Model behavior

Hopes and hurdles

The tightening of Hong Kong's visa rules - coupled with the erosion of opportunities since the pandemic began - has created a new pressure point for models who'd hoped to remain in the region for an extended period and, perhaps, build their lives here.

"Previously, Hong Kong was a stepping stone for models to travel to the (Chinese) mainland in hopes of earning more," explains Lilian. But strict border controls in the wake of the pandemic have put paid to that.

"I wanted to save up some money, and then apply for a visa to the mainland," says Anastasiia Akhmameteva, a Russian model who's worked in Hong Kong since 2021. "If you go (to the mainland) for three months, you're guaranteed to make $15,000 during that time - there are many opportunities for (securing) such contracts."

Her visa application was rejected.

"The authorities told me that since I'm in Hong Kong on a model visa, they couldn't give me a model visa for the mainland - simply because it's not urgent," Akhmameteva says.

But then, stricter regulations have also been a blessing in disguise, as they've made the industry less competitive for those who've managed to stay.

"A lot of models couldn't provide proof (of income), so left immediately," Akhmameteva says. For her, moving to the mainland would mean an escape from the feast-or-famine situation the industry finds itself in Hong Kong: "Here, you can be jobless for a month - and then there's this one job where you'll make HK$70,000-90,000," Akhmameteva notes.

Todorova agrees, while sounding a more pessimistic note: "As amazing as modeling is - you can earn a lot of money from one job - you can also do a million jobs in magazines and only earn enough to cover your groceries."