A Modelling Journey: Between Cities, Between Selves
Courtesy of George Metu
3rd July 2024
By Brie, Interview and Edited by Pragati Priya
In early 2024, Brie left the misty mountains of Vancouver behind and landed in London with a suitcase full of dreams and a heart set on fashion. What began as a creative escape - posing in front of her friends' cameras during long university days - slowly blossomed into something deeper. In the quiet moments between shoots, modelling became her language: a way to process, express, and connect.
Each frame became a journal entry, a moment of reclaiming joy during a heavy chapter. What started as a hobby soon transformed into a calling.
Now living in London, Brie is carving out space for her modelling career to flourish. For her, it’s never just about the image, it’s about the emotion behind it, the story it tells, and the community it builds.
As she settles into her new rhythm, Brie reflects on the path that brought her here, and the one she's still writing. In this conversation, she opens up about the past, the pivot, and what’s next.
Courtesy of George Metu
What drew you to the city of London?
From my travels, London always stood out as a place I could truly see myself thriving. Fashion and personal style were becoming more than just interests for me - they are passions I want to explore for a lifetime. I wanted to be in an environment that not only inspired creativity but also challenged me to grow. At the same time, I had this quiet fear of plateauing, of reaching the end of my 20s and wondering what might have happened if I had taken a leap. Being in the early stages of my modelling career, I knew I had to give myself the chance in a city that lives and breathes fashion.
What stands out to you about London?
Expression of style — it’s visual storytelling, creative energy, a reflection of aura. It tells a story before we speak. It's not just clothes off a rack, it shapes how we move through the world. And this is so evident in an ethnically diverse city like London. Fashion feels deeply personal, yet culturally influenced.
What are the essentials in your bag as a Londoner?
My over-ear headphones have been a game-changer—I need that noise cancellation. Reducing the noise pollution in my life, where possible, has made a noticeable impact on my mental well-being.
Lip combo of the day! A girlie’s must-haves.
An extra packable bag - in London, you never go out for just *one* thing. I always find myself picking up groceries or a little gift for a friend on the way home.
Courtesy of Heidi Kao and George Metu
What is a challenge you’ve had to overcome since moving?
The recalibration of my relationships back home. Moving across the world not only changes your physical life, but it also changes your relationship dynamics. Whether it’s showing up day-to-day or celebrating a milestone, the avenues we once used to show up for each other aren’t available in the same way anymore. Before, my friends and I would spontaneously call throughout the week, but now there’s a time zone difference. If someone needed a pick-me-up, we’d go to our favourite noodle place and talk about what’s going on, or not. Sometimes we’d have a karaoke session and scream our hearts out. Being in each other’s presence is what mattered the most. We could be there for each other without saying anything at all. But living across the world impacts the way you can show up for others and requires vulnerability in different ways. How do you support someone back home when you can’t sit with them and dry their tears? How do you comfort them when there’s nothing left to say and you can’t offer a hug? Both sides have had to adapt and figure out how to navigate this. I’ve been learning how to be a loving sister, daughter, and friend while building my life and chasing my dreams miles away. There is so much adventure and excitement in moving, yet equally, there is sadness and grief.
How have you navigated through this challenge?
Allowing myself to experience the emotions as they’ve come, despite wanting to push them away. I’ve had to give myself a lot of grace in figuring out the balance between being intentional with relationships back home and also living my life here. Uprooting yourself from your home is never easy. It takes small efforts of boldness, accumulated over time, to rediscover safe people and places. As I’ve had the capacity, I’ve taken steps to build a life that has the essence of the home I left.
On the other side of the spectrum, what has been your most meaningful gain?
Reclaiming and pursuing my authenticity. It feels like this first year in London is just the beginning. The many years of sacrifice, discipline and effort are starting to come to fruition. I feel a growing sense of peace which comes from seeing how previous challenges have prepared me. My perspective has continued to shift from “why is it not working out?” to “where is this challenge leading me?”.I’ve been building muscle memory to navigate the daily emotions while staying connected to the bigger picture.
Courtesy of George Metu and Heidi Kao
What are some things about your hometown you may have overlooked previously?
The quiet and beauty of nature. Vancouver isn’t a city in the same way London is. It was easy to find pockets of peace and unplug. I also miss the value for money for Asian food!
With everything you’ve been through, what is one personal change you have undergone that your loved ones might not immediately recognise?
I’m more certain of who I am right now and who I want to become. I used to shrink myself to make others comfortable, and I was afraid to share my opinion because I wouldn’t want to offend anyone. When you’re young, they tell you “just be yourself”. But showing up authentically can be difficult because not everyone is going to respond positively. It’s not necessarily because you’re doing something wrong or disrespectful- sometimes you’re just not someone’s cup of tea. I’ve come to accept I am not for everyone, and that’s ok as long as I’m at peace with myself and I’m living out my values compassionately. We’re all on our own journey of loving and accepting ourselves, and people can only meet you as deeply as they have confronted themselves.
What parts of you did London help you discover?
It helped me choose myself. London helped me become the version of myself who cares the least about what people think. The least self-conscious, the boldest me! I have sacrificed a lot to get here, and at this point, I have nothing to lose but only to gain. It may sound odd, but because I sometimes feel guilty for putting distance and strain on my most loved relationships back home, I feel even more conviction to make the most of living here and have something to show for it. I’ve always had a deep conviction to make the most of what I have. In a big city like London, people don’t care about what you’re doing, whether it's on the tube or the streets. It has empowered me to step further into confidence and focus on my dreams.
