Ann Li

Ann Louie Li (born January 17, 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand), popularly known as Ann Li, is a Filipino-Chinese-Taiwanese fashion influencer, television personality, actress, model, photographer and entrepreneur. She splits her time between Manila, Taipei and Paris and speaks fluent English, Filipino (Tagalog), Filipino (Cebuano), Chinese (Mandarin) and French. Li started a photography blog called AnnSnaps that turned into a lifestyle website where she documents her life to her online followings.^[1] Using the platform that Li built, she has volunteered to work with charity initiatives to help spread awareness and inspire others to do the same.

Early life

Li was born in Bangkok, Thailand to a Taiwanese businesswoman and former singer mother and a Filipino-Chinese businessman and engineer father. She grew up in the Philippines and later moved to Paris, France after receiving a full scholarship to attend IFA Paris. She uses her mother's last name (Li) and her father's last name (Louie) as her middle name for personal reasons. As a child, she attended the Southville International School and Colleges in the Philippines until the age of 14 where she decided she wanted to be homeschooled and pursue figure skating. A year after balancing her education with her extracurricular activities, she accelerated with a percentile ranking of 99% and graduated high school (secondary school) at the age of only 15.

Family

Li is the great granddaughter of Li JianChiu (李建秋), co-founder and President of The Red Swastika Society(世界红卍字会) Her maternal grandmother Kong FanQi (孔繁琪) is a 74th generation descendant of Confucius (孔子). Her maternal uncle is Qi Gong Master Li FengShan (李鳳山), who pioneered the Shuai Shou Gong and founded MeiMen (梅門), an organization that caught the attention of former Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou^[2] and also consults for Jet Li and many more notable martial artists. Her maternal aunt is Taiwanese actress and singer, 李潔如. Her other relatives include, 唐君鉑 and Annie Yi.

Career in television and acting

Television

She was a Teenternational Housemates of a Pinoy reality show in ABS-CBN Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010^[3] as the Diligent Daughter of Taiwan. Li entered the Pinoy Big Brother house on Day 22 as one of the "teenternational" housemates. After the first set of housemates was merged into one group that lived in one half of the house, Big Brother picked another set of teenagers to live in the other half. Li was part of that set, which was composed of teenagers who weren't pure Filipinos. Li was evicted from the Pinoy Big Brother house on Day 75, being the LAST housemate to get evicted on the show.^[4] One of the things that caught viewers’ attention during Li's run on the show was her friendship with James Reid. She and Reid have a very devoted fanbase called the JamLi Poppers,^[5] who would throw lavish parties in their idols’ honor. In 2010, James Reid's first interview on The Buzz, he was asked by Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino and KC Conception who he wanted to be paired with for his future projects. He answered "Honestly, Ann" which became a popular phrase among the Jamli Poppers.^[6] A few fan books inspired by the pair were released, including the Fan Fiction "Honestly, Ann".^[7] The most famous one called "To the Beach" by Anna Ida.^[8]

She was a part of Mondeerrifics group on Shoutout!, and later called Shoutout: Level Up! (teen variety show) on Abs-Cbn.^[9]

She had a special participation role on GoodVibes series in 2011 due to high demand from her fans.^[10] Playing the role of Lucy Ledesma, the famous celebrity who was linked to Spender Ziff.^[11]

She also starred in 2 episodes of Maynila, a Filipino drama anthology that has been broadcast on Philippine television since 1999 in GMA Network.^[12] Maynila: Queen's Secret', where she played the role of Queen Bee, Reina Gil along with Ivan Dorschner and Tricia Santos. 'Maynila: Bored to Love' where she played the role of Jenna, a college student who was never contented with her boyfriend's efforts. Her boyfriend was played by Bret Jackson.

On July 24, 2011, Li together with Fretzie Bercede were featured in James Reid and Bret Jackson's original song "Can't Dance" released under Star Records.^[13] They launched their first digital album entitled We Are Whatever on ASAP Rocks.^[14]

Stage play

Li starred in a Stage Play with Patrick Sugui. She plays the role of Alicia, the leading lady who is about to be married to her longtime boyfriend, Pepito. Basketball Fight is the title and it is directed by Mel Magno. November 19, 2011, the first showing date of the play at SM Sta. Mesa.^[15]

Career in fashion

At the age of 14, she started to design her own costumes for her figure skating competition but it wasn't until Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash 2010 that she really got to express and share her passion for designing. One of the tasks that the housemates were given was to deconstruct Von Dutch's ready-to-wear collection where Li did all the styling and directed the runway show that was aired on ABS-CBN, where their team (teenternationals) were given 2 extra slots for the Big Night instead of having only 4 winners, their season had 6.^[16] Li led them to winning the task which made history in Big Brother. The same year, she walked for the Jelly Bean show in Philippines Fashion Week and started her clothing line called DNA.

She debuted in a cotillion dance as a Teen Artist of Star Magic Batch 2010.^[17] Arriving at the Star Magic Ball, accompanied by her date Ivan Dorschner, she wore a designer gown and later changed to one of her own designs for the after party.^[18] She attended the 2011 Star Magic Ball in her own design with her date, her good friend, Jenny Kim. She's been attending the annual ball in her own designs since then.

