Let’s countdown our list of the best retired import models.
Girls in the import modeling scene only have so much of a shelf-life. Unfortunately, car magazines and car shows are always looking for the next hottest thing. But for most of these girls, import modeling is only a stepping stone to something more. Some of the girls gain great careers in music. Others go on to do more mainstream glamour modeling. Some of them retire and live happily ever after. We want to remember some of the hottest girls who are now no longer active as import models.
What I can definitely say is that the import modeling scene isn’t what it used to be. In past years import models could become mainstream celebrities. I would say a lot of that is thanks to Tila Tequila, who rode her fame to reality TV and mainstream media. She paved the way so a lot of girls could get mainstream recognition in magazines such as Maxim, Playboy, and many others.
#10) Hyonni
We saw Hyonni on IGN and on the cover of Modified magazine back in 2006. She also shot for Babe Blvd (picture credit above) back when they were active. I’m assuming the amazing Steve Bitanga shot the set where she’s wearing the pink top and the yellow undies (one of her best sets ever). She’s one of the few full Koreans on the scene back then.
What she’s doing now: No idea. She’s off the grid.
#9) Maureen Chen
Maureen Chen is one of the rare Taiwanese models that got really big on the scene. She was featured in Import Tuner (picture above) in 2010 and was super popular that year, making the covers of SuperStreet, Dsport, and Import Tuner. Since then she’s not been in the spotlight much. Back in the day we were supposed to shoot and interview her, but she declined our Amped Asia interview because the questions were too provocative. Oh well! I really like the photos she shot for Import Tuner, plus the set by Rey Trajano.
What she’s doing now: Living life.
#8) Lisa Kim Fleming
We interviewed Lisa Kim Fleming back in 2010. She’s Half-Korean and Half-Caucasian. She was cute and sexy and had a very bubbly personality. Half Asians were the queens of the import modeling industry back in the day, and it’s apparent why. They have such amazing genes.
What she’s doing now: No clue. Her website hasn’t been updated in ages and neither has her Facebook.
#7) Siray Kong
Siray Kong was featured in our January 2014 issue. She’s no longer an import model, but a long time ago she had modelled for some car shows. Not only is Siray Kong one of the most intelligent ladies in the modelling biz, she’s also a very talented singer. We expect to see more of her in the entertainment industry soon.
What she’s doing now: Working in music videos. Doing glamour shoots. Pursuing a singing career.
#6) Ursula Mayes
Her exotic looks come from being Half Korean and Native American/German. Ursula Mayes has been featured as a cover model for several import car magazines, notably Performance Auto and Sound, Import Tuner, and Modified. She began modeling in 2004, and quickly got noticed in the import scene, being named “Miss Hot Import Nights.” In 2004 she was also named 3rd place in Maxim’s Hometown Hotties, which launched her modeling career to new heights. At the height of her popularity she was named to the 100 Most Beautiful List on People magazine. A pretty astounding feat considering that she was mainly known as an import model (import models of today are almost never that highly regarded).
What she’s doing now: She was last active in modeling in 2011. Since then she’s been an entrepreneur, working in an online retailer called “Cheeky Doll.”
#5) Leah Dizon
Leah Dizon is one of the most popular girls of former times. She started doing promo car work in Los Angeles, but her look gained her widespread attention in Japan. She eventually submitted her information to a Japanese agency and relocated there. She reinvented herself as a J-pop singer and gained quite a bit of popularity.
What she’s doing now: The last activity from her was in Japan in 2013. She was still in the music industry.
#4) Tila Tequila
Although Tila Tequila has been hated on quite a bit for various reasons, you can’t deny she was easily one of the hottest and most popular import models of her time, and possibly the #1 most popular import model of all time. Her rise to fame started on Myspace, where she had the most number of friends. She even had 2 seasons of a reality show air on VH1. Unfortunately, her friends didn’t carry over to Facebook, and she slowly faded away in popularity.
What she’s doing now: Releasing Tila sex tapes. Vlogging about the Illuminati. Being pregnant.
#3) Stephanie Ly
Stephanie Ly was one of our first interviews on Amped Asia. She was a very popular import model back in 2006-2009, gracing the cover of almost all the car magazines, but eventually started working in more mainstream glamour work, ending up in Maxim and other publications. She worked for a while also as an MMA promo girl.
What she’s doing now: A dog grooming business. She also does some glamour photography work still.
Stephanie Ly looks good as a blonde.
#2) Kay Valentine
Kay Valentine was one of the rising stars in the import car industry back in 2008-2010, gracing DSport. Armed with an incredibly charming British accent, Kay was poised to be one of the biggest stars in the import car industry until she decided to move into music. Her ethnicity is Vietnamese/French, which explains her half-Asian look.
What she’s doing now: She’s a musical artist. (I think she’s called Kay Veezy now).
Kay Valentine Selfie
Who’s the #1 hottest former import model of all time?
#1) Natasha Yi
Natasha Yi is one of the first really famous import models, appearing on almost every car magazine. She quickly spread to mainstream glamour modeling for Maxim, FHM, and all the other popular men’s magazines. Her popularity rose to an insane level and she got acting roles in movies such as Rush Hour 2, Thunder Over Reno, and various other shows. Her popularity also allowed her to get her own comic book called “Nat’s Adventures.”
What she’s doing now: Blogging at ImyaGirl.com. Still doing some modeling. Hosting. Good stuff.
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Written by Editorial Staff