Compared to a smaller city, when I started veering off from doing what people expected, I felt eyes on me. When I had first started doing photoshoots or posting my outfits, people would constantly ask if I was trying to do modelling full-time or what my intention was. My sister and I have been playing dress up and putting outfits together since we were kids. I was curious why people kept asking for an explanation, when to me, it was simply an extension of how I used to play. I was exploring and connecting with others who had a similar creative frequency. I became comfortable saying, “Not sure where modelling is going to go, but it’s a fun outlet for me”. We all need play in our lives– and for me, moving to London was putting myself in a bigger playground for fashion!
Although modelling began as play, I’ve been blessed to be able to do it as a job. Not everyone can do what they love for work. So with this privilege, it’s a non-negotiable for me to maintain the element of play as I progress through my career.
Courtesy of George Metu
Is London lonely?
Any place can feel lonely. I had family and friends in Vancouver, and sometimes I felt lonely there too. My biggest difficulty in my first year in London was a lack of deep connections. Trusted friendships take time. Even if my friends back home were not experiencing the same challenges as myself, they’ve known me for years. They can make me laugh and feel a sense of comfort by just being themselves. Back home, I had safe spaces to feel grounded and understood. London has many expats and immigrants, so I’ve found comfort in knowing people here have experienced similar emotions moving to a new country. As well, everyone's chasing something of their own. I’ve felt a sense of freedom knowing my dreams are not so unique.
What would you like to do differently this year?
More intentional rest. Last year, I not only had a lot of visitors, but all my holidays were short, extended weekends. Every weekend was either playing tour guide or jet-setting to another city - it was exhausting. I feel so fortunate to experience those things, but being on the go non-stop was too much for my body and took a toll on my well-being. My trips this year are longer in duration and less frequent stints, which has already helped me to properly unplug and recharge. Week to week, I factor in more buffer between activities, instead of booking myself back-to-back.
I also want to remember to prioritise my goals, focusing on what I came here to do. I have a stronger sense of what's good for me because I've been practising listening to my gut. Now, I’m much less likely to do something just for the sake of it, or solely because someone suggested it. I weigh my values into my decision-making more. Can you tell I’m a recovering people pleaser?
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself before moving?
I would tell myself to create space to process one of the biggest life changes. Tighter boundaries in the first eight months would have been better in the long run. I overcommitted to trips and visitors, so giving myself more buffer would have been a kinder approach to myself. I needed time to get organised and settled, especially since I didn’t find a permanent home until month four. At the same time, I thought these trips and visitors would have helped me still feel connected, but I couldn’t connect and be present because I was in a deficit.
When you’re trying to build a new life, having familiar faces visit, no matter how welcome, makes life a little complicated. It felt as if two versions of my realities were merging: the life I had before and the one I was starting to create. I sometimes felt suspended somewhere in between - not quite settled in, no longer part of the old. I would have felt differently if I had the time to settle in first and then bring the old into the new.
Do you feel like moving to London has brought you closer to your dreams?
Absolutely. It has given me more than I could have imagined already. Year one was tough, but I really believe it was the hardest part. The first year in any new city and country brings the most change. But chasing dreams requires vulnerability, and choosing to embrace this brought me much closer to my goals. I’ve made unique connections, accomplished global campaigns, collaborated with a more diverse spectrum of artists, and found a more authentic expression of myself. Though challenging, it has been filled with meaning.
What has this year taught you about what it means to truly “live”?
I used to think “living” meant going out and exploring, packing my schedule with hangouts and events. I still enjoy these things, but lately I find peace in using my time to prepare and rest productively. I no longer want to overexert myself to the point where it risks my ability to show up for things that matter to me. I always say one of the biggest challenges as a model is staying ready. It requires a blend of discipline and adaptability. My definition of living has evolved into creating a lifestyle where I can put time into my passions without compromising my values.
Courtesy of Heidi Kao and George Metu
Gratitudes and Credits from BRIE:
I couldn’t have had such a beautiful and meaningful experience whilst bringing this vision to life without the talented people involved. Thank you Pragati for being a safe space to process one of the biggest changes in my life, and your commitment to helping me put intricate emotions into words. Thank you Jass for being an example and inspiration to me on how to be unapologetically yourself, and bringing creative synergy. It would not have been the same without you inviting the talented Bethan, George and Patricia to elevate this editorial. Beth, thank you for your persistent sourcing and pushing the looks to give more. Thank you George for sharing your talent and time for a project that means so much to me. Patricia, thank you for your makeup artistry and adaptability. Thank you Heidi for being a generous friend, being willing to host and be part of this project since day one. Thank you Vivian for being a constant friend throughout this entire journey, supporting me endlessly, and always encouraging me to pursue my passions.
MODEL AND WRITER BRIE
PRODUCER JASS MENSAH
CREATIVE DIRECTOR BRIE, JASS MENSAH
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE METU
FILM PHOTOGRAPHER HEIDI KAO
STYLIST BETHAN DADSON
MAKEUP ARTIST PATRICIA HYTONEN
1ST ASSIST VIVIAN KU
INTERVIEWER AND EDITOR PRAGATI PRIYA