Did You Know? Liu Wen Made Her Runway Debut at Milan Fashion Week in 2008

Liu Wen has long been a familiar name in the fashion industry, but 2026 has brought renewed attention to the Chinese supermodel, particularly as her relationship with Chinese actor Jing Boran has gradually become more public.

Beyond her high-profile romance, Liu Wen has built an impressive career of her own. Widely recognized as China’s first supermodel, she has made history on some of the world’s biggest runways and become one of the most prominent Asian faces in fashion.

Liu Wen for the September 2008 issue of ELLE China | Photography by Li Qi, accessed via Fashion Gone Rogue

This week, all eyes are once again on the fashion capital as Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027 takes place from September 22 to 28, 2026, bringing together major runway shows, presentations, and highly anticipated debuts across the city.

But did you know that Milan Fashion Week also played an important role in the beginning of Liu Wen’s international runway career?

Back in 2008, Liu Wen made her runway debut at Milan Fashion Week, walking for Burberry’s Fall/Winter show before closing the Fall Trussardi show in Milan. Her appearance at Burberry marked an important turning point in her career, helping launch her breakthrough as a runway model and paving the way for her rise on the international fashion scene.

Liu Wen at the Proenza Schouler Fall 2009 Show | Photo from @liuwenlw

Her Milan stint was quickly followed by Paris Fashion Week, where she walked for some of the industry’s most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Hermès.

Then came 2009, which became a defining year in Liu Wen’s modeling career. During the Fall 2009 ready-to-wear season, she walked in 74 shows across New York, London, Milan, and Paris—the highest number of shows by any model that season. The feat also made her the model of Asian descent with the most runway appearances in a single season.

She continued her momentum into the Spring 2010 ready-to-wear season, walking in 70 shows across the same four fashion capitals. That placed her as the second most-booked model of the season, behind French model Constance Jablonski.

Years after her runway debut, Liu Wen returned to the Burberry spotlight. In 2025, she starred alongside British supermodel Naomi Campbell in the brand’s “London in Love” campaign. The collaboration carried an extra layer of significance as it came 17 years after Liu Wen first walked for Burberry at Milan Fashion Week in 2008.

From a young model making her runway debut in Milan to becoming one of Asia’s most recognizable supermodels, Liu Wen’s journey is a testament to how far her career has come—and why her name continues to make waves in fashion.

Despite being in the fashion industry for nearly two decades, Liu Wen remains as in-demand as ever. From fronting luxury campaigns and walking major international runways to gracing magazine covers, the Chinese supermodel continues to prove that her influence in fashion shows no signs of slowing down.

Most recently, Liu Wen joined Chopard’s 50th-anniversary campaign for its iconic Happy Diamonds collection, adding another prestigious luxury name to her impressive portfolio. Earlier this month, she also returned to the runway for New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027, walking for Tory Burch and Khaite.

Her recent fashion credits also include Tom Ford’s eyewear campaign under the creative direction of Haider Ackermann, as well as campaigns for renowned fashion houses including Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, and Givenchy.

After nearly 20 years in the industry, Liu Wen continues to command attention across the fashion world. From the runway to major luxury campaigns, her enduring presence shows that she remains one of the industry’s most recognizable faces—and fans can expect to see much more of her in the seasons ahead.