I Was a Size 0—and Still Told to Lose Weight: My Modeling Wake-Up Call in Asia

NOTHING prepared me for the scrutiny I faced as a model

Their beauty standards were SO high

I had to lose weight although I was size 0

I was told I’d be prettier if I were less tanned

As an already pale white woman from the UK where the sun barely shines

THAT HIT DIFFERENT

It was like being told the very things that make me, ME?

Were somehow flaws!

My natural skin tone, something I was BORN WITH

Wasn’t good enough!

In Asia, fair, pale skin, is often seen as the epitome of beauty

It’s a standard deeply rooted in history, culture, and even social status

So what happens when you DON’T fit into their mold?

A battle between embracing my own identity and trying to fit into a standard

As a model I had to make a choice to conform or to stand my ground

And I gave up on who I was and conformed to do everything I was told to

Only to get FIRED later

I had to do some DEEP healing using Genki System™️

Before I felt like myself again

3 tips from Genki System™️ for unconformable self love:

1. Wear socks ALL the time [strengthen your spleen energy]

2. Keep a hot water jug on your desk

3. Respect yourself

I learned that beauty isn’t about fitting into a narrow box

It’s about breaking out of it to help lead in creating a space where ALL women can feel confident in being themselves

If you’ve been told that you need to change something about yourself

I’m here to tell you that you’re ENOUGH as you are

Your curves, your skin, your everything

YOU. ARE. ENOUGH!

Your worth isn’t defined by how closely you can match someone else’s beauty standards

It’s defined by how fiercely you LOVE + ACCEPT YOURSELF

Love, Kelly

*Disclaimer: Not medical advice.

About Kelly Prehn

Kelly's journey began unexpectedly when a Models 1 agent spotted her in Covent Garden during a ballet rehearsal. Despite landing a six-figure Japanese contract immediately, upon arrival in Tokyo she was deemed 'overweight', fired and sent back to London.

Her breakthrough came when Mr. Shu of Shu Uemura recognized her potential, launching her acclaimed career as a beauty and fashion model across Asia—from Japan and Korea to China and Singapore.

Leveraging her industry expertise, Kelly transitioned from modeling to sharing beauty insights as a columnist, becoming a highly recognized advocate for niche traditional wellness and healing modalities. She was the first to bring these transformative practices to a wider audience. Her influence grows rapidly: 1.4 million books in print, tens of millions of women reached through her teachings on social media, she currently impacts 11 million women monthly—and growing.

HARPER’S BAZAAR

“Kelly Created a Life Changing Method”

MARIE CLAIRE

“Kelly Is A Pop Culture Role Model”