The ‘Bling Empire’ spinoff star may call New York home now, but for Tina Leung Hong Kong will always be her hometown and she shares with Tatler what she misses most about the city
You can take the girl out of Hong Kong, but you can’t take Hong Kong out of the girl.
Many might recognise Tina Leung as a familiar face on the global fashion circuit, or from Netflix’s Bling Empire: New York. But Leung’s journey started in Hong Kong, where she was born and later cut her teeth as a stylist and fashion editor for various publications, including Tatler.
In what felt like a full circle moment, Tatler caught up with Leung the night before the premiere of Bling Empire: New York, to talk about everything from her rise to fashion royalty to fighting anti-Asian hate with her posse, The Slaysians, and the simple hometown pleasures she misses the most.
See also: ‘Bling Empire’ star Tina Leung is a fashion rebel with a cause
“Hong Kong will always be a part of my heart,” says Leung. “I have so many fond memories, and wonderful friends who still live there, like Calvin [Wang], JC and Fei[ping Chang].”
Some of her favourite memories, she says, happened during Art Basel Hong Kong, the city’s biggest annual art fair, and the parties and events surrounding it. “[Art Basel] always takes place around the time of my birthday, and I remember never getting any sleep,” she says with a laugh, adding that she’ll be returning this year, and that it will be her first time back in the city since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
After such a long time away, what is the fashion icon and Bling Empire: New York star looking forward to most? Aside from catching up with friends, of course, she says she can't wait to “eat everything”.
