Tabitha Yuen

Who:

Tabitha Yuen -- @tabithasyuen_ -- 5'6" -- from Los Angeles, CA.

Where:

Los Angeles, CA

Agencies:

Minelli Management (LA)

- Did you always want to be a model? Tell us about how you were discovered.

I never saw modeling as a real possibility. It took strangers telling me, again and again, that I should try modeling before I actually began to believe it myself.

My dream is to become a Hollywood studio executive who greenlights underrepresented stories and content featuring people from marginalized backgrounds. I was fourteen years old when I started writing articles for Teen Vogue and covering red carpets on their social media. Interviewing actors of color like Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Lola Tung, and Anna Cathcart for Teen Vogue and Netflix—and hearing about their craft—made me become interested in acting.

I also thought that gaining on-set experience would help me become a studio executive who understands what talent goes through firsthand, not just from behind a desk. After graduating high school, I took a year off to find myself and pursue my creative passions. I studied acting, improv, and clowning, and fell in love with the craft. These creative spaces freed me up to express myself and discover who I truly am.

I landed my first gig as an extra on Euphoria Season 3 after responding to casting calls that I found on Instagram. I played a red carpet celebrity in the opening episode. On set, other Euphoria extras told me to consider modeling. One extra, who played a fan, even went across the entire set to tell me that she saw me during the scene and I must pursue modeling. I was very humbled by her encouragement and took it to heart. We remain friends to this day.

The very next day, I came across a casting call for a local runway show—no experience necessary. Even though it felt like a sign, I didn't think I had what it takes to be a model, so I decided to sleep on it. I woke up the next morning knowing I couldn't let self-doubt or fear of rejection stop me from at least trying. I got up and watched YouTube videos on how to walk a runway. I even studied my cat's "catwalk" to imitate her. My dad drove me to the open casting call, and, to my surprise, I booked it.

After that, I started steadily booking work and signed with my first modeling agent. Now that my gap year is almost up, it's wild to see how much my life has changed in less than a year. I've met incredible people, had experiences I never could have imagined, and truly found my community and place in life.

To this day, I still can't believe that I'm able to work as a model and to be honest, I shy away from calling myself one. I wear many hats: I'm a Teen Vogue journalist and Netflix host, an up-and-coming actor-in-training, an incoming UCLA student, and now, a signed model.

- What are your favorite forms of self care and why?

My favorite form of self-care is spending quality time with the people I love. That means curling up on the couch with my family to watch a great show while enjoying my parents' home-cooked meals (cut fruit for dessert is non-negotiable). It looks like catching up with old friends and making new ones. It's taking afternoon naps with my cat. Those moments help me slow down, stay present, and leave me feeling recharged.

- What other passions do you have aside from modeling?

My greatest passion is storytelling and championing stories that expand who gets to be seen, heard, and celebrated on screen. Since I was fourteen, I've had the privilege of working as one of Teen Vogue's youngest entertainment correspondents, interviewing actors, filmmakers, and artists whose stories are expanding what Hollywood looks like and inspiring the next generation of audiences.

That journey began during my freshman year of high school after I watched the film, "Turning Red." It was the first time I had seen a Chinese teenage girl at the center of a story. She felt like an authentic reflection of me in a way no character ever had, and for the first time, I saw myself on screen. That experience made me realize the power of authentic representation—and I knew I wanted to tell the world why a film like this mattered to a young Chinese American girl.

I wrote an op-ed about what "Turning Red" meant to me and cold-pitched it to Teen Vogue. To my shock, they accepted and published it as "Turning Red Made Me Feel Understood as a Chinese-American Teen." Seeing my words on Teen Vogue's homepage—and knowing they reached millions of readers—changed my life. It showed me how storytelling has the power to make people feel understood.

Since then, I've interviewed talent from all backgrounds, moderated panels for Netflix, and had the privilege of highlighting stories that might not otherwise receive the spotlight. One of the most meaningful parts of this work has been using my platform to uplift underrepresented communities by amplifying stories rooted in identity and representation while celebrating the actors, singers, and storytellers who inspire the next generation of young girls of color to see themselves reflected and dream bigger.

I want to thank my amazing family, whose support has been the foundation for everything I've done. I'm grateful to my mentors Kaitlyn McNab, Claire Dodson, Jillian Selzer, and Versha Sharma, as well as the entire team at Teen Vogue, Netflix's Emily Shimizu, Rohan Sheth, Alexia Garland, David Ninh, Shaina Manlangit, and the many others who have supported and guided me along the way. Because of their mentorship and belief in my voice, I've grown tremendously—not only as a journalist, but as someone committed to creating opportunities for others. Today, I mentor emerging journalists by helping them develop story ideas, connect with editors, and share their own perspectives, finding purpose in creating space for more voices to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

At the end of the day, what drives me is the belief that stories have the power to bring people together. Whether I'm walking a runway, performing a role on screen, interviewing celebrities of color on the red carpet, writing an article, or greenlighting a new film, I hope to create space for more people to feel seen, understood, and inspired.