Lily Kwong
By Mickey Woods
Photographed by Douglas Adesko
Styled by Luigi Tadini
When Lily Kwong was 18, she moved from San Francisco to New York to study political science at Bard College. Her original plan was to graduate and run for office, but Kwong dropped out after her freshman year without a backup plan. She moved to Manhattan, where she stayed in a Quaker boarding house.
Then a model scout approached Kwong in the West Village. The self-described "19-year-old tomboy" had no interest in fashion, though her cousin happened to be hot young designer Joseph Altuzarra. She signed with Elite Model Management and eventually became Altuzarra's unofficial muse: Last year, she attended the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund party with him. Vogue went on to dub her an "It Girl" and Kwong saw an opportunity to use her newfound position to better the lives of young women around the world. To get started, at 21, Kwong enrolled at Columbia to study sociology and urban studies.
Now 23, she recently formed a nonprofit called Nuvana with her father, sponsored by the Nike Foundation's Girl Effect, which helps underprivileged young women find solutions in their communities via interactive games based on problem solving and real-world scenarios.
While she isn't running for office any- time soon, Kwong's ambitions are ultimately Tyra-sized. "What can I say? I look up to her. Women of color: represent!"
Lily wears a top, skirt and belt by Lanvin and bracelet by Eddie Borgo.
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Then a model scout approached Kwong in the West Village. The self-described "19-year-old tomboy" had no interest in fashion, though her cousin happened to be hot young designer Joseph Altuzarra. She signed with Elite Model Management and eventually became Altuzarra's unofficial muse: Last year, she attended the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund party with him. Vogue went on to dub her an "It Girl" and Kwong saw an opportunity to use her newfound position to better the lives of young women around the world. To get started, at 21, Kwong enrolled at Columbia to study sociology and urban studies.
Now 23, she recently formed a nonprofit called Nuvana with her father, sponsored by the Nike Foundation's Girl Effect, which helps underprivileged young women find solutions in their communities via interactive games based on problem solving and real-world scenarios.
While she isn't running for office any- time soon, Kwong's ambitions are ultimately Tyra-sized. "What can I say? I look up to her. Women of color: represent!"
Lily wears a top, skirt and belt by Lanvin and bracelet by Eddie Borgo.
MEET THE REST OF OUR 2012 BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
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