Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hsiao-Wei Hsiang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hsiao-Wei, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
This is such an interesting question for me! Growing up, I didn’t really experience much praise-based education. Most of the time, people pointed out what we lacked, which made it easy to forget what we were good at. Even though my parents were mostly supportive and encouraging, the environment and my peers made me really insecure during middle school.
Things started to change when I got to college. I began to explore myself more and got compliments from new friends, which helped me discover my unique qualities. But the biggest game-changer was moving to the U.S. People here, even strangers on the street, aren’t shy about giving compliments! I’ve heard “I like your style!” more in the three years since I moved here than in my entire life before that. Getting more compliments really boosted my confidence and helped me believe in myself more. I started to shine by doing what I love.
I’m really into fashion, so when I feel down, I let myself be sad for a bit, have a good cry, and then dress up nicely. Creating content that I’m proud of with my outfits makes me feel better and shine brighter.
I want to tell everyone that it’s okay to feel not good enough sometimes or to need some energy from outside sources. But remember, there’s a part of you that’s an irreplaceable star!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hi everyone, I’m HsiaoWei Hsiang. I’m currently a model and content creator based in New York. Besides that, I’m also passionate about social media marketing. My main focus is on fashion. Apart from luxury brands, my favorite is everyday wear because I believe fashion shouldn’t have any boundaries or be limited by price—it should be about expressing yourself through what you wear.
That’s why my partner and I founded Good Stuff Only. In addition to sharing niche fashion brands, we’re also planning to share more about the people, events, and things in New York. We hope you’ll follow us and share your thoughts with us!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Whether I’m working as a model or a content creator, the best way to learn skills is by diving in and figuring things out as you go. Even though I’m still pretty new compared to people who’ve been in the industry for ten years, I believe the most important qualities are protecting yourself, being genuine, and not being afraid to fail.
My family always said, “Don’t harm others, but be cautious.” I didn’t get it at first, but after getting hurt a few times out in the real world, I started to understand. It’s not about thinking people are bad and shutting everyone out. Instead, whether it’s at work, in my personal life, or social situations, I try to connect with people without any harmful intentions, being my true self, and respecting others.
This approach has helped create great vibes during photo shoots, and I’ve made lots of new friends along the way! Since I started in this industry, I’ve failed plenty of times. Seriously, a lot (lol). It’s always tough and disappointing, but I see each new day as a fresh start after letting out my emotions. So, I turn my failures into learning experiences and keep pushing forward.
I don’t think we need to be positive all the time because that can lead to bottled-up emotions and worse mental health. Instead, let’s face the negative feelings, take a break when we need to, and then keep moving forward together.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I absolutely love all kinds of creative work because it allows for unlimited imagination and creativity. While having my own unique style as a model is important, I also want to develop different aspects of myself! In the future, I hope to collaborate with more imaginative and talented photographers, art directors, stylists, and others. Feel free to contact me through Instagram @hsiaowei.hsiang.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsiaowei.hsiang/
Image Credits
Photographer: BoChun Cheng, Evelyn Freja, 龔成, Ivan Morales
Brand/Designer: Jessica Abbey, Jen Liu, Wenjüe Lu
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
