After first drawing public attention during a fairly short stint on Japanese reality show, Terrace House, model, actor, and illustrator Lauren Tsai has gone on to collaborate with Marc Jacobs, designing covers for Captain Marvel #1 and West Coast Avengers; and is overall on a fast track to success. It was also her work designing covers for comics, that led to her acting debut on the second and third season of the hit FX series Legion earlier this year, where she plays the pivotal role of Switch, a young mutant who can time travel. In the meantime, the Asian-American artist, who has lived across both United States and Japan, continues to work on her illustrative work, inspired by animated films, fantasy, surrealism and music. — Jeena Sharma
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Boots: Abodi
What was the last text you sent?
"Lunch."
What's something no one knows about you but you wish people did?
Recently my hobby is making pancakes at night, I'm getting pretty good at it.
If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing for a career?
I'd be a junior in college right now, probably studying illustration or biology.
What's your biggest irrational fear?
Having something that's connected to an outlet drop into my bathtub while I'm in it and my getting electrocuted with no one around... actually.
When you want to get attention, what do you do?
Facetime my mom, walk around outside, text my friend.
Where do you want to be when the world ends?
In the forest by a lake probably.
When was the last time you cried?
Tbh yesterday on a plane.
What's the last screenshot you took?
A tweet from Jeni's Ice Cream.
What gives you hope in 2019?
Jeni's Ice Cream.
What's your biggest regret?
Losing real relationships by caring so much about social media. Life begins when the phone goes away.
Photographer: Brian Ziff
Stylist: Sarah Toshiko West
Hair: Rena Calhoun
Makeup: Loren Canby