It’s almost comical that the majority of people automatically characterize models, (especially supermodels) to be dumb as rocks. Because, in reality... today’s top models are nothing shy of creative geniuses. Take Agyness Deyn for example, who spends her free time split between rockin’ out with her band and interior designing, Coco Rocha who actually first was discovered during one of her award-winning Irish step-dancing competitions (which, she graced audiences with at the opening of Jean Paul Gaultier’s recent show), Gemma Ward acts alongside Hollywood A-listers including Liv Tyler and Toni Collette, Naomi Campbell has traded in her former bad-girl badge for non-stop charity work and then... there’s up and coming “it girl” Daul Kim.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, 20-year-old Daul Kim broke ground for her modeling career back in 2006 when she began booking several Korean Vogue editorials. From the very beginning Kim was on the fast track to success. In just an incredibly short amount of time Kim transformed from virtually unknown, shy, yet intoxicatingly beautiful aspiring Korean model to reaching supermodel stature seemingly overnight. Since landing a contract with dominating modeling agency Elite Model Management, to what later turned into a transfer over to Next Model Management, Kim has certainly made a name for herself instantaneously.
After growing up in South Korea’s largest city, Kim quickly relocated right into the hearts of die-hard fashionistas worldwide, as well as the center of Manhattan. There was virtually no latter to climb for Daul; instead, she set the bar by immediately landing many celebrated high-fashion editorials, spots on the most sought after rosters for fashion weeks worldwide and even composed a high-trafficked fan-favorite fashion blog of her very own. When she wasn’t devoting her life to her love for fashion, one would most likely find Daul working on one of her beloved art pieces, which she first unveiled to the world back in 2007 at her very own namesake solo exhibit back in Seoul.
Daul Kim’s resume is by all means a force to be reckoned with. From her very debut on the runway at Chanel she was soon working the catwalk for superior names like Salvatore Ferragamo, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Anna Sui, Rodarte, Vivienne Westwood, Bottega Veneta and Roberto Cavalli. Her visibility on the runway quickly earned her admiration in the print world as well, where she was also skyrocketing towards success.
Kim was truly a breath of versatile fresh air for the industry. It’s not everyday that you see an Asian supermodel reach that kind of latitude of fame and eminence and Daul completely redefined the barrier for Asian women in general. Her signature blonde hair became a staple of the fashion industry. Her porcelain face was soon plastered cover to cover in magazines like i-D, Vogue, V, Numero, Dazed & Confused and Dansk. She earned monumental contracts with Moschino, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and H&M as the newfound face of their timeless brands. However, in some adverse situations no amount of success or notoriety can overshadow one’s lack of happiness and fulfillment in life as a whole. On November 18, 2009, the unimaginable happened when Kim’s boyfriend found her body in their Parisian apartment. Her agents at Next Model Management confirmed the tragic passing of Daul Kim and released a statement saying, “She was a top model and a great friend to all of us at Next. Please respect her family’s privacy at this time of sadness. We will all miss her very much.” The model’s untimely death occurred just months before her 21st birthday.
The improbable cause of death? Suicide. Kim’s boyfriend reportedly found the supermodel in their apartment after she had hung herself. By reading through her personal blog it becomes apparent that the days leading up to her death were filled with heartache and lonliness. Daul was a walking, talking case of self-loathing depression, as she endlessly yearned for such simple things like love and acceptance. In her final days, Kim felt that she had lost her soul while both battling the unrealistic demands of the fashion industry and facing an ongoing struggle against inner-demons to locate her true identity.
The loss of Kim will undoubtably shake the modeling world my storm as she was not only a powerful, brilliant model, but also a dear friend of many of the current big contenders in the industry including Jourdan Dunn, Sessilee Lopez, Ali Michael, Ali Stephens, Lakshmi Menon and just about everyone else who has ever had the pleasure of coming into contact with the Asian stunner.
When Kim wasn’t full-fledge emerged in the countless hours she put into modeling, painting, working on her self-made films, reading her favorite Czech and French writer Milan Kundera, consuming old Klaus Kinski black and white movies, or blogging, one could find her doing one of the many quirky past-times she enjoyed like fork collecting? Which, of course, explains the true meaning behind her infamous blog title: “I like to Fork Myself” (no legit sexual connotations, sorry guys).
Ironically, as of recent her list of personal achievements reached their peak after Kim filmed, edited and starred in her very own short film titled “4”, in which she portrayed an airline passenger. She was named model of the year by Anan magazine, featured for her sensational street style on both Hintmag.com and in British Vogue, and even teamed up with New York Magazine to thoroughly document her New York fashion week experience.
Her presence was one so strong that Kim indeed was one of the few models whose unique personal style easily outweighed the luscious garments she was assigned to wear for designers on the daily.
Little things many didn’t know about supermodel Daul Kim? She had an undying love for guinea pigs and Vietnamese wet dumplings, was a gemini, her favorite places include London’s Dover Street Market and Roka’s dessert, and she wanted more than anything to become a wife.
“What I do is not a bad occupation... someone is always willing to pay.”
