A lack of diversity has long been a problem across all levels in the fashion industry. Diversity is no longer simply a matter of ethnicity, it is everything including sex, race and representation of different populations. Fashion labels are increasingly hiring models from ethnic minorities and of different sizes, but more is needed to achieve an inclusive representation. Rosie Minako is a model who rose to prominent success despite her ethnical background and petite size. Not only has she graced the catwalks of famous international couture designers during fashion weeks in London, Paris, Milan, Cannes, Scotland, Norway, Switzerland, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong, she has also walked on the red carpets during international film festivals in Cannes, Japan, Berlin and New York. She was featured on the covers of multiple international magazines and the pages inside prestigious magazines such as British Vogue, Tatler, Elle, Brides and Harper’s Bazaar. She was casted as the leading actress in numerous commercials, including a commercial trailer for Netflix. With her social media accumulating a significant number of followers from her work in the glamour industry, she uses her platform as a voice for inclusion and diversity.
Rosie first entered the modelling industry through pageantry. She was crowned as a beauty queen when she was younger, and represented as Miss Hong Kong and Miss Japan in the international pageant stage. She ended her pageant journey in Miss Universe Great Britain has a public vote winner. She continued to use pageantry as a platform to advocate for equality across sex and race.
Rosie came from an academic background. She graduated with First Class Honors in Psychology, and attained two masters – one in Speech-language Pathology, one in Special Education and Primary Teaching. She grew up trilingual, speaks five languages fluently and has the habit of writing books since she was a little girl. She has written over 50 books in her life and she published her first book ‘The Oriental Secrets to Luscious Hair and Hair Growth’ last year, teaching women the secrets about hair growth. Following that, she launched a vegan hair business, offering a range of vegan hair products for women to attain healthy hair and hair growth. With her business Rosie Minako Magic Hair, Rosie sponsors different national pageant platforms within the United Kingdom. She is an official sponsor for Miss Earth, Miss International, Miss Galaxy, Miss Environment and Miss Brit Asian. While being a sponsor, she has also been judging various prestigious national beauty pageants such as Miss Earth etc. in the United Kingdom.
Besides modelling and being a businesswoman, Rosie is a dressage rider, a flutist, an artist, a singer and a pilot-to-be. Since the age of five, she has been playing the flute and piccolo in international bands and orchestras. She was the leader of the school band, and had won multiple awards as well as music competitions. Two years ago, she was asked to sign a contract with a Japanese band as a singer. Yet she turned down the contract in order to focus on her modelling career and business. She still continues to write her own songs and make her own music as a hobby. Adding to the above, it might not be surprising to you that Rosie, an elegant lady full of grace, is a horse rider. Currently Rosie is having dressage training in hope to enter equestrian competitions next year. In her free time, she is very active in the charity campaigns in her community and is known as a philanthropist.
I grew up with the flute but I have left that part of me behind. Just like singing and painting, I enjoy doing it every now and then as a hobby. Right now horses will always be my first love. I love horses so much that I get excited whenever I smell them. Yes, I do enjoy aviation but if equestrian is taking too much of my time, I might have to defer my pilot training. Meanwhile, while working on myself, I want to give as much as I can to the world. Everything I do revolves around two things – giving back and self-growth. Literally everything!’ said Rosie during our interview.
You may find out more about Rosie on her webpage http://www.rosieminako.com and her Instagram @rosie.minako
