The Fight for Positivity

From the darkest depths of an eating disorder, fashion model Mia Kang has fought her way to the top. She opens up about her challenging childhood, how starving herself nearly killed her, and how martial arts helped her reclaim her power

By Coco Marett.

Growing up was confusing for Mia Kang. Born and raised in Hong Kong, the half Korean, half British model recalls her days at Discovery Bay International School, where she would be “bullied for having Asian food in my lunch box at primary school by the white kids. How crazy is that, to be bullied for being Asian in Asia?” says Kang, who is now based in New York. She was also picked on for being overweight. Tired of the merciless teasing, at 13 years old, Kang hung a poster of Tyra Banks’ 1997 Sports Illustrated cover in her bedroom, halved her weight, and was swiftly scouted by a modelling agency. It was the acceptance she had always hoped for; or so she thought—because even though she had transformed her appearance,…

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Tatler Hong Kong (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 2023

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