An Interview With Jessica Minh Anh

In all your pictures you exude confidence and positivity. Even in your modeling shots you sparkle. How do you achieve this in your daily life? Do you have a recipe for happiness?
I believe happiness is a choice, and the way you look at things really makes a difference. I would like to think that I always see the positive side of any situation or individual, so it makes me feel complete. When you are happy and collective, you are confident and it really shows.

You are a trendsetter in many ways, from your hair to your shows. How do your ideas come to you?
As you can see from all my shows, I love to discover new ways of expressing style and fashion. There is no point for me to do something that has been done before or repeat myself. I easily get inspired by special objects, interesting events I attend, or listinging to a beautiful song. The idea of creating producing a brand new concept to impress the world keeps me alive.

ExpatWoman loves your iconic up do's, recently you tweeted a picture of yourself at the gym sporting a great hairstyle. How do you get your hair to look so glossy and who styles your hair?
I am quite lucky to have strong and straight hair which requires minimum work on. Up do's are my favourite as I feel very much in control having my hair tied up. I’ve been working with the best hair stylists in London, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, and now Dubai who dare to take styling and creativity to the next level. For the past few interviews and shoots in Dubai, I have worked with Pastels Salon and their multi- nationality stylists are some of the most innovative people I’ve seen.

Last year you were named a fashion global mover and shaker, how do you manage to stay ahead of the game in the cut throat world of fashion?
I think not only in fashion but any industry, you need to be a head of the game. Combining your passion with your strength and skill set to me is always the right move. I think people follow my shows around the world as they are evolving and completely different from what standard fashion shows are like. Besides the usage of the most extraordinary venues and fresh new concepts, the speed of my productions is another thing that’s quite hard to compete with. I organize 3 to 4 shows per year in different continents, which makes it about 3 months of preparation per show. The secret: a lot of hard work and 100% commitment.

The internship program at J Model Management seems to be a great start up for many students, tell us more about how you select the interns.
My principle is that I only train fighters. I want to see their burning passion and desire to be a part of something special, and they need to be proactive and fully dedicated. If they get through the interview round, they will learn all about PR and event management while working towards history making showcases. One tip is that you need a customized cover letter to the company you would like to work for and find out as much info as you can before your interview. I was very impressed with many candidates who not only told me the key points of J Model Management but also all the dates and names. Not everyone can be a potential event organizer, but those who I selected are definitely some of the best. I have no doubt they will have a bright future.

You have been in the industry for over a decade as a model and entrepreneur and from the outside it seems as though everything was easily achieved. How hard was it really and what advice would you give to future fashionistas?
Many people have asked me this question as it does look as if the road was filled with red roses. Not many actually know how much hard work and dedication was put into each show to make it a big success. I literarily eat and sleep the shows. Of course, things can always go wrong at any part of the preparation and implementation, but the way you deal with it makes it a challenge or a problem. I take every difficulty as a challenge to overcome and I actually get excited to be able solve issues quickly. It is important to know not only your strength but also your weaknesses so you can improve yourself by learning new skills and learning from experienced people. I spent years specializing in IT, PR, and Marketing before I am confident at using those skills in my projects. Knowledge and experience always keep you ahead of the game.

You seem to have the fashion world completely awed with you, from that iconic first show on the London Tower Bridge, the PETRONAS Twin Towers and the Floating Runway on the River Seine to the Costa Atlantica Cruise liner in Dubai. What’s next??
I ask myself that very question every day actually. It is tough sometimes to top a show which you believed was already the best. But then again there are still so many things to discover and I am planning to keep going and be inspired by beautiful places and people. All I can say for now is that, the next show will always be better, and I’ll always find a way to surprise you.

What kind of preparation goes into a show like this? How do you cope with stress on the day and still manage to look fabulous and mingle with all the guests? We’d be in a right frazzle.
As J Model Management handles the entire production from logistics, models, backstage, styling, guest list, and PR, there are a lot to do in a short period of time. Managing people reasonably is the key in such an event with many parties involved. Since I’ve been organizing events all my life, this is not new to me. But it does get stressful nearer to the show. I personally try not to skip the gym and stay close to my best team members. Also, I am very appreciative of all the guests coming and supporting the show so a smile is just a natural thing.

London, New York, Milan and Paris are the “big four” in fashion however cities like Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo are on the rise in the International rankings. You are bringing Asian fashion and it’s designers to the forefront. What are your predictions on the rise of the Asian fashion market?
I don’t think it is a prediction anymore as many Asian major fashion houses as well as emerging designers are now high recognized for their work. I will take Shiatzy Chen as an example and I think they are one of the best with a perfect combination of Asian traditional style and colouring and Western contemporary looks. I usually don’t look at the origin when selecting a designer. Their style, materials, and cuts are the elements that will attract me. As shoppers are making smart choices, we will soon know which market will be leading.

What are your thoughts on the eclectic fashion of Dubai and would you return here for a holiday?
Dubai is such futuristic city and everything is widely available here. I am currently enjoying my stay at Dusit Thani Dubai, shopping at the world’s biggest Dubai Mall, and gym sessions at Aqudra Sports Management. There are many places for girls to indulge and beautify themselves, such as Cocoona or Pastels Salon. I would definitely come back to Dubai for a holiday.

DUBAI FASHION INVASION ON LUXURIOUS CRUISE SHIP
J Winter Fashion Show on top of the Costa Atlantica

Global fashion mover and shaker, Jessica Minh Anh, is hosting the first ever fashion phenomenon on the multiple award winning cruise ship, the Costa Atlantica, on 17th January 2013 in Dubai. Best known for making history with the world’s highest catwalk, Jessica is set to stage the grand J Winter Fashion Show on the 200 metre sun deck overlooking Dubai’s breath taking skyline. With the combination of the Costa Atlantica’s exquisite interior and Jessica’s exceptional taste, the show is set to redefine modern fashion show standards.

The highly anticipated event will display a combination of luxurious contemporary looks and unique ethnic flairs by 15 extraordinary collections from 5 continents. Talking of the event, Jessica said “The theme fits well with Dubai’s reputation as the land of the rich and famous and its cosmopolitan population of 150 nationalities”.

The giant cruise ship is a floating museum of contemporary Italian art, homing over 400 original works of renowned artists such as Paul Pennisi, Sergio Benvenuti, and Luciano Vistosi. "I instantly fell in love with the Costa Atlantica as it truly reflects the characteristics of my show. You can feel the presence of creativity, culture, and art with a touch of glamour throughout its 13 decks. It brings fantasy into reality" said Jessica.

The exclusive guest list will include countries’ ambassadors, international fashion designers and press, and influential faces from various industries. Guests will enjoy not only the glamorous catwalk but also the lavish red carpet entrance and VIP Networking Party offered by Costa Cruises where world class cuisine and champagne will be served.

Jessica Minh Anh’s previous ground breaking ideas included a floating catwalk on the River Seine offering 360 degree views of Paris, the first ever fashion show on London’s iconic Tower Bridge, and a jaw dropping cake dress 175 metres above street level in Kuala Lumpur. With this in mind, you can expect anything but ordinary with Jessica Minh Anh’s latest project. The J Winter Fashion Show in the City of Gold is about to set yet another milestone in the fashion world.