Lauren Chan is a Canadian model, editor and entrepreneur.[1]
Career
Originally from Brantford, Ontario, Chan graduated from University of Western Ontario in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She then moved to New York City to pursue a career as a plus-size model with Ford Models[2][3] and a fashion writer. Three years later, she stepped away from modeling and became the fashion news editor for Condé Nast-owned Glamour in 2015.[1][4][5] In addition to covering the womenswear market, Chan focused on size-inclusion via her print column and digital vertical called Style Your Size, the Glamour x Lane Bryant clothing line, which she co-designed,[6] and broadcast appearances like Good Morning America and The TODAY Show—still, she struggled to find clothes in plus sizes to wear to work.[7] As a result, Chan left her job in 2018 to create Henning, a plus-size clothing brand and return to modeling.[1][8][9] Ranging from size 12-24, the company's business model was based on made-on-demand, slow fashion.[10] In April 2023, Henning was acquired by Universal Standard. Following the acquisition of Henning, Chan appeared as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie in the 2023 issue.
In 2018 American Society of Magazine Editors awarded Chan the ASME Next Award for Journalists Under 30.[11][12] In 2019, Chan was named one of Chatelaine magazine's Women of the Year.[13] That same year, she was recognized by Toronto Life magazine as one of the city's best-dressed Torontonians.[14] In 2021, she was nominated for The Digital Fashion Creator of the Year Award from the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards.[15] In 2023, she won the Canadian Arts and Fashion Award for Model of the Year. That year, she also appeared on Toronto Life's list of 50 most influential Canadians and Marie Claire's 2023 Power List alongside Michelle Obama, Emma Grede, and Megan Fox.
Activism
Chan has been an ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association since 2019.[16] She is also a member of the advisory board for Model Alliance, an advocacy group for models.[6] In 2024, she was honored by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Assemblymember Grace Lee for her leadership in New York City's Asian-American community and work on size-inclusion in the fashion industry.