After winning the 2011 Shorty Awards, "Best Fashion" on social media awarded in Times Center, NYC, Li was invited to walk for Candie's during Philippine Fashion Week as one of their 'celebrity guests'. Currently, Vanessa Hudgens fronts the campaign. Previous Candie's girls included Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas, Hilary Duff, and Britney Spears. The latest Candie's collection showcased an exciting confection of looks and styles of a contemporary princess — from poetic bohemian, midnight rebels, prima ballerinas, to romantic daydreamers. Li opened the show for the poetic bohemian segment.^[19]

In 2011, she worked as a fashion intern for Bang Pineda while taking a short course in fashion design at a local fashion institute. During Li's weekends, she would help the crew style the celebrity guests for ASAP(variety show). At times when she is invited as a guest herself, she would be working as a stylist and as a performer for the show. During her internship she also went to New York City and Seattle with the crew for International Fashion Tour. She was also a finalist for TeenVogue's ROUGE COCO SHINE Hydrating Sheer Lipshine video competition for Chanel.

In 2012, She finally began her blog to document her fashion endeavors.

In 2013, Li was chosen and photographed by Leslie Kee for his 15th Anniversary photo book called "Super Love" as one of the 500 well-known artists, dancers, creators, actors, models and other personalities dressed in a single scarf, drawn from the exclusive "Comme des Carrés" collaborative collection jointly produced by Hermès and COMME des GARCONS’ Rei Kawakubo.^[20] She also worked for Roberto Cavalli, Imane Ayisi and Emanual Ungaro as an intern during Paris Fashion Week while on other days she'd be seen on front rows at shows like Elie Saab, Ralph and Russo, and Issey Miyake. Since then she has done editorial shoots and collaborated with brands such as Calvin Klein, Marimekko, Kenzo to name a few.^[21]

In 2015, the Grand Hyatt, Singapore, invited Li to show her perspective of 'Living Grand', where she attended the Chinese New Year event wearing a modern QiPao look that she deconstructed. She also had a mini meet-and-greet and chose two of her Singaporean fans to join the private cooking demonstration by the chef, Soren Lascelles.

In 2016, Li is featured in June's issue of Vogue Taiwan, where she is hailed as the "It Girl" of the season. She was introduced as the 21 year old who is part of Facebook's million fan club.^[22][23]

L'officiel Manila included her in the list of 'From East to West: 9 Filipinas Taking The Fashion World By Storm' and wrote 'we dare to ask: what else is this 21-year old capable of?' because of her achievements in the Fashion Industry.^[24] She relaunched her website as a webzine in June 19, 2016.^[25]

Achievements

Li receiving her Shorty Award presented by Aasif Mandvi in 2011, NYC (age 16)

The Shorty Awards, hailed as the Oscars of Twitter by The New York Times, announced the winners in 36 categories last March 28, 2011 in New York City. "The finalists for the 3rd annual Shorty Awards prove that social media has matured as the main platform for celebrities and influencers alike to connect in short-form with their fans, followers and constituents," said Gregory Galant, the CEO of Sawhorse Media, which created The Shorty Awards.^[26] Of the winners, Li took home the award for fashion, presented by Aasif Mandvi, emerging as the winner with the most votes out of 1,861 nominees, which include One Direction member, Harry Styles, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and other Hollywood celebrities.^[27] Other winners were the Jonas Brothers for Music and How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris for Actor. To view the complete list of winners, go to The Shorty Awards website.^[28] Li was nominated again for the same category 'Fashion' on the 4th annual Shorty Awards in 2013.

Li also joined several Ice Skating competitions in year 2010 where she took home gold, and silver medal the rhythmic skating, artistic skating and other events.

On October 1, 2011 Li won the title "Ultimate Female Teen Fashionista" in a poll site "Piece of Speaks" a blog confirms a straight to the point topics about Philippines favorite actors and actresses^[29] which Li earn 2,548 votes. Li beats 5 contenders for the Ultimate Teen Fashionista. It is quoted on the blog that Li won because she does have her own style with an aura of a princess and most of her outfits and dresses are unique in her own ways. She proves to be a genuine fashionista and designer. Fortunately, all of her design from herself is worthy to wear since it is acknowledged by others.^[30]

After winning as Piece of Speak's Ultimate Female Teen Fashionista. On October 4, 2011, Li also won the title "Most Popular Teen Star of 2011" with 181,325 total points out from poll votes, Facebook likes and comment posting^[31] by "EnteRvrexWorld", an Ultimate Philippines entertainment poll site.^[32]

Li became part of the list of Top 100 Philippine Artists of 2011. The result of voting was revealed in the day of January 4, 2012. She made it to top 96 in the site "EnteRvrexWorld".^[33]

Television

Awards and nominations

Charity

Li set up a Facebook page in 2010 and made an online auction of her famous 'yellow bunny hoodie'.^[43] The money out of these will be given to Lola Vita and Lola Lourdes, the two elderly people from Hospicio de San Jose who visited the Pinoy Big Brother house.^[44] In January 2011, Li visited Lola Vita and Lola Lourdes at the Hospicio de San Jose and celebrated a pre 16th birthday party with her fans.^[45] Li's clothing brand (DNA) then sponsored a charity foundation (Future Faces Manila) during their runway event where she styled the models wearing her clothing brand and walked on the runway herself.^[46]

Li is named the founding ambassador of IMPCT, where she held an online contest to let her followers take part in spreading the importance of education by taking a creative photograph and posting it on their social handles.^[47] IMPCT won the 2015 Hult Prize awarded by former President of the United States, Bill Clinton.^[48]

Li is almost always present to support her family MeiMen (梅門)'s charity events which include live martial arts performances, gala's and other Chinese cultural activities that she usually documents on her social media, especially on her snapchat 'annydums'.

References

External links

• Ann Li's official website