The London-based Malaysian model and freelance social media strategist shares her unlikely start in modelling and her growing commitment to sustainable fashion
In her school years, it seemed like Arinna Erin Wira was primed to enter the world of modelling, chancing upon casting sessions for huge commercial roles on more than one occasion.
There was only one problem – she hated being in front of the camera. Years of being bullied in school had eaten away at her self-esteem, and she still describes her high school days as some of the worst she experienced in her teens.
Born in Toledo, Ohio in the US, 25-year-old Arinna Erin spent 6 years of her childhood in London before moving to Malaysia in 2005, where she started attending secondary school.
It’s a bizarre backstory to match with the slender, stunning model today, who just wrapped up a dream job in 2019 collaborating with Nike for the Victory Swim collection, the brand’s first swimwear line targeted at Muslim women (the collection is available online from February 2020 onwards).
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Her great strides championing diversity in modelling haven’t kept her from pursuing other causes close to her heart, like ethical fashion and conscious consumerism (we can safely say we don't know many other models who own less than 10 outfits in their wardrobe).
Below, the free-spirited Brunel University London grad tells us what the recent experiences of her career mean to her, and why she loves modelling more than ever today.