April 2022. The first plus-size model on the cover of Vogue Japan. May 2022. The first woman of Asian descent and plus-size on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. 15.10.2025. Debut at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York. These are not random dates; this is the story of change in fashion written over the years.
Yumi Nu, born on 09/23/1996 in Englewood, New Jersey, has Japanese-Dutch roots. She is a curve model, singer, and entrepreneur. She lives in the Los Angeles area (around Silver Lake), and in September 2025, she got engaged to Dimitri Dinas. On Instagram (@_yumi_nu), she is followed by around 150,000 people.
It’s Okay To Jiggle
This is a slogan she carries like a flag. It represents something more than just body positivity, because:
- Size inclusivity on the runways is only just beginning
- Asian American models are still underrepresented
- First times open doors, but they don’t guarantee change
VSFS 2025 was not just her personal success. It’s a sign that fashion is finally starting to keep up with a reality where bodies look different. And maybe, just maybe, she won’t be the “first” anymore, but simply “one of many.”
Milestones in modeling and breakthrough at Victoria’s Secret
Yumi’s career began around 2010, but true fame came only years later. Represented by three agencies simultaneously (The Society Management in New York, Wilhelmina Curve in Los Angeles, and Elite in London and Paris), Yumi spent 14 years building her position in the curve segment.
The most important “first times”
The year 2021 was a breakthrough for her. In September, she appeared on the cover of American Vogue, then British Vogue, made her debut in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and H&M billboards featuring her image appeared in major cities. That same year, she walked in the Jacquemus show alongside Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, which opened the door to high fashion.
April 2022 marked the first plus-size model on the cover of Japanese Vogue. A month later came a second historic cover: SI Swimsuit, where she became the first plus-size model of Asian-American descent in the magazine’s history. She was even invited to the White House for AAPI Heritage Month.
VSFS 2025 and entry into the mainstream
On October 15, 2025, Yumi walked the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York. The brand described her as the “newest angel,” and the lineup included both legends (Adriana Lima) and representatives of the new, diverse era: Alex Consani, Anok Yai, Ashley Graham. This was the moment when curve modeling stopped being an “alternative” and became part of the mainstream lingerie industry.
Yumi’s measurements: 180 cm tall, measurements 38-31-43 inches, Shoe size 10.5 US, brown hair and eyes. Usually wears size 12-14.
Music and Blueki
Yumi Nu is not just a face on magazine covers. Since 2019, she has been developing her music career under the wing of Dim Mak Records (Steve Aoki’s label), where she releases sensual R&B and alt-pop. Her discography is a journey through sensitivity, body image, race, and anxiety:
- “Ego Boost” (06.2019) – debut EP
- “Hajime” (05.2022) – featuring the tracks “Sin”, “Sandcastles”, “Pots and Pans”, “Bouquets”
- Single: “25” (2022), “Laced” (2023), “Vines” and “Former Life” (2023), “Sponges” feat. Yuki Dreams Again (2024)
- Album “BLOODY” (2024) – full-length debut
The tracks balance between intimacy and rebellion. You can find them on YouTube (@YumiNu) and Spotify.
Blueki, ethical fashion in sizes XXS-6X
In October 2022, Yumi launched Blueki, a brand of made-to-order knit clothing. This is slow fashion in its purest form:
- Sizes XXS-6X
- Corsets, cut-out dresses, wardrobe essentials
- Prices up to approx. 350 USD
- Sales through the brand’s website, occasional sample sales (e.g., in New York)
Blueki is redefining the plus-size fashion category, offering more than just “safe basics.” For Yumi, music and business are tools of the same vision: expanding representation and agency. In fact, it’s hard to say where one ends and the other begins.
Yumi Nu
Yumi Nu appearing in Victoria’s Secret campaigns is more than just a marketing decision or a PR move. It’s a sign that the fashion industry is truly starting to listen to what audiences are saying, instead of clinging to standards that fewer and fewer people care about. The visibility of such models changes how young women perceive their own bodies and how brands build their credibility.
It’s not about trends that come and go every season. It’s about a shift in what we consider normal and valuable. Yumi shows that diversity in fashion can be authentic, without an artificial sense of mission or forced inclusivity.
And that’s what remains. When you see someone like yourself in places that once seemed out of reach, your sense that you belong there too begins to change.
Zannax
High Class Fashion editorial team