Meet Elaine Thong | Freelance Model & Pre-Med Student

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elaine Thong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elaine, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
My habit of sticking to a very strict schedule has contributed a lot to my success. I make sure to plan out nearly every minute of my day; this ensures that all of my priorities get completed, and that I do not waste any time. I also find that this is really helpful in maintaining a healthy balance in my life- I may realize that I have packed a day too full of work, and need to add some time in there for unwinding and recharging to prevent burnout.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been freelance modeling for almost 3 years now- I love being able to express myself in a creative way by being my own stylist, makeup artist, and agent. Of course, I would still love to get signed to an agency. I was recently cast for Haute Houston Szn III- the largest runway show in the city! I am super excited for this; it will be my first runway show, and I will be walking for designer CHAR Workroom- I am absolutely obsessed with her designs.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would make sure to take them to Chinatown (Bellaire) for the most authentic Asian food in the city! One of my favorite restaurants there is Mein, for Cantonese food. Tiger Sugar has the best boba tea in my opinion- the brown sugar boba is full of flavor and so squishy. Another place I love is the Sporting Club- it is a chill sports bar and great place to hang out with a nice ambiance and really good food! It is also located on Washington Avenue, which is full of tons of places to go out at night, from speakeasies like the Sugar Room to nightclubs like Heart. A fun daytime activity would be a picnic at Buffalo Bayou Park, which has beautiful view of the city skyline, and lots of walking trails to get our exercise in. On a Thursday, we could visit museum district, as a lot of the museums have free admission on Thursday! Some of my favorites are the Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Fine Arts. Rice village is also a fun spot with a lot of great food options– some of my favorites are Hungry’s and Tiny Boxwoods- which is known for their amazing milk and chocolate chip cookies!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to Alvin Tran (IG: @alvintran.photography). He was one of the first photographers I ever worked with, and I first started to get into modeling thanks to him posting my prom photos! I have worked with Alvin on multiple occasions and it has been amazing every time. He is always down to try new styles or go back to the basics! Recently, he has moved away from Houston and taken his talent to NYC!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainethong

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elaine_thong

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elainethong-652704948505350

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elaineth0ng

Image Credits
Elton Tang (IG @tangy.twist) Philip Emerson (@philipephotography) Asad Ahmed (@shotbyasad) Kevin Kysu (@kevin.kysu)