This 23-Year-Old Singapore Model Just Walked Five Couture Shows
From attending accountancy classes at NTU, to walking for brands like Armani Prive, meet Chloe Chan, the latest up-and-comer from Singapore’s modelling scene.
23-year-old Singapore model Chloe Chan just made her Haute Couture Week debut this 2026 — walking for five shows, no less. Standing at 182cm, Chan hadn’t even planned on trying out modelling until two years ago, in 2024. Before that, she was an Accounting major at Nanyang Technological University and prepping for the office 9-5 grind through corporate internships like most students her age.
Now, she’s a full-time model represented by Basic Models Management, and just finished her very first Couture Week in Paris; walking for brands like Armani Prive, Julie de Libran, 3.Paradis, Georges Hobeika and Sonia Carrasco. She even slipped in a show for Cartier, modelling the latest chapter in the maison’s high jewellery collection, En Equilibre.
The entire experience? Tiring, but absolutely exhilarating. “I had back-to-back castings, fittings and shows everyday, the lethargy was getting to me towards the end of the week and my feet were desperately in need of a massage,” she tells us at F ZINE. “Despite this, I’m still immensely grateful for all the opportunities I’ve received and can’t be more happy to be able to be abroad and pursue something I’ve never imagined I was capable of doing.”
She gives us an inside scoop on her entire experience: from her fear and excitement from first getting the news, her preparation process, to being in the eye of the hurricane backstage, to what the future has in store for her.
Chan in action: strutting down the catweek at Armani Prive’s haute couture Spring Summer 2026 show.
Name: Chloe Chan
Age: 23
Star sign: “Libra…I actually have a ton of Libra placements. Too much for my own good…”
Let’s start from the beginning, how did you get into modelling?
“I actually got into modelling through Basic Models’ open casting in 2024. Credit goes to my mom though, she’s the one who kept persuading me to try it out. Funny thing is: she’s been trying to convince me since I was 16, but I was heavily against the idea of modelling back then.”
Chan sneaking a shot at the Armani Prive runway casting. “We were waiting for nearly an hour and a half for the casting to start,” she says, “But castings are always fun, you get to meet other models... it’s always nice to bond over shared modeling experiences and similar passions.”
So what pushed you to pursue it in the end?
“I finally caved in 2024 because while studying accounting at university, I realised that accounting and office life just weren’t for me. As privileged as it may sound, I really wanted my 20s to be enriched with exploration and different experiences. Also, after hearing that I would have the option to go for placements abroad thanks to my height, I was immediately sold. So, I turned up for the open casting!”
This was also your first haute couture season, describe it in three words.
“Cold. Exhilarating. Chaotic.”
What went through your mind when you got the news that you’d be walking for brands like Armani Prive?
“My agent in Paris voice-messaged me and congratulated me on getting confirmed for Armani. Honestly, my first reply to myself was, “Oh dear…” I was just scared, haha. Knowing it was couture, I’d have to walk the runway in heels, which is still a work in progress, and I was afraid of falling in such a big show.
But after I texted my mother agent, Bonita, and told her that I was confirmed for Armani, seeing her positive reply of “Nice!” (which is very rare) made me feel less stressed and for a moment, proud of myself.”
Chan, preparing to walk for Armani Prive.
It does sound pretty daunting, and five shows for your first couture season is a lot — how did you prepare yourself? Do you have any pre-casting or show rituals?
“Before any casting or show, no matter how early the call time is, I have to have a good, yummy breakfast. I’ll wake up extra early to make myself a cup of coffee and some variation of a yogurt granola bowl — it’s a must-have before I start my day.
As for casting preparation, I guess I don’t really do or say much. I think I’ve changed my mindset around castings — rather than seeing them as events where I have to make sure I perform well, which can stress me out, I now think of castings as a chance to meet new people like other models, designers, and casting directors, and even try on their clothes for fun. With this mindset, castings have been really fun this season. I’ve met a lot of people who were surprised to find out that I’m from Singapore, and I always love sharing about Singapore, as well as learning about their hometowns.”
What goes on behind the scenes for a fashion brand’s runway show? Chan has some first-hand experience: “I absolutely loved my look, I’m big on blazers and anything teal or green. At the fitting, [the models] get put into outfits that the Armani team thinks look best based on your physique. Afterwards we’ll proceed to a separate room to walk for Silvana Armani where she’ll get the last say on your look and then confirm you for their show!”
Any major highlights from your first Haute Couture Week?
“It would definitely be the day I had two shows. They were an hour and half apart from each other, so after I finished my first show for Julie de Libran, I was whizzed off to the second show on a motorbike. This was my very first motorbike experience by the way — and riding through the streets of Paris?! An insane first-time experience. I was high on adrenaline all through my second show.”
How would you describe your walk?
“Ooh, I love a good fierce walk in any flat shoe, of course. I tend to lean forward slightly, as if I’m charging forward. I also take larger strides and purposely bend my knees more to propel myself up, giving my walk more of a bounce.”
On the backstage chaos of runway shows, Chan says, “You’re pulled and pushed around to get makeup done, hair stylists are rough due to time pressure. But we make do, as long as the team is happy with the outcome, I’m happy too.”
Who is your runway role model?
“Liu Wen! I’ve been watching her walk in Victoria’s Secret shows since I was a kid.”
What’s next for you?
“Walking for bigger luxury fashion houses is definitely a goal in the future, but after this season, I’m excited to work with more fashion houses that have unique creative directions that allow models to really get into their element and work their look. Like for the 3.Paradis show, the creative direction team really wanted us to walk strong like mafia bosses and I thought that was so, so fun to do.”