International model Somin Park originally envisioned herself having a music career, but advice from her mother inspired her to take a chance at modeling. 

“One day, my mother told me, ‘You only live once. Try everything you want so that you’ll never regret it later.” She reminded me that music would always be there, but you can only experience modeling when you’re young. Her words inspired me to leap into modeling, and that decision completely changed my life,” Park says. 

Park followed her mother’s advice as she built a successful career in Korea and eventually decided to take a chance and attempt to model in New York City. 

A Leap of Faith

Park grew up in Seoul, South Korea, where she studied music, her original passion. People often encouraged her to pursue modeling because of her striking looks, but she was more interested in playing guitar and carving out a music career. 

After listening to her mother’s advice, Park decided to explore modeling and quickly rose to prominence in Korea’s fashion scene. Though her strong jawline and cheekbones were considered unconventional in Korea, those same features made her stand out and helped her establish herself as one of Korea’s top models. 

“Once I started, I fell in love with the art of expressing emotion and storytelling through fashion,” Park shares.

After achieving success at home, Park was encouraged to take her career to the global stage. At 28, she moved to New York City to expand her work internationally, a bold move that would redefine her career.

Adapting to a Different Culture and Language

Park arrived in New York City with the odds stacked against her. Though she was very successful in Korea, she started from scratch in New York. 

She also had to adapt to a new culture and language as she navigated the complexities of the New York modeling industry. To complicate matters, the modeling world was skeptical about her age. Park was finally signed with an agency that saw her potential and respected her past success.

“Muse Model Management valued my experience, professionalism, and reliability, which helped me establish my international career. I have now sustained a 9-year career with Muse in New York," Park states. 

A few years later, she signed with Nomad in Los Angeles, further expanding her global reach. Park is now a sought-after model by agencies in multiple markets. After her initial struggles establishing herself, she is now the face of many global fashion and beauty campaigns. Park has walked the runway during New York Fashion Week and Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, which are the dreams of many models. 

She has also been in campaigns for brands such as Estée Lauder, NARS, Bobbi Brown, Benefit, MAC, Laura Mercier, Shiseido, Tom Ford Beauty, ColourPop, Too Faced, Kiehl’s, La Mer, Victoria Beckham Beauty, and Origins. 

Park works in beauty and fashion and has collaborated with international wedding brands. Working in all three fields has helped her build a long-lasting career as a top model with long-term brand collaborations, not just one-off campaigns. Park’s continued success shows industry recognition and trust, a significant achievement for an Asian model in an international market.

“Authenticity and consistency have always guided my career. I see my work not just as fashion, but as a way to inspire confidence through self-acceptance and adaptability across different cultures,” Park concludes.