“You Should Be a Model”—The One Comment That Changed Eddie Ying’s Life
Eddie never planned on being a model, but somewhere between a chance encounter in LA and the realization that he had never truly seen himself, he decided to change not just his own reflection—but the world’s
The Asian-American rewriting his own masculinity
In a world where the definition of masculinity has long been tethered to strength, independence, and emotional restraint, Eddie Ying is on a mission to rewrite that narrative.
Western culture often celebrates men for their power and self-sufficiency—qualities long associated with masculinity.
Meanwhile, in Eastern cultures, the emphasis shifts toward family, duty, and control over one’s emotions.
Eddie’s journey as a model and content creator is about bridging these cultural divides, and more importantly, expanding the definition of what it means to be a man in today’s world.
His path to becoming a model wasn’t planned. It was born from a seed planted by a chance encounter with a Hongkonger in Los Angeles, who saw something in Eddie he had never seen in himself: a model.
At 31, he had no plans to walk runways or pose for high-fashion campaigns. Yet, that offhand remark stirred something deep within him.
It sparked a curiosity about the industry and made him reconsider his place in the world of modeling—an industry where Asian men, like him, were often underrepresented, if seen at all.
“I hadn’t considered this path seriously until I met someone in LA who suggested I might be a model,” Eddie shares.
“That conversation made me question how I had seen myself, and how the industry had seen me. I wanted to change that.”
And change it he did. What started as a curiosity quickly turned into a full-blown pursuit of his vision to redefine Asian masculinity in fashion.
He reached out to a Taiwanese photographer, with whom he formed a strong connection, and together they began to create imagery that broke away from the mold.
Shattering the stereotype
Eddie was determined to stop asking why Asian men weren’t represented in major campaigns; instead, he started thinking about what he could do to change it.
The stereotype of the passive, quiet, and emotionally reserved Asian man has been pervasive in the media, often at odds with the bold masculine ideals celebrated in Western culture.
But his goal is not to simply challenge that stereotype—it’s to shatter it altogether. Through modeling and content creation, Eddie is showing that Asian men can be as complex, dynamic, and multifaceted as anyone else.
“The truth is, Asian masculinity is just as varied as any other. We’re often painted with one broad stroke, but I want to show that we can be confident, vulnerable, creative, and unapologetically ourselves.”
“I want to tell stories that not only celebrate my heritage but also challenge what it means to be a man in the first place.”
For Eddie, masculinity doesn’t have to be confined to a set of traits. It can be about strength, yes, but it can also be about softness and emotional depth.
His work embodies a fusion of Eastern and Western ideals—embracing familial duty while also recognizing the need for individuality.
As a model, Eddie has seen the industry slowly shift in terms of representation, but he’s quick to note that true change requires more than just the occasional “token” Asian face.
It requires a collective of voices working together, both in front of and behind the camera.
He points to director Jon M. Chu’s work on Crazy Rich Asians as an example of how representation should go beyond just showing faces—it should tell stories that celebrate the fullness of identity.
“I think the landscape is changing, but it’s slow. What I hope for is that Asian men are represented not just in media and fashion, but in ways that show their complexity and depth,” he muses.
“We need more Asian creatives in decision-making roles—directors, designers, editors—who can shape the narrative authentically.”
Beyond his own success, he is passionate about giving back to the next generation of Asian creators and models. He offers advice for those hoping to break into the industry and emphasizes the importance of resilience, clarity of purpose, and authenticity.
“Understand why you’re doing this. Let your purpose guide you. And know that success doesn’t come overnight. It’s about persistence and constant evolution.”
As an Asian man in the global fashion scene, he is modeling a new way of being. One where masculinity is no longer defined by a single standard but is instead celebrated in all its multifaceted forms.
Through his work, Eddie is showing that being a man can be many things: strong, soft, confident, vulnerable, independent, and connected—all at once.
In doing so, he is not only changing how the world sees him but also how the world sees masculinity itself.
And in that transformation, there’s room for all men, of every background, to redefine what it means to be truly themselves.
Read the story in the pages of VMAN SEA 02: now available for purchase!
Photography Henry Wu
