“Vogue China” Features 1st Biracial Black-Asian Model in Cover Story

Zhong Feifei has become the first biracial Black-Asian model to feature in a cover story of Vogue China.

The half-Congolese, half-Chinese singer, who shot to fame on the hugely successful variety show Produce Camp 2020, took part in the campaign shot by Urumqi-born photographer Hailun Ma for Vogue China’s September issue.

Zhong tweeted about her excitement, announcing to her fans that she had “become the first blasian to uncover Vogue China’s cover story.”

Did I just become the first blasian to uncover Vogue China‘ cover story? For September issue? I know that’s right👌🏽🤗 pic.twitter.com/tFMOKMHIeB

— Zhong Feifei (@ZhongFeifei5) August 6, 2021

Keeping with the trend of firsts, this was the first issue overseen by Vogue China’s newest and youngest-ever editor-in-chief, Margaret Zhang, who appears keen to set a new course for the fashion magazine.

Moving away from the tradition of supermodel- and celebrity-dominated covers, Zhang chose 19-year-old Beijing Sport University dance student Jinghan Fan to grace the publication’s cover.

Vogue’s global theme for all of its September editions is ‘New Beginnings.’ Zhang and “Vogue China spent several months scouting the country, and the globe, searching for the next generation of new faces — of diverse backgrounds, ages, sizes, stories,” according to Condé Nast, which publishes the magazine in collaboration with China Pictorial Publishing House.

Jinghan Fan, a 19-year-old dance student from Beijing Sport University, wows on Vogue China’s September issue cover. Image via Vogue China’s Weibo account

In this “new era for Vogue China,” a cast of new models was explicitly scouted for the shoot, which was primarily led by female creatives. Joining Zhong and Jinghan was London-based financial analyst Akane Wang, newbie model Luoyi from Chengdu, and aspiring actor Huiying Zhu.

The magazine’s photoshoot took place against the stunning sandstone formations of Zhangye National Geopark in Northwest China’s Gansu province — far removed from any of China’s big, bustling metropolises.

The choice of timing for the shoot also tied in perfectly to the ‘New Beginnings’ theme. Photographer Ma said, “it was Margaret’s idea to shoot at sunrise. It was very particularly timed because she thinks sunrise means new beginnings, hope, all the positive vibes.”

Cover image via Vogue China’s Weibo account