ABOUT ME

Oops, it's Eli here! 👋

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It turns out modelling isn't just about looking pretty in front of cameras.

 

For me, it's been an unexpected teacher of some pretty valuable life lessons—confidence, empathy, and the art of embracing who I am.

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Making different looks deliberate? It's not exactly what I planned.

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But sometimes, the scenic routes lead us exactly where we need to be.

 

I'm sharing my modelling adventures (yes, including the awkward moments) because I've learned that our so-called "flaws" often end up being our greatest strengths. Every curve has a story, after all.

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Let's get real for a second.

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Even as a signed model, my brain likes to play this fun game of self-doubt.

 

Some greatest hits include:

 

Some greatest hits include:

• "5'9" is too short" (tell that to my doorframes)

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  "Scoliosis and lipoma don't belong on the runway" (spoiler: they do)

• "Not masculine enough" (whatever that means)

• "Too skinny" (yes, Asian metabolism is real)

• "What if I mess up?" (spoiler: I sometimes do, and the world keeps spinning)

And yeah, the list goes on... (trust me, my internal monologue could write a bestseller)

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These thoughts used to be my constant companions, making me feel like an imposter in the industry. My confidence was at rock bottom, and it was affecting everything - from bookings to my daily life.

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Then, something shifted.

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I realised talent is just one piece of the puzzle. So, I started this self-healing journey - less about becoming perfect and more about understanding that every detour adds character to your story.

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Here's a cool trick I picked up from "The Charisma Myth" (thanks, Olivia Fox Cabane!). Instead of the usual "I'm not good enough" narrative, I learned to reframe it:

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"Hey, feeling uncertain because of those past comparisons? That's valid. But you're here because you're uniquely you. And that's exactly what makes you valuable."

 

One tool I’ve found particularly empowering is reframing my inner dialogue. Instead of saying,

"I am inadequate", I now tell myself:

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So here I am—taking the scenic route through life, turning plot twists into power.

Remember: you're beautiful, exactly as you are. Think of yourself as a human version of a scenic route - every bend, every curve, every unexpected turn makes your journey uniquely yours.