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| Cooper Jian Lunde, 5, is a popular child model. Capture from the Instagram of "laurencooper0813" |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Two Korean-Canadian biracial child models for kids' wear have garnered popularity in Korea for representing the beauty of East and West. They are Lauren Hanna Lunde, 10, and Cooper Jian Lunde, 5.
The two models, who already boast solid careers, are not the only recognized biracial models in Korea. Perhaps the most well-known is Han Hyun-min, 17, a Korean-Nigerian who has hit the ground running as a worldwide fashion model. There are also numerous other personalities, such as Bae Yu-jin, who have been rising in Korea, and are aiming for the top.
So why are biracial models gaining popularity here?
"Multiracial people have unique appearances that make them look different from Koreans," Choi Sook-hee, the head of the Korea Fashion Stylist Association (KFSA), told The Korea Times. "People may find it more appealing to see them using Korean, the same language they use."
Choi said people's general perception also has changed in a positive way. Many people in the past were prejudiced against biracial people for their different looks, but most people now know how to accept diversity, Choi said.
"Still, most biracial models have their own stories of hardship," she added. "They must have struggled to fight against discrimination to walk the stage." Hence, their success impresses people by giving a lesson that effort does pay off.
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| Lauren's mother is Korean and her father Canadian. Capture from the Instagram of "laurenlunde_08" |
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| Korean-Nigerian fashion model Han Hyun-min was singled out as one of "the 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017" by Time Magazine. Courtesy of Hankook Ilbo |
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| Korean-Nigerian Bae Yu-jin is another rising biracial model. Capture from Bae Yu-jin's Instagram |
