Bruno Di Angelis Souza Sandes, a Brazilian model, first came to Shanghai in 2006 for work. He admitted that he was only a beginner then and didn't even know how to pose.
"I got so many jobs during that trip, including editorials and fashion shows, and my first catalog. I didn't even know how to pose for it because I had never worked for a clothing brand before," he said. "That work trip gave me so many experiences. It was a big break for me. I got a deep feeling for China since then."
He left China to do modelling work in Mexico, Spain, and Italy. He decided to go back because he thought that he will grow and learn more in China than in any other country.
He returned three years ago and has not left the country since. He said that he likes working in the country because he always has projects to do especially luxury brands like Giorgio Armani have offices in China.
Jacqueline Jacques, another Brazilian model, agrees with Bruno. She came in the country in 2012.
"The types of jobs in China are more diversified and more challenging. For me, I grew a lot more here than in my seven years modeling experience back in Brazil," the female model said.
Because of the number of models now in China, the competition for jobs is getting fiercer. Bruno admitted that he often loses jobs to less experienced models because they charge half the price.
Max Liu, founder, and CEO of Fun Models said that Brazilian models are in demand in China because of the color of their skin and innate Latin American features, which is fitting to the current fashion trends.
He said, "As more Chinese young people like sport and fitness, they also like models that are more fit and healthy. That's a new trend in China, so Brazilian models are more welcomed here because their image is more in line with the new beauty standard."