Calvin Cheng
Encyclopedia
Calvin Ern-Lee Cheng is a Nominated Member of Parliament
in Singapore
, and a leading figure in the fashion modelling industry in Asia
, having had senior roles in Elite Model Management
, Ford Models
, the world's two best known and oldest model agencies. He is also the franchisee for John Robert Powers
for China.
Cheng is a graduate of the Oxford University
(Hertford College) in the United Kingdom
, where he earned a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and a Master of Science
in Management.
Cheng was the Asian regional head of Elite Model Management
, the agency which spawned supermodels Cindy Crawford
, Claudia Schiffer
, Naomi Campbell
and Gisele Bündchen
amongst others. In 2003, the Elite Model Look International finals were also held in Singapore, which was the second time in 21 years that the event was held in Asia. Cheng left Elite in 2004.
Cheng is currently Director of Lumina-Looque International, Director of Looque Models and President of John Robert Powers China. Looque Models manages Asian models including Tracy Tan, Sara Malakul Lane, and Amber Chia
.
Cheng was also the President of Singapore's modelling association, which aimed to increase the pay and welfare of models in Singapore.
In August 2005, Cheng was featured in Singapore's 40th independence day official commemorative video as one of 40 outstanding Singaporeans under 40.
Cheng was on the Council of the Singapore Red Cross Society from 2009 to 2011.
In 2009, Cheng was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum
, and inducted into the Forum of Young Global Leaders. He was one of five young leaders to be chosen out of Singapore.
In July 2009, Cheng was appointed a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore.
In 2010, Cheng was appointed the President of John Robert Powers for China, the world's largest model training and development school.
In 2011, Cheng was appointed the franchisee for Ford Models Supermodel of the World
for Singapore, Malaysia and China In the same year, Cheng was also appointed to the Board of Screen Singapore, Singapore's premier cinema event.
Nominated Member of Parliament
A Nominated Member of Parliament is a Member of the Parliament of Singapore who is appointed instead of being elected into office by the people, and who does not belong to any political party or represent any constituency. There are currently nine NMPs in Parliament...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and a leading figure in the fashion modelling industry in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, having had senior roles in Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management is a large modeling agency based in New York and Paris. It is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A.-History:Founded in France in 1972 by John Casablancas and Alain Kittler, it was rebought in 1990 by Nicholas Farrae. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model...
, Ford Models
Ford Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
, the world's two best known and oldest model agencies. He is also the franchisee for John Robert Powers
John Robert Powers
John Robert Powers was an American actor and founder of a prominent New York City modeling agency.In 1923, John Robert Powers founded a modeling agency. The John Robert Powers Agency represented many models who went on to success in the Hollywood film industry, and even Betty Bloomer who became...
for China.
Cheng is a graduate of the Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(Hertford College) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where he earned a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Management.
Cheng was the Asian regional head of Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management
Elite Model Management is a large modeling agency based in New York and Paris. It is a subsidiary of Elite World S.A.-History:Founded in France in 1972 by John Casablancas and Alain Kittler, it was rebought in 1990 by Nicholas Farrae. Elite World S.A. is the parent company of Elite Model...
, the agency which spawned supermodels Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Crawford is an American model. Known for her trademark mole just above her lip, Crawford has adorned hundreds of magazine covers throughout her career. She was named #3 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of the 90s...
, Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer is a German model and occasional actress, who reached the peak of her popularity during the 1990s, initially due to her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot. Schiffer is one of the world's most successful models, having appeared on over 500 magazine covers...
, Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is a British model. Scouted at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognisable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion world...
and Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Caroline Bündchen is a Brazilian fashion model, occasional film actress and goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme.In the late 1990s, Bündchen became one of the first in a wave of Brazilian models to find success...
amongst others. In 2003, the Elite Model Look International finals were also held in Singapore, which was the second time in 21 years that the event was held in Asia. Cheng left Elite in 2004.
Cheng is currently Director of Lumina-Looque International, Director of Looque Models and President of John Robert Powers China. Looque Models manages Asian models including Tracy Tan, Sara Malakul Lane, and Amber Chia
Amber Chia
Amber Chia is a Malaysian model. She was born in Ipoh, Malaysia, but grew up in the city of Tawau, in Sabah, East Malaysia. She began her modeling career at seventeen in Kuala Lumpur...
.
Cheng was also the President of Singapore's modelling association, which aimed to increase the pay and welfare of models in Singapore.
In August 2005, Cheng was featured in Singapore's 40th independence day official commemorative video as one of 40 outstanding Singaporeans under 40.
Cheng was on the Council of the Singapore Red Cross Society from 2009 to 2011.
In 2009, Cheng was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
, and inducted into the Forum of Young Global Leaders. He was one of five young leaders to be chosen out of Singapore.
In July 2009, Cheng was appointed a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore.
In 2010, Cheng was appointed the President of John Robert Powers for China, the world's largest model training and development school.
In 2011, Cheng was appointed the franchisee for Ford Models Supermodel of the World
Ford Models Supermodel of the World
Supermodel of the World is an international modeling contest established by Eileen Ford in 1980. The contest showcases young fashion model entrants from over 50 countries in order to discover new talent for the fashion industry...
for Singapore, Malaysia and China In the same year, Cheng was also appointed to the Board of Screen Singapore, Singapore's premier cinema event.