Interview with Mia Kang

Mia has been in the modeling industry since she was 13 and was the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search contest winner and featured in the 2017 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Not only has she had a successful modeling career, she also holds a Master’s Degree and has worked in the financial industry briefly while on a break from modeling.

Mia credits Muay Thai as a major turning point in her life as the martial art helped teach her to love herself. She has now used this to help spread the positive message regarding healthy body images and to show the modeling industry that all shapes and sizes are beautiful.

We had the chance to catch up with Mia to discuss her personal background and professional career and are pleased to present this interview.

Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.

Background: The Basics on Mia

When and where were you born?
I was born in Hong Kong in 1988. My mom is Korean and my dad is British.
Back then it was still a British Colony and both my parents were there for business. That ended up being home and they are still there. All of my mom’s family is out in Seoul.

Where were you raised and where do you currently reside?
I was raised in Hong Kong and I’m currently mainly between New York and Thailand. I have a place out in Thailand and I train out there so, to be honest, anytime I go back to Asia I go to Thailand.

How did your parents meet?
They actually met in Taiwan. Both of them lived in Taiwan and met there and moved to Hong Kong for business.

Do you have any siblings?
I do and I am the youngest. I have all older and we are all mixed. My brothers are half British and half Taiwanese. We have the same father but their mother is Taiwanese. My sisters are half Korean and half Brit. We have the same mother but different father. It is quite bizarre because we are all Eurasian and when we are together you can tell we are related but we all look different.

How well do you speak/understand Korean?
I would say 30%. Not very much but when I was little I was fluent. Obviously growing up in a household with my mom I would speak it every day and was fluent and would go to Korea a lot and visit family. I taught myself how to read and write and over the years honestly it has just faded. It’s a shame but the foundation is still there and I believe if I was to go to Korea for two weeks I reckon I would be fine and would be able to pick it back up.

What is your favorite Korean food?
Oh my God, where do I even begin? I have to say that one of my favorites is dolsot bibimbap. I would eat it every day if I could. I would say another favorite would be LA kalbi. I love Korean snacks, the ones you can buy at the store.

Are you a fan of soju?
Oh, I’m a fan! It is really underrated. I think sake is so popular but soju is really underrated.

How often do you go to Korea and when was the last time you have been?
Rarely, to be honest. The last time I went was about four years ago for work. The modeling industry in Korea is thriving and is a really good market. When I was based in Asia I would go quite often. But just logistically being based in America the opportunities to go back are less. I wish I could go back more.

Did you grow up around other mixed Koreans and Asians?
Loads. I went to an international school and there were a whole bunch of mixed kids. Especially in Hong Kong where there is a huge expat community as well. It was normal to be hapa. Now being in America I find it a lot more rare. I feel like when we see each other we ask what mix we are; it’s like this instant bond.

Did you ever experience any identity issues while growing up?
There was definitely some identity issues but I felt like it was more sizing yourself. Growing up in a place like Hong Kong where there was the international school with the western kids and then the Asian kids and you had to figure out where you fit in. Typical high school stuff but more racially aware and cultural difference. I think it is important for mixed kids to not succumb to the pressure and you don’t have to fit in to one or the other. You don’t have to fit into a box in that sense and you can create your own box and just be yourself which is what I eventually figured out. It was also difficult for me because I was a third culture kid. My mom was from one place, my dad from a second place and I was growing up in a third place. What culture do I identify with? Kids would go home for the summer like the British kids would go back to the UK for the summer and that was their home and they have their culture and drank tea and ate crumpets. For me, I didn’t really have that because I was from these three separate places. I think it is important for kids to know that you can be who you are and there is no need to conform to one particular culture. Being mixed I think is advantageous because exposed to different cultures and you take what you want from the cultures and make who you are.

What do people think you are ethnically?
Oh my God it varies so much. It is so funny because I find that when I’m in Asia they think I am western and when I’m in the west they think I’m Asian. It is very rare to get people who ask me if I’m mixed. People just assume that you are one thing and want to put you into a box. I get anything from Kazakhstan to Brazilian. I get Mexican a lot here. It also depends on if I’m tanned and if my hair is lighter. I get all kinds of stuff.

Modeling and Muay Thai

At what age did you begin modeling?
I started modeling when I was 13. When I was 13 I got scouted out in Hong Kong and got brought into a modeling agency. I immediately started working and it has been pretty much nonstop since then.

Was modeling something you were always interested in?
No, not at all. It was actually the opposite; I grew up really overweight and got bullied at school. I had a tough childhood in that sense. That was never an aspiration of mine and never thought it was in the realm of possibility. When I was 13, I lost a whole bunch of weight, shot up like six inches, and within a couple months I went from one to another. That was a big crazy experience.

