{"id":1130,"date":"2026-08-03T15:42:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T07:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itpbaz.kinsta.cloud\/fashion\/cover-story-malaysian-model-shikin-gomez\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T15:12:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T07:12:47","slug":"cover-story-malaysian-model-shikin-gomez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/fashion\/cover-story-malaysian-model-shikin-gomez\/","title":{"rendered":"Cover Story: What Keeps Shikin Gomez Going?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A woman of the world.<\/h2>\n
\t
\n\t\t
\"Shikin<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tShikin Gomez wears the 5 Sisters collar; dress; socks; FENDI Illusion shoes, all from Fendi<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2019s BAZAAR Malaysia<\/i>\u2019s August \u201826 cover shoot, she was found standing away from the action, face tilted up to the sky, admiring the tall trees towering over the building. \u201cI have really come to appreciate the way nature demands to be heard in Malaysia,\u201d she muses. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n

In our August \u201926 cover story, Malaysian-born, Portugal-based model Shikin Gomez reflects on her long career in fashion.<\/h2>\n
\t
\n\t\t
\"5<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t5 Sisters collar; dress; socks; FENDI Very Colibr\u00ec\u200b shoes, all from FENDI<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2019 fashion photography projects, and later, taking up modelling part-time, then full-time, to pay off her car and contribute to rent.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d she laughs. \u201cBack 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\"Shearling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Shearling jacket; t-shirt; cargo pants; FENDI Cuneo belt; socks; FENDI After 9 shoes; Baguette\u00ae, all from FENDI<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n

In 2017, Gomez was cast in Cycle 5 of Asia\u2019s Next Top Model<\/i>, making it to the finals and placing as a runner up. \u201cAfter that, modelling took on a life of its own,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n

Based abroad to facilitate her thriving career, she looks back fondly on her modelling days in Malaysia, despite its challenges. \u201cIt\u2019s different now, much better than my early days as a model,\u201d she comments. \u201cBack 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\u2019s been good to see how things have changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t
\n\t\t
\"\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Dress; socks; FENDI Illusion shoes; Baguette\u00ae, all from FENDI<\/p>\n

\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t

<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

5 Sisters collar; dress; socks; FENDI Very Colibr\u00ec\u200b shoes, all from FENDI<\/p>\n\n

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. \u201cThe biggest challenge remains the same: figuring out what it is you really want to do and why you are doing it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n

She elaborates: \u201cFor me, I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t
\n\t\t
\"Denim<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tDenim jacket; denim trousers; FENDI Cuneo belt; FENDI Double O boots; Baguette\u00ae, all from FENDI<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Gomez concludes: \u201cIf I could impart any advice to younger models after a decade of experience, I would ask them to determine their own end goal. Do you want to be famous? Do you want to build a community? Do you want to transition into an acting or music career? What are you trying to achieve in the long run? These are the questions you have to ask yourself along the way to keep things in perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t
\n\t\t
\"Jacket;<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tJacket; shirt; skirt; socks; FENDI Illusion shoes; FENDI Magic Tote; Baguette\u00ae, all from FENDI<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Creative direction and styling: Zue Wei Leong<\/h2>\n\n

Photography: Edmund Lee<\/h2>\n\n

Art direction: Khairani Ramli<\/h2>\n\n

Make-up: Jenn Teh<\/h2>\n\n

Hair: Ckay Liow<\/h2>\n\n

Model: Shikin Gomez<\/h2>\n\n

Photographer\u2019s assistant: Zane Chang<\/h2>\n\n

Production assistants: Syazrel Boharin and Elyca Casmad<\/h2>\n\n

Location: Marble Emporium 2.0<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Malaysia-born, Portugal-based model Shikin Gomez shares words of wisdom to a new generation of models.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":1140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bzd_title_left":"","bzd_title_right":"","footnotes":"","bz_kicker":"","bz_opener":"split","bz_photographer":"","bz_hero_caption":"","bz_hero_credit":"","bz_hero_clip":0,"bz_inset":1131,"bz_tile_image":0,"bz_clip":0,"bz_tile_dek":"","bz_reading_time":"","bz_duration":"","bz_feature_small":0,"bz_feature_medium":0,"bz_feature_quote":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[284,426,427,428,429,430],"bz_slot":[],"class_list":["post-1130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fashion","tag-fendi","tag-fendi-baguette","tag-malaysian-model","tag-model","tag-portugal","tag-shikin-gomez"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1669,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1130\/revisions\/1669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1130"},{"taxonomy":"bz_slot","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preview.itp.luxury\/baz-my-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bz_slot?post=1130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}