Cover Story: What Keeps Shikin Gomez Going?

On the set of a cover shoot, there can be a bit of waiting around as the photographers put together their equipment, scout for the best location, and test the lighting. Seasoned model Shikin Gomez is used to this. A picture of patience at Harper’s BAZAAR Malaysia’s August ‘26 cover shoot, she was found standing away from the action, face tilted up to the sky, admiring the tall trees towering over the building. “I have really come to appreciate the way nature demands to be heard in Malaysia,” she muses. “The city is a concrete jungle but there is always grass forcing its way onto the stone paths, plants creeping on the walls, and trees bursting through the skyline.”

The Malaysian model, now residing in Lisbon, Portugal, is back in town to see her friends and family. She finds it surreal to be on the outside, looking in.

In our August ’26 cover story, Malaysian-born, Portugal-based model Shikin Gomez reflects on her long career in fashion.

The modelling industry has changed drastically since she first started out in the early 2010s as a university student agreeing to be lensed for her friends’ fashion photography projects, and later, taking up modelling part-time, then full-time, to pay off her car and contribute to rent.

“I definitely had to go through a rite of passage, booking jobs through Facebook Groups and walking at shows in shopping malls for barely any money,” she laughs. “Back then, it was all about building networks and referrals because local models rarely had any representation. We had to manage ourselves, especially when it came to talking to clients and negotiating our rates.”

In 2017, Gomez was cast in Cycle 5 of Asia’s Next Top Model, making it to the finals and placing as a runner up. “After that, modelling took on a life of its own,” she says, pointing to how the show took her career to a whole new level; it gave her an international appeal and brought her to Singapore, Mumbai, Barcelona, Berlin, London, and Paris.

Based abroad to facilitate her thriving career, she looks back fondly on her modelling days in Malaysia, despite its challenges. “It’s different now, much better than my early days as a model,” she comments. “Back then, the industry was not as accepting of different sizes, skin colours, and backgrounds; there was no variety. In Malaysia, and Southeast Asia, there is a lot more diversity and inclusivity, especially in campaigns. It’s been good to see how things have changed.”

5 Sisters collar; dress; socks; FENDI Very Colibrì​ shoes, all from FENDI

Social media, in particular, has been a big driver of change, becoming an increasingly crucial component of modelling. It has opened up a world of possibilities for a new generation of models, giving them a platform to voice their opinions and share their experiences. Gomez is philosophical about this development. “The biggest challenge remains the same: figuring out what it is you really want to do and why you are doing it,” she says.

She elaborates: “For me, I’m chasing authenticity and searching for the feeling of pride when I collaborate with others and help bring their vision to life. Of course, I have to be practical when it comes to finances. And I understand that modelling is a superficial job; it might not be forever.

“But I am in the right place because my end goal is to be part of the fashion industry. My role may expand and evolve, but I know that I will be making art, meeting new people, and being creative.”