How supportive was your parents/family about modeling when you started?
No. I think generally within an Asian household and the strong emphasis on education, good grades, keeping your head down and focused that modeling was seen as an unnecessary distraction. I was fortunate that I was in a situation where I didn’t need the money so my parents believed that this was all a distraction. Although my dad is not Asian, he is an academic and he places great emphasis on academics. But I think when my parents saw the demand there was for me, they supported as long as I maintained my grades and proved to them that I could manage my time and could be mature about it. That was the agreement but it took me some time. I’m not going to lie, when you are 13 and thrown to work pretty much. It took some time to figure out but I definitely figured it out. They also said that if I want to work and make money that I would have to learn the value of a dollar. I used that money to support myself, learned responsibility, and I think my parents handled it well. They told me there were some things I couldn’t do like miss school and had to manage my time well. It was good.

You are not just a typical model as you have taken your education seriously by getting your Masters. Was continuing your education a goal of yours even while pursuing your modeling career?
That was always a must from my parents. I’m lucky I grew up in an environment where education was never seen to be tedious. I enjoyed it and I wanted to succeed. I knew the importance and value of it. I always wanted to do well in school and to further educate myself. I am really thankful for that part of being Asian because it is so engrained in the culture that education is not seen as a chore. I was always going to go and get my bachelor’s degree and then after that I wanted to get my master’s degree which my parents highly encouraged. I’m definitely not done with education and I think I will continue at some stage whether it be an MBA or PH.D. I will definitely go back to education. That would never be a bad decision.

You actually left the modeling industry briefly from 2012-2013. Why did you decide to change careers?
It was right after I finished my Master’s and I was living in London. I was working as a model and then I decided to retire as a model. I went into finance because I really wanted a change and to test myself in that world with my abilities and capabilities. Eventually I developed a career in finance which I genuinely enjoyed. It wasn’t something that I wanted to do to just to get a big paycheck. I genuinely enjoyed finance and that was what I wanted to do and had got my masters on. I got a job as a commodities trader which I’m not going to lie I hated. I quit after 3-4 months because I really didn’t enjoy it. I then got an awesome job at a company called JDX which does derivative consulting. It was an awesome company, I had a great time, the training was super fun. But, in the end right before I took on my first client, I actually left because I wanted to move back to Asia to be closer to my family. My parents are quite a bit older than me. My dad was born in 1944 so he’s 73 and I felt like why was I in London and wanted to go back to Asia. When I got back to Asia, the Hong Kong modeling industry still remembered me and there was still a demand for me. So I decided to give it one last whirl while I can because it is a short lived career. Since I was there and I could, I would do it while looking for something in finance in Hong Kong. And, whoops, here I am.

How did the SI swimsuit model search come about? What was the experience like since being selected and appearing in the 2017 issue?
I was in Hong Kong and working as a model. I am lucky that I was having an extremely successful career out there. I was booking a bunch of jobs in the States and I was without a US agent. I was thinking I had lived in Europe and have lived in Asia, traveled the world but the one place I hadn’t lived in was the States. If I was booking these jobs without an agent then imagine what if I did. So I came out to the States and met with different agencies and ended up meeting one particular agent that I loved and she was said I needed to meet Sports Illustrated because it is a perfect fit. They only meet girls once a year and it happened to be that time of year. She told me to just go in and I did. I met with MJ Day and we hit it off and I was so grateful that she put me in the model search competition. That was technically the first job that I booked in America which is kind of amazing because I was super duper lucky. I ended up winning which was incredible. I feel like it was even more incredible because I didn’t have any kind of US fan base. A lot of people didn’t know me and also being a minority in the competition having the world vote, I should have lost. But, apparently I won by a mile. I’m super, super thankful for that and that led to my rookie debut this year. The experience has been unreal. I still can’t believe it. I have a copy of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition on my coffee table in my apartment and, it sounds really weird, but I’ll look at it sometimes and think, “holy crap that’s me!” I still have to pinch myself.

You have modeled globally and has being of mixed race, particularly mixed Korean, had any effect on your career?
I definitely notice a difference. A couple of years ago I really felt like a minority. You were only sent to certain castings and opportunities were definitely limited compared to the other girls. Even for me it was limited because I wasn’t quite one race or the other. If they were looking for an Asian girl, I wasn’t quite Asian enough. If they were looking for a Caucasian girl, I wasn’t quite Caucasian enough. There was definitely many, many obstacles. You have to deal with such funny criticisms and comments. I remember dealing with comments like “your eyes are too small when you smile” and am like “what do you want me to do with that!” It was tough but I definitely think that today is a lot different. Especially in America, being of mixed race can be an advantage. I think that having that ethnically ambiguous look to you is an advantage. The world is a lot more conscience of diversity. It’s not all the way there yet but it is moving in a good direction with the media, in that sense. There is definitely room for improvement but there definitely has been some changes. It’s a lot more of you are recognized for your beauty and not where you are from.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I don’t know and I’ve learned to never speculate on these things. It is an industry where, to a certain extent, your success is not up to you; all of your fate is up to the decision of other people and whether they like you and book you.

I have my own goals both macro and micro, but I’ve learned that it is not in my hands and whatever happens, happens.

