Asia Model Festival Awards Held in Seoul

Models from 11 Asian countries sauntered down the runway parading their svelte and shapely bodies at the 2009 Asia Model Festival Awards.

The event, hosted by the Korea Model Association and the Culture Ministry, marks its fourth anniversary this year.

Korea Model Association chairman Yang Eui-sig said, "The Model Festival Awards is held every year in Seoul to create a network among models, to promote cultural exchange among them and to create a model sub-culture."

The Korean pop culture wave has brought light to the Korean fashion industry with many people around the world wanting to dress like their favorite Korean stars. And Korea hopes the event will serve as a stepping stone for the country to position itself as the fashion hub of Asia, perhaps even as a leading world nexus of the industry.

A fashion show by Korean designer Andre Kim kicked off the event. Popular Korean stars and long-limbed Asian models including from Korea, China, and Japan posed on the catwalk.

Later on one female and male model from each participating country were given a Model Star Award.

Stars from Korea and abroad were also honored. Taiwanese actress Lin Chiling of the movie “Red Cliff 2” was among the winners.

Chiling said, “The fashion category is going to boom in the near future for sure. A lot of girls, they really trace and follow the Korean fashion, they think all the girls are so beautiful and set them as their standard and their models, as their goddesses."

Profits from the event will be donated to leukemia patients and orphans.

source: asianbite
credit: Chosun