SINGAPORE, Jan 8 — We love Chinese supermodel Liu Wen. The 27-year-old is gorgeous, spunky and breaks glass ceilings everywhere she struts.

For one, the daughter of a construction worker became the first Asian model for Victoria’s Secret and Estee Lauder. Forbes has also named her among the world’s highest paid supermodels last year, with earnings on par with Kate Moss and even beating Kendall Jenner. In the latest Chinese New Year campaign for H&M, she gets to cosy up again with her co-star in the Chinese television serial We Are In Love, Korean singer Choi Siwon.

The “normally quite tomboy” model is more than happy to trade her jeans for frocks for the Chinese New Year celebrations, especially if the outfits can be worn after the festivities. “During special occasions such as Chinese New Year, it feels great to look feminine,” she said, and added that many of the pieces from H&M’s collection fit her personal style.

“I especially like the floral flare dress as it goes beyond traditional festive wear. It can be worn all year round.”

Beyond clothes for the New Year, she recalled her childhood celebrations with relish. “We would rush to get out of bed for red packets from the elders. The money is usually very new. I would be very happy just looking at it and not wanting to spend it!” And guess what, supermodels like her are just like mere mortals. She gets nagged about her love life during family reunions. “Elders nagging during Chinese New Year simply just means that they want me to find another half. They know clearly though that it is not easy to do, so I do not feel any pressure about it. Love, to me, is definitely not a fairy tale, but more of holding hands to cross the road,” she shared.

The go-getter revealed she’s very much focused on work for this year and hoped to be featured in different varieties of magazines. But she also remains sanguine about not planning too much, lest life gets unsurprising and the future “lacks curiosity” as she so aptly described.

As for her leading man for this H&M campaign, the future in 2016 is very much set for Choi as he’ll be doing his military service in South Korea. In fact, the Super Junior star had posted a picture of himself in army fatigues on his Instagram account three weeks ago.

Declining to chat about his career plans after military service or even the idea of romance, Choi did have an opinion or two about fashion.

“My fans would know that I have tried various fashion styles for a very long time. For now, I have found my most suitable style: Simplicity. I like a classic and simple style, it is comfortable and timeless,” he said, adding it’s a good thing the H&M Chinese New Year menswear collection can be mixed and matched with existing items in the wardrobe.

In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, the 29-year-old did reveal his burning desire for... Korean-style pancakes with his family and friends.

“Nothing beats a feast of traditional Korean food prepared by my family, such as Korea style pancakes and ribs stew,” he declared.

Well, with great food and new threads to mark the Chinese New Year, who needs romance, right?

H&M’s Chinese New Year Collection will be available in stores from January 21. — TODAY