What made you decide to start training Muay Thai?
I first tried it about four years ago. My personal trainer in Hong Kong used to be a Muay Thai fighter and he incorporated it into our workouts. It was just a fitness thing and I really liked it and continued here and there and didn’t take it seriously at all. In the beginning of 2016, I had somewhat of a meltdown. I was under a lot of pressure in the modeling industry to look a certain way. They wanted me to be something that I honestly wasn’t. I was under huge pressure to be a certain size and measurement and was asked crazy ridiculous things. I was told to go on a liquid only diet and to try to have hips a certain centimeters or less. I kind of snapped after 15 years of being in this industry and under that scrutiny and judgement. At age 27, I had enough. My body wasn’t the same as when I was 17. Everybody wants me to have that same structure. As a woman, I couldn’t take it anymore. I asked for 10 days to go to my place in Thailand. I went there and I drove past this local gym on the side of the road where I’d see them groom young Thai boys to become fighters. I just pulled over the car and I asked if I could try. They said sure and then I was training every day. Then I was training twice a day and really fell in love with it. It wasn’t just a fitness thing anymore. It was a phenomenal workout and the best workout I’ve ever done but then I wanted to fine tune the technique. I was fascinated with the sport itself. I basically moved into the gym and the 10 day vacation turned into a nine month trip. I completely immersed myself into the sport. I was living, eating, breathing with the fighters. I learned a lot and that was how it all started.

Had you practiced martial arts when you were younger?
No. Growing up in Hong Kong it is very prevalent in the culture and I was exposed to it. I always wanted to do it but I never actually learned it. I was always too busy with getting my education, modeling and my career. I never made the space for it in my life. I guess it was the perfect timing for me and it all happened for a reason.

You had a successful debut fight in May 2017. How was the experience? Were you prepared to take the first hit?
The unique thing for me was that I learned Muay Thai in Thailand. In Thailand, there is no amateur. It’s either you fight or you don’t. Even with the sparring throughout the training, they are a lot more casual about it. There is no such thing as headgear and you spar everyday. It’s about learning to control your power. You spar everyday and take blows to the face and body every day. After going through that training and learning there it was very hard for me to then consider amateur fights. For me, going straight to a pro debut was kind of normal as that is the only way in Thailand. I’m sparring twice a day everyday six days a week and nothing will prepare you for that level of aggression as you deal with in a fight. You can spar all day long but when you are in an actual fight and having someone coming at you and they want to take your head off, that is an experience. In my fight in round one, I was just dealing with that shock and emotion. A lot of people wondered how I would take a hit to the face but it wasn’t really an issue for me because I had been through Thai training and got hit in the face all the time. I’ve honestly never worn headgear or sparred in headgear. The whole fight is an amazing journey and becoming one with yourself and your confidence, emotions and insecurities. Stepping into the ring with 100% confidence and believing in yourself. If you doubt yourself, you are probably going to lose the fight. It was an amazing process and still is. I took an elbow to the face in round one and I was angry and dealing with the anger and all that. I won by technical knockout in round three. I was punching her in the face with everything f I had with this insane amount of rage going on and then suddenly having to turn it off and then having to be respectful. Learning to control your emotions with all of the adrenaline, it is such an amazing experience. You learn so much about yourself.

At this point, we are assuming that modeling is still your priority.
I guess so because that’s my bread and butter. I’m finding more and more that in a unique position. I’m drawing it in my head in a Venn diagram with three areas of my life. I have the whole fighting world, then the modeling world and then the acting world. There is an overlap in all three. As one area grows, everything else is growing and bouncing off each other. It is very amazing. I’m trying to focus on all three as much as I can.

You are paving the path!
Yes! That’s the thing. I honestly deal with so much criticism from people who are telling me to pick one or the other and that I can’t possibly do both. I tell them that I absolutely can! It’s a great message for people and women that you can absolutely do whatever the hell you want and can be multidimensional. Who the hell says you can’t have more than one career.

Random

What do you do to relax?
Honestly the time to relax is see my friends. I don’t socialize that much. Obviously with my job, I’m constantly at events and dinners. But to actually socialize and hang out with my friends, it doesn’t happen very often. I do isolate myself a lot especially when training. I don’t get to hang out with my friends often so when I do I really appreciate it and that is really fun for me.

Anybody in particular you respect/look up to?
I honestly look up to a lot of people. I’ve never had an idol or role model but I look up to different people for different things. I take inspiration from different people in different areas. Obviously there are fighters I look up to and strong women I look up to like Oprah. Then there are models that I absolutely adore like Ashley Graham and Chrissy Teigen and think they are phenomenal businesswomen and have really set the tone to being true to yourself and their message, being an entrepreneur. There’s a bunch of different people in different sectors that I look up to.

What did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first saw it?
I think it is super cool and honestly I mean it when I say I am so happy to support and help in anyway that I can. I really think it is super cool what you are doing and we all kind of have to stick together as a community! It means a lot to me because I’ve never really been a part of a community before because I’m from so many different places.

Any words that you would like to pass on to the mixed Korean community?
Be proud of who you are. That’s the most important thing.

We thank Mia for her time to do this interview with us and wish her continued success in all of her pursuits. It is admirable how she has used her platform to be such a great role model for women worldwide.

Interview by: David Lee Sanders

Posted: 7/11/2018

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