been getting international attention for gracing the Paris Fashion Week when she walked for famous designer MiuMiu. She’s made waves in Tokyo, Paris, Milan, and New York.
Fashion bible Vogue has called her “ulta-cool” and “eye-catching.” The article even said that she can give supermodels like Gigi Hadid a run for their money. “
“Miu Miu’s star-studded casts are never short on top models, but even in the midst of Gigi Hadid and Anna Ewers, there are plenty new faces worth noticing. This season, Tokyo discovery Rina Fukushi joined Miuccia Prada’s runway girl gang, bringing an ultra-cool vibe and the kind of eye-catching beauty that makes casting directors sit up and take notice,” wrote Janelle Okwodu in Vogue.
“I always believed I could be a star from the moment I was scouted. But at the same time, I still can’t believe it’s real,” said Fukushi in an article by Agence France-Presse.
Fukushi’s fame comes with a price. She is juggling a punishing schedule which start at 7am and usually ends at 10pm. She only gets to sleep at around 1am, and she has to find time for her studies which she completes online.
She hopes to spend more time in New York when she finishes high school next year.
Fukushi can (partly) thank her diverse heritage for her unique look. She has a Japanese-American father and a Spanish-Filipina mother.
She was born in Manila, but her family flew back to Japan, which she evetually called home. But she can still speak Tagalog!
At 5’9,” Fukushi is considered “short” by Western standards.
However, this hasn’t put a damper on her appeal. After all, she is a huge fan of British supermodel Kate Moss, who stands at just 5’7.”
Fukushi clearly takes pride in her heritage.
“I like myself and I have confidence. What is wrong about being Asian or Japanese?” she says. “I don’t feel ‘I am sorry for being Japanese’. If I am confident that clothes look good on me, people don’t see anything wrong. So it doesn’t annoy me.”
