Meet Huang Long, The Content Creator Redefining Men’s Beauty In Vietnam
His fashion, makeup, and skincare videos have caught the attention of a modeling agency in New York—and much love from a certain global beauty empire owned by one of the world’s biggest pop stars
Cool confidence
At VMAN Southeast Asia’s Singapore launch party last November, Vietnamese model and content creator Huang Long was asked who should be on the next cover of the magazine. “Me!” He replied with a wide grin. A month after, his fearless declaration came true: Huang, alongside three of Vietnam’s rising stars in film, photography, and music production, made it to VMAN SEA’s first-ever digital cover.
It’s not the first time that the 23-year-old’s boldness and confidence worked in his favor. He unapologetically shows his love for men’s makeup, skincare, and fashion on Instagram and TikTok—combined, he commands a following of over 400,000. Months ago, his tutorial on using a lip liner for a subtle full-face look caught the attention of no less than Rihanna’s global cosmetics empire, Fenty Beauty. The brand has since reposted many of Huang’s videos; just this December, one of his tutorials on Fenty’s official Instagram account racked up more than a million views.
These numbers are impressive, especially since Huang only began posting content two years ago, and considering that the online space for creators is heavily saturated.
“I started [content creation] because I wanted to help other men like myself. In Vietnam—and everywhere in the world—people always say that men can’t wear makeup. I started at that moment because I thought, ‘why can’t we?’ So I started with tips, like how to contour your face or how to apply concealer and foundation,” the model shares. “I just want to create natural looks for men, teaching them how to feel more confident about themselves.”
In a way, Huang had great timing. With the enduring global influence of South Korean culture on men’s beauty and Generation Z’s openness to genderless fashion, style, and products, Vietnam’s young and cool men have ridden the wave, expressing themselves with more confidence and freedom.
But for Huang, his body of work draws from a more personal place.
Beauty in imperfection
“I’ve had a passion for the arts since I was young. I loved singing, dancing, drawing, and even performing imaginary monologues, as if I were my own co-star,” he recalls. “As I grew older, I began to understand who I really wanted to become. I realized that I didn’t enjoy drawing, singing, or acting. What truly excited me was seeing myself looking my best. From that moment, I aspired to be a content creator sharing beauty and fashion with others.”
But the spotlight wasn’t always bright for Huang. He admits going through many dark times as a kid. “I’ve gone through many challenges, especially during my childhood when I was bullied at school. Those experiences left me feeling small and voiceless. As I grew older, I wanted my voice to help others.”
“Many people in Vietnam and around the world who are like me have been bullied. I just want to help them feel more confident and show them that it’s not always going to be terrible—that when you grow up, you’ll have the chance to make yourself feel better,” Huang affirms. “That’s why I work towards normalizing men’s makeup, allowing people to feel more confident in their own skin.”
Make no mistake: Huang’s approach to beauty isn’t exactly the pursuit of perfection, but rather being comfortable with one’s own skin and highlighting what makes you unique. This is also something that comes across in his approach to fashion and style. “My relationship with fashion is very intimate and quite different. I don’t use fashion to show off social status; I embrace fashion because I genuinely love and understand it,” he says.
Over years of experimenting with different styles, Huang’s found a match in sensual and body-flattering outfits. But again, it goes beyond mere vanity. “These looks make me feel confident, highlighting both the beautiful and imperfect aspects of my body. Sometimes, imperfection itself is a fascinating kind of charm. I believe I’ll explore this style even more in the future.”
Huang’s earnest approach to beauty and imperfection—and unapologetically showcasing that on social media—seem to be paying off. “[An agency in New York] saw my content on Instagram and said, ‘Oh my God, we love your look and vibe!’ They sent me an invitation, and when I saw that they had many content creators like me, I thought that was cool. So yeah, I wanted to sign with them!”
Once a small and voiceless kid who just wanted to present himself in the best way that he could, Huang’s influence now echoes across borders. From Saigon to New York, from now until whenever, expect this young Vietnamese content creator to redefine what it means to be a beautiful, imperfect, yet cool man.
Photography Nhu Khoi
Creative direction Vic Lee
Fashion Freddy Nguyen
VMAN SEA Fashion direction Rex Atienza
Grooming Xi Quan Le
Hair Quan Le
Vietnam Art direction Huy Hoang and Nguyet Duong
VMAN SEA Art direction Mike Miguel
Retouching Dam Thoai My
Video Minh Luan Nguyen
Production Artclass Vietnam
Fashion assistants Dieu Vy, Minh Tuan, and Tuan Anh
Support Thanh Sang and Pham Huy Hoang
Sittings editor Patrick Ty
On Location Doan Van Bo Apartment
