The definition of beautiful Asian ladies is an idiosyncratic and subjective topic. As the largest continent in the world, Asia comprises diverse ethnicities & communities. Among these, there can be found beautiful Asian ladies with different facial features and physical characteristics that uniquely accentuate their beauty. Therefore, in this article we will show you ten pretty Asian women from different parts of Asia. You will notice, that their beauty can be seen in different ways considering their big heart, confidence, determination, hard work, and perseverance.
1. Irina Shayk – Model (Russia)
Shayk gained international recognition in 2007 when she became the exclusive face of Intimissimi lingerie. Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and Versace, among others are just some of the fashion companies that she has modelled for. Her modelling journey started when she went to Paris at the age of twenty with no money or ability to speak French. She had hard times living there, because some of the models she lived with made fun of her and the modelling business itself was very competitive. Yet, in her mind, she did not want to go back to her hometown with nothing. After six months, she went to Barcelona where she finally made her first money.
2. Song Hye Kyo – Actress (South Korea)
Song gained her first huge recognition in Korea and throughout Asia for her leading role in 2000 television dramas ‘Autumn in My Heart’. Her popularity continued to climb as she played in other television dramas. Her early life was not perfect as people might have imagined. After her birth, she was so ill that her doctors and parents thought she would not survive. Nevertheless, at the age of fourteen, she won the first place in the Sunkyung Smart Model Contest, which helped her to become a model for the uniform school company. This then led to another great thing; she got her first role in her acting career. Song is not only beautiful, but also has a big heart, which can be seen through her active participation in voluntary works and her frequent donations.
3. Priyanka Chopra – Actress, Singer, Film Producer and Philanthropist (India)
Chopra became the first South Asian to star in an American network drama series called ‘Quantico’. At the age of eighteen, she became the winner of Miss World 2000 pageant. She also actively participated in philanthropic works. She has worked with UNICEF for the last twelve years and was appointed as the national and global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016 respectively. Despite all her accomplishments, her career journey was not easy. During her teenage years in the United States, Chopra sometimes faced racial issues and was bullied by an Afro-American classmate for being Indian. In addition, there were times where she had setbacks like getting criticised for her poor performances and unsuccessful films at the domestic box office.
4. Zhang Ziyi – Actress and Model (China)
Ziyi is renowned for starring in films like ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, ‘Rush Hour 2’, ‘2046’ and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. She gained popularity both domestically and internationally and won many awards and nominations for her great acting performances. Her bright career journey seems so smooth that people assume that her success occurred by chance. Yet, it was never the case. Zhang grew up poor and her parents’ life was not easy at all. Unable to enjoy dancing, she enrolled in the China Central Drama Academy in 1996. During that time, she felt like she did not belong there and was extremely uncertain about her acting skills. Until the second year, when she finally started to get a feel for performing. Her talent then led to her first role in starring a film ‘The Road Home’ by Director Zhang Yimou.
5. Kim Kardashian – Reality Television Star (Armenia)
Kardashian was initially known as Paris Hilton’s friend and stylist until 2007 when a 2003 sex tape with her former boyfriend was leaked. Later that year, she and her family began to have their own reality television series ‘Keeping with the Kardashians’ where people can watch their personal lives. In the first episode of the first season, Kim discussed with her family about appearing nude on Playboy magazine. Her decision to finally do it showed her confidence about her own body. In a conversation with Playboy, she said that models are usually typically skinny but that is not the case for her and she is proud of it.
6. Yukie Nakama – Actress, Singer and Former Idol (Japan)
Nakama gained her career breakthrough by playing Sadako in ‘Ring 0: Birthday (2000)’. In 2000, she showed her talent for comedy with her lead role in the Japanese television drama ‘Trick’, which became so popular that it had two more seasons and three film versions. However, it was the 2002 TV series ‘Gokusen’ that established her as one of Japan’s most popular actresses. Not everyone knows that she was born into a fisherman’s family. Yet, her popularity makes her a chosen spokesperson for Japan Railways and the Japanese Tax Agency.
7. Maria Sharapova – Professional Tennis Player (Russia)
At the age of seventeen, Sharapova beat Serena Williams in the final of Wimbledon. One year later in 2005, she reached the number one world ranking female tennis player. However, before her fame, she had to go through a difficult journey. Due to visa restrictions and a difficult financial situation, six-year old Sharapova and her father had to leave her mother behind in Russia, heading to Florida so that Sharapova could pursue her dream of becoming a professional tennis player. Unable to communicate in English and with just $700 in his pocket, her father took various low-paying jobs to fund her lessons until she was old enough to be admitted to the academy. Despite her difficult past, Sharapova turns out to be a generous woman supporting many charities and good causes around the world.
8. Anne Curtis Smith – Actress, Television Host and Singer (Philippines)
Curtis is better known for starring in the 2011 box office hit ‘No Other Woman’ and other hit movies like ‘Baler’, ‘Babe, I Love You’, ‘In Your Eyes’ and ‘A Secret Affair’. Her career started during her visit to the Philippines. Behind her father’s back, when she was twelve years old Curtis and her mother went to enroll Curtis in the pageant and then sign her up with an agency that offered her roles in advertisements. This finally led to her first film role as Princess Dahlia in the 1997 fantasy cult classic ‘Magic Kingdom’. This beautiful woman has also increasingly participated in charitable works including building school classrooms in the Philippines, becoming a celebrity ambassador for UNICEF and releasing a book, ‘Anita the Duckling Diva’, as a fundraiser for UNICEF.
9. Tuba Buyukustun – Actress (Turkey)
Buyu was the first Turkish actress to be nominated at the 42nd International Emmy Award for Best Actress with her performance as ‘Melek’ in ’20 Minutes’ (2013). Not only has she won many awards during her career, but she has also been a ‘UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador’ working as an advocate for Children’s Rights. Her career started when she played in TV commercials during her studies in university. Once she graduated, she got an interview offer from a famous Turkish film director and producer, which she declined twice at first, before eventually accepting. Regarding life, she stated in an interview that her goal is not beauty and fame, but finding herself. Although she has been in the limelight, she does not allow it to overshadow her personality and personal life.
10. Michelle Yeoh – Actress (Malaysia)
Yeoh emerged in the limelight after she started performing her own stunts in Hong Kong action and martial arts films in early 1900’s. Her acting in the films includes the James Bond film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and many more. In 1983, at the age of twenty-one, she won the Miss Malaysia beauty pageant, as well as the crown for the Queen of the Pacific 1983 beauty pageant in Australia. Winning beauty contests led her to an appearance in a television commercial with Jackie Chan, which caught the attention of D&B Films. However, her acting path was never her first option. She had to give up her dream of becoming a prima ballerina when she suffered a spinal cord injury.
Reading through this, it is clear that beauty lies first in imperfection. From this imperfection, whether it came from difficulties in childhoods or early stages of life journeys, these experiences led these beautiful Asian women to where they are now. These stories are hopefully able to inspire all pretty Asian girls out there to embrace themselves and be confident in their skin, because that is the power of accepting and will make them uniquely beautiful!
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