“I’m promoting this idea that you need to love yourself and feel comfortable about who you are,” she says. “I wanted to tell people that I am Asian, I am Chinese, but I can look any way I want.”

Her Instagram feed features collaborations with a broad range of brands, from independent and big-name luxury labels to plus-size designers and fast fashion. But Hao is not only an advocate for the plus-size community; she is planning to launch an online platform for Asian women, called Asian got U, that provides a space to celebrate all Asian body types, cultures and experiences.

She’s also building up a following in China, with accounts on Weibo, China’s leading microblogging platform, and Xiaohongshu, a social media and e-commerce platform, that offer tips and encouragement for shoppers tackling an environment with far fewer plus-size options.

It’s not just Hao who is boldly showing off her style online. Her eight-month-old French bulldog, Halo, has his own Instagram account, where he models for dog clothing brands and even takes part in yoga and spa sessions with her.

Hao’s personal style

“My style is colourful, bold and feminine. I like to wear unique pieces, but I still want to make it wearable for day to day. I like to follow the trends, but I don’t necessarily wear what’s most trendy. I know what works on my body and based on that, I’ll add trendy, edgy elements.

“Asos is one of my easy go-to spots to shop because they have a range of pieces all on one website. I also like all the online department stores because they have all the brands in one place – I shop on Net-a-Porter the most.

“I don’t really limit myself to one brand, but I have a few more pieces of some designers than others. I like MSGM, and I wear ModCloth because I’ve had good collaborations with them. I like Marni and Marina Rinaldi. I also wear independent small designers too because I like unique pieces.

“Comfort is important, but I believe beautiful clothing can be comfortable, too. A lot of people say they only want to wear super comfortable clothes and won’t wear something that looks uncomfortable, but you really have to try it on.

“Design is always important to me – the shape, the cut, the colour, an eye-catching element: these are things that make me decide if I want an outfit or not. Then, I consider comfort.

Life as an influencer 

“I mostly shop for myself, and I only wear clothing I like. Everything is based on pieces I love. From there, it’s a business. My style over time has definitely changed – as an influencer, I get to see the newest styles and sometimes collections that aren’t on the market yet. That has definitely helped me have a sharp eye when I pick out clothing, as I understand the trends better.

“I don’t like to link up my Instagram outfits to what sells because what sells well are simple items. If I go by what sells, my style will become boring because a simple jumper, simple jeans, or simple sneakers will sell the most.

“If you look at my Fashion Week style, it can be very avant garde, very forward and very edgy. I know that’s not something that people will wear much, so on a daily basis I try to make my outfits still wearable without losing the unique pieces or accessories that are just a little different.

“I want to be the inspiration for people when they try to dress out of the box. If my style is too much for them, then maybe they can take one or two elements from my style and make it their own.

“My followers helped to shape who I am. In the beginning, I just shared my photos and people would comment and be like, ‘Oh my god, I'm glad I found you because your style looks so edgy and stylish’. And after I started marking myself as plus size and curvy, my following just went crazy – more people noticed me and the influencer business became a very big deal to me. The more I’m in the industry, the more I meet cool, inspiring people and my message becomes more clear.”

Planning for fashion week

“I bought these shoes for fashion week. I am not sure if I’m going to wear them yet, but I’m preparing ahead of time. Definitely the colour and the cut catches my eye as I’m looking for something unique. If I’ve never had it in my closet before, then I’ll be interested to buy it.

“I never think about how to match an item of clothing because I know I always can. I just buy the pieces in the moment because I like them. I know when people shop they always tend to say, ‘Oh what will I pair this with?’ I never think that way.”

Plus-size fashion

“A lot of people keep saying, ‘Oh, you have a great style for plus-size woman.’ I always say I have good style, it just happens to be plus-size. But I do have a lot of tips for plus-size women.

“First, fabric is very important because I know how it feels if the material is not good for my body. I wear a lot of knitwear, cotton, and even stretchy fabric not just because it gives you more room, but because the level of comfort is important.

“Stretchy materials are very good for plus-size women because each person’s body shape can be very different – some women are bigger on top, and some women are bigger on the bottom, so when an item of clothing is stretchy, it can adapt to your body shape. That’s very important.”

How plus-size models are challenging the shape of the fashion industry

“Second, some plus-size women are very afraid to wear colour, but I say the more colour and the more different prints you wear, people will actually not even focus on your size.

“Always try the clothes on. That’s also very important. Don’t say no to anything before you try it on.

“Another reason I like shopping online a lot is that some [bricks-and-mortar] brands are making bigger sizes, but they don’t carry it in the store. When they don’t carry the bigger sizes, a lot of customers don’t even know they have larger sizes, and that’s not good for the brand image. You’d be surprised at how many brands do this.

“I want to show people that no matter what size you are, you can wear anything you want. If you have the budget, you should be able to buy any brand and any style you like. I’m not against fast fashion – I think it’s great, it helps a lot of people, and you can find a lot of cute pieces, but I’m just saying that the industry shouldn’t limit us there.

“All brands at different levels and different price points should offer bigger sizes because there are a wide range of plus-size customers looking for stylish outfits for different occasions.”

Puppies of Instagram

“This is my dog walking outfit. I always wear this coat – it’s so warm and you just throw it on and it’s easy. This is very comfy.”

“I got Halo July last year. We have a lot of matching outfits. I find them in China on Taobao. In the US people are into dressing up their dogs, but I don’t feel like they’re into matching outfits. You can actually find pairs of dog and human outfits online, but sometimes I’ll just try to find something simple that is the same colour or print to what I have in my closet.”

“Halo’s off-white leash is from Taobao. It's not a real one – I don't think they’re making dog clothing yet!”