Shu Pei

About Shu Pei

Shu Pei Qin, born on August 10, 1989, in Kaifeng, Henan, China, grew up in a middle-class family of Han Chinese descent, with parents who supported her education and ambitions. She moved to New York City to study fashion design, though details about her academic background beyond high school are limited. Known in the industry as “Shu Pei,” she was discovered at 17 in 2007 while studying in New York, scouted by a model agent who spotted her potential. She signed with Next Management that year, debuting at the Spring 2008 Rachel Roy show in New York, marking her entry into the global fashion scene.

She is part of the "Golden Army" of Chinese supermodels that dominated the runway from 2010 to the present with Fei Fei Sun, Sui He, Ming Xi, Xiao Wen Ju, Yilan Hua, He Cong, Jing Wen, Xin Xie, Yuan Bo Chao and Chu Wong. Signed with DNA Models (New York), Oui Management (Paris), and VIE Models (Hong Kong), she walked for Gucci, Chanel, Christian Dior, Versace, Burberry, and Vera Wang, and became one of the first Chinese models to appear in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2012, returning in 2017 for the Shanghai show. Her editorial work includes covers for Vogue China (September 2008), Elle China (five times from 2009–2013, including the 25th-anniversary issue), Harper’s Bazaar China, and Vogue Girl Korea. Campaigns for Maybelline, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, and Tommy Hilfiger, plus her #13 ranking on models.com’s Top 50 in 2011, highlight her success.

Shu Pei maintains a modest social media presence, with around 100,000 Instagram followers (@shupei), sharing modeling shoots, travel, and family moments. Her mainstream career includes her acting debut in the 2015 Chinese film Oh My God, alongside Chen Xuedong and Zhang Yixing. She has appeared in fashion-focused content for Vogue China and attended high-profile events like the Met Gala in 2015, wearing a Tommy Hilfiger haute couture dress. Her ambassadorships for Huayi Brothers’ nonprofit events and Swarovski’s 2012 Shanghai art exhibition, plus her advocacy for Asian representation, have boosted her influence, though she remains selective in mainstream projects.

At 5’10” (178 cm) with measurements of 32-24-34 inches, Shu Pei Qin possesses a slender, statuesque frame, long black hair, and dark brown eyes that convey elegance and intensity. Her high cheekbones, flawless skin, and delicate features create a versatile beauty, excelling in high-fashion runways for Dior and commercial campaigns like Maybelline. Her sex appeal lies in her poised yet approachable charm, earning her the title “China’s chic star” by Elle China. Photographers like Greg Kadel and peers like Du Juan, a close friend, praise her “refined, global allure,” with Vogue China noting her “dynamic, modern beauty” that elevates Asian visibility in fashion.

Shu Pei has faced some controversies. When Shu Pei's relationship with Edison Chen became public in 2016, it created a stir because she was still legally married to Zhao Lei, the CEO of Huayi Brothers Fashion Group. Her sexuality is reported as straight, and she was married to Chinese model Zhao Lei from 2012 to 2015. Since 2015, she has been in a relationship with Hong Kong-Canadian actor Edison Chen, with whom she has a daughter, Alaia, born in 2017. Her net worth is estimated at $2–5 million, driven by modeling and endorsements. Critics occasionally note her limited acting portfolio, but her focus on family and advocacy for diversity, including her 2013 Marc Jacobs “Protect The Skin You’re In” campaign against skin cancer, has earned respect.

At 36 in 2025, Shu Pei’s legacy as a pioneering Chinese supermodel endures, breaking barriers for Asian models in global fashion. On platforms like models.com, fans call her a “runway icon,” with one commenter noting, “Shu Pei’s elegance and versatility inspire us all.” Her 2015 quote to Vogue China, “Beauty is about being confident in your own skin,” reflects her ethos. Currently, she splits time between New York and Shanghai, appearing in Vogue China’s December 2025 issue and a 2025 Tory Burch campaign. Her advocacy for Asian representation, motherhood, and selective modeling solidify her as a transformative figure in the industry.