Daniel Bertes

“Being part of a diverse agency is important because we tend to lose sight of what beauty is. It’s so easily forgotten. Having a place where you can be represented is rare, and for someone who is Black I don’t have a lot of places where I belong. Harmony HK is one of the rare places where I don’t have to try and fit in.

However, just getting to be in front of a camera or on a catwalk wasn’t enough, and her experience of being overlooked for not being a light-skinned model in Hong Kong gave her the motivation to generate change on a deeper level, so that others would not struggle as she had. In 2018, she founded Harmony HK, a modelling agency and media production house focused on representation for traditionally overlooked faces through fashion shows and art. Today, the agency represents 50 models selected for their uniqueness, including fellow refugees, ethnic minorities, plus-size models, people of colour and members of the LGBTQ community.

“I value confidence, attitude and individuals who want to add value to society, and I knew I needed to create a platform that highlighted the beauty and diversity that’s not often celebrated or appreciated in Hong Kong,” Ilunga says.

See also: Hong Kong's First Diverse Modelling Agency Pushes Back Against Prejudice

Jesse Gulieb

“We’re challenging the status quo of the industry through our diverse blend of talents. We’re paving the way for greater inclusion of cultures within the industry.”

Though there is a dearth of statistics on ethnic diversity in Hong Kong media, one 2017 study notes that mention of minorities in the press tends to be tied to “negative representation” and “scapegoating”, indicating an entrenched prejudice in society that is further ingrained by brands that shy away from casting a variety of faces in advertising campaigns. “Hong Kong is rich in diversity but this is not reflected in its media,” says Bidhya Shrestha, a Hong Kong-born activist of Nepalese descent, who founded the non-profit Aama Ko Koseli to raise awareness of the challenges marginalised women of colour face. “It’s a problem that can lead to a raft of mental health issues, from depression to low self-esteem and eating disorders.”

On their mission to normalise racially inclusive casting and champion beauty of all shapes and sizes, llunga and her team want to create a sense of belonging and acceptance, not just for their agency’s models, but for anyone who has felt that they don’t fit prescribed notions of beauty. Ilunga says, “When someone sees a resemblance [between] themselves [and what they see] on screen, it helps their self-esteem. Minority groups are often represented negatively in the media and the goal was to show Hong Kong what we are able to do when given the opportunity.”

Since launching her agency, she has put her words into action, hosting biannual fashion shows at venues like Volar and Eaton HK to spotlight minority talents and raise awareness of refugees in the city. At each of these events, 20 per cent of ticket sales are donated to organisations that support causes Ilunga cares about, including charities for female empowerment, refugee aid, education and the protection of children. To meet the needs of the wider community, in 2015 Ilunga co-founded Learning Together, an organisation that runs an educational programme for asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong aged from 15 to 25.

Jenny Suen

“It’s a struggle being a model in Hong Kong. Agencies always want skinny, tall, fair-skinned, untattooed models. As a woman who isn’t plus-size or skinny, I’m stuck right in between and I miss out on a lot of opportunities. So whenever someone recognises the talent I have and is willing to take a chance on me, it’s extremely fulfilling. I will never go back to beating myself up mentally, starving myself for a modelling job or shaping myself to be something I’m not. If you love modelling, you have to own it, regardless of whatever anyone else has to say,”

Now that she has a platform, Ilunga is ensuring she and her organisation keep learning and growing. This summer, she graduated from Andrews University in Michigan, via the Hong Kong Adventist College in Clearwater Bay, with a degree in psychology. And her agency is working with robotic automation company RPA (HK) to experiment with artificial intelligence as a tool to eliminate bias and add objectivity to the casting process by filtering out gender and cultural prejudices often faced by those seeking work.

Though there are signs of improvement, spurred by the discussions around racial equality happening all around the world as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement, Ilunga feels the Asian fashion industry still has a long way to go before it can claim to be truly inclusive. “It was hard being a Black model growing up and it still is. I cannot expect everything to change overnight, but with time things will be different. At least now we are having the conversation. The more people understand the value of diversity and representation, the better,” she says.

Sarah Khursigar

“Being a model with features that may be considered unconventional makes trusting my agency even more important. They need to know how to work with me and understand my needs, without the struggle usually associated with working as a foreign model.”

Anisha Thai

“There are very few mixed Asian and Black people in Hong Kong. Representing a minority that is underrepresented is something that makes me proud and pushes me to keep going. We are now breaking the rules. What is exciting about this journey is that, together, we are building a new avenue for models from all races and backgrounds.”

Ilunga hopes to emulate the success of singer Rihanna, who is shifting perceptions and paving the way for inclusivity in fashion and in beauty through her beauty and lingerie brands, Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty, which spotlight diverse models. To do this, Ilunga will spend the next few years expanding her reach within Asia before setting her sights further afield. “The goal is to go global,” she says. “My hope is that when people think of diversity and inclusion in modelling, the first thing that pops into their minds is Harmony HK.”

See also: Hong Kong's First Diverse Modelling Agency Pushes Back Against Prejudice