Yara, From a Small Village in China to New Zealand’s Fashion Spotlight

Staff Writer: Yiyi Xie
Image Source: Supplied

In January 2024, just two months after moving to Auckland, 26-year-old Chinese girl Yara, received an unexpected email: New Zealand’s top fashion magazine, Fashion Quarterly, wanted her for a photoshoot.

With us, Yara shares her story of growing up in a small village China, and how she ended up at one of Auckland’s leading modeling agencies.

Finding Strength in Freedom

I was born in 1998, in a small village in Dazhou, Sichuan Province, China.

Growing up, I had two younger sisters. My parents worked hard to support us, trying their hands at everything—running restaurants, owning a brick factory, working in mines, and even managing orchards. But money was tight, and income was never steady.

Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to grow up in a family like this. My parents were always busy, but they trusted me and my sisters fully, giving us a lot of freedom. Whenever I faced a big decision, they would tell me, "We have faith on you, you’re old enough to decide for yourself."

When I started university, my dad would give me all my living expenses for the semester in one go, leaving it up to me to budget. He wasn’t trying to teach me a lesson—he just didn’t have more money to give. It was his way of ensuring I could get by.

During my freshman year, I wanted to join a work-study program in the U.S., but it was expensive, especially for a rural family like mine. It seemed like an outrageous request. But when I told my dad, he said, "If you want to go, I’ll find a way."

It wasn’t until later that I learned he had borrowed money to send me. He never mentioned how hard it had been for him. In my memory, he never complained or made us feel guilty about our family’s financial struggles. He just found a way to make things work.

This upbringing gave me the confidence to be independent and courageous. Every time I wanted to explore a new path, my dad would always say, "Go ahead, I’ll figure it out."

We weren’t wealthy, but I never felt deprived. I spent freely, unaware of how hard it was to earn money until I started working myself.

Building a Modeling Career from Scratch

I’ve been tall and slim since I was a kid, and people would often joke me I had the "look" for modeling. But back then, I never took it seriously. Growing up in a small village, it seemed like a far-fetched dream.

During university, I helped a classmate with a photoshoot, and that’s when I had my first taste of modeling.

After graduating in 2020, I worked at an English training institute in Chengdu and dabbled in some videos that gained a bit of attention online. I switched jobs and cities a few times, eventually returning to Chengdu to model for an e-commerce startup a friend was launching.

But modeling was still more of a side gig for me. I didn’t have professional guidance or training, and I was far from being a full-time model. I knew the industry was unpredictable, heavily reliant on luck and market trends, but I never stopped practicing—perfecting my poses, working on my expressions, always improving.

Things took a turn when I casually submitted some photos to a modeling scout in 2022. Although their feedback wasn’t great—"Your expressions need work"—I posted about the experience online. To my surprise, a modeling agency in Chengdu reached out to sign me.

That’s when I started to take modeling seriously. I got into more professional shoots and began building a social media following, sharing my style and outfits, which gradually attracted some fans.

Life was comfortable—no 9 to 5 schedules, good income, and lots of free time. But I’m not someone who settles easily. I always want to explore more, see more of the world.

In 2023, my cousin and I decided to apply for New Zealand’s Working Holiday Visa. We both wanted a change, and my parents, who had long grown used to my independence, supported the move.

In November 2023, my cousin and I packed up, left our jobs, and landed in Auckland.

A Bumpy Start and an Unexpected Break

Before I moved to New Zealand, I told myself to treat it like a vacation if I couldn’t find work right away. But reality hit hard. As I watched friends struggle to find jobs, I started feeling anxious too.

The truth is, Working Holiday Visas don’t offer the dream lifestyle you often see on social media. Finding a job requires strong language skills, and physical work isn’t for everyone. If your savings run low, the stress can build quickly.

But I tried to stay calm and adjust my mindset. On days when I wasn’t working, I made sure to fully enjoy the "holiday" part of my visa. I told myself, "Worrying won’t help. Don’t doubt yourself. Sometimes things don’t work out because of the circumstances, not because of you. The key is to get out there and explore. Don’t just lie in bed."

I also reached out to my modeling agency in Chengdu, hoping for some overseas opportunities. And then, the unexpected happened. Just two months after arriving in New Zealand, I was signed by one of Auckland’s top modeling agencies.

Soon after, I was invited to shoot for Fashion Quarterly. Suddenly, I found myself stepping into New Zealand’s modeling scene.

A Different World of Modeling

Modeling in New Zealand is very different from back home. New Zealand is a small country with just over five million people, and the market reflects that.

Almost all models here are signed to agencies with long-term contracts. Freelancing isn’t as common as it is in China. And the agencies here take a much more laid-back approach—there’s less focus on creating a specific image or brand for their models.

Back in China, I would have been considered a newcomer, but in New Zealand, with the experience I had under my belt, I was seen as an experienced model.

Getting a magazine shoot had always been a goal of mine, but in China’s competitive market, it seemed far out of reach. I never imagined that moving to New Zealand would help me achieve that dream so unexpectedly.

Now, alongside my modeling work, I’ve taken a part-time job at a café on weekends. It’s an extra source of income and a way to experience life in New Zealand more fully.

Maybe I inherited my dad’s restless spirit—always on the move, trying new things. I’ve come to realize that no matter what you choose, challenges are inevitable. Each moment in life is fleeting, and if you don’t enjoy it now, you’ll regret it later. After all, how could I imagine to live and work in New Zealand?

As for what’s next? I’m not sure. If I get an Australian Working Holiday Visa, I’ll definitely head there next. I’m not one for rigid plans, but one thing’s for sure—the world is vast, and I haven’t seen enough yet.