Rising Stars: Meet Lulu Doan of Orange County, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lulu Doan.

Hi Lulu, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I honestly remember it so clearly. I was 19 years old, in college pursuing my bachelor’s degree in business marketing, and trying to start my own skincare product line. I had booked a model for a shoot, and that model, Alexandria Eissinger, actually ended up becoming one of my closest friends. In the middle of the shoot, she randomly asked me, “Have you ever thought about modeling?” I was SO caught off guard because modeling was never something I saw myself doing. At the time, she was also getting into photography, so she suggested we do a small test shoot just for fun. This was during the beginning of COVID lockdowns, when everything had kind of come to a standstill, so I figured, why not try something new?
We started shooting consistently over the next few months, and she really helped guide me while I built my portfolio and learned more about the industry. What started as something completely unexpected, naturally grew into a career I genuinely love.
Today, I primarily work in beauty and commercial lifestyle modeling while also growing my interest in the creative and production side of the industry through branding, creative direction, and understanding everything that happens behind the scenes. I’ve completely fallen in love with not just modeling itself, but the creativity, collaboration, and storytelling that comes with it

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would definitely be lying if I said success came right away when I entered this industry. Coming from absolutely no modeling background, there was so much I had to learn and figure out on my own. At first, everything felt very unfamiliar, from understanding the industry itself to learning how to navigate castings, networking, and building confidence in front of the camera. One of the biggest challenges for me was learning how to develop thick skin. Rejection is such a huge part of this industry, and hearing “no” constantly can really take a toll on you if you allow yourself to take it personally. Over time, I had to learn that rejection does not always mean you are not good enough, sometimes you are just not the right fit for a specific project, and that’s okay.
Patience was another major lesson for me. Success does not happen overnight, and I quickly realized how much consistency, discipline, and hard work it truly takes. Being 5’5” and not necessarily fitting the traditional standards or measurements of the modeling industry honestly pushed me to work even harder and become more driven. Instead of seeing it as a disadvantage, I used it as motivation to continuously improve and carve out my own path.
At the same time, this journey has also introduced me to so many incredibly talented and inspiring people. Collaborating with photographers, makeup artists, stylists, creative directors, and production teams has taught me so much, not only about modeling, but about creativity, professionalism, and the importance of building genuine relationships within the industry. Every experience, both the highs and the challenges, has helped shape who I am today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
It’s still a little surreal for me to call myself a model, but over the years I’ve really grown into it and found my place within the industry. I primarily work in beauty and commercial lifestyle modeling, which I love because it allows me to blend creativity, storytelling, and human connection together.
On the beauty side, I’ve had the opportunity to work with different makeup, skincare, and beauty brands, which has been especially exciting for me because I originally came from a business and marketing background and once dreamed of creating products of my own. Being part of campaigns where I get to help bring a brand’s vision to life feels super rewarding.
For commercial lifestyle work, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to beautiful hotels and resort properties around the world, creating content that captures not just the location itself, but the overall experience behind it. One of my favorite parts about this work is being able to experience different cultures, meet people from different walks of life, and collaborate with creative teams from all over. I really enjoy lifestyle modeling because it feels natural and expressive. It’s less about simply posing and more about creating moments and telling stories that feel relatable and aspirational at the same time. Every set, team, and project is different, and I still get that same nervous excitement every time I book something new.
I think what sets me apart is that I am genuinely interested in every aspect of the industry, not just being in front of the camera. I’m very keen in the creative direction, branding, marketing, and production side of things as well, so I always try to understand the bigger picture behind every project I’m a part of.
I also think being adaptable has helped me a lot throughout my career. I didn’t necessarily fit the traditional mold people often associate with modeling, so I learned early on how important it was to create opportunities for myself, stay open to learning, and continue evolving creatively.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was seriously a complete tomboy. I always had mud on my shoes, holes in the knees of my jeans, and spent Sundays fishing with my dad, you get the gist. I was definitely not the girl anyone would have expected to grow up and become a model. If someone had told me back then that this would eventually become my career, I probably would have laughed. My dream growing up was actually to become a baker. I was constantly asking my mom and grandma to teach me how to bake, whether it was sifting flour, mixing batter, or decorating cakes. I loved being in the kitchen with them, and honestly, that love for desserts never really left me. I still love cake just as much now as I did back then! Personality-wise, I think I’ve always been very easygoing and carefree. Even now, I try not to take life too seriously. I think that mindset actually helped me a lot when I entered the modeling industry because I never put overwhelming pressure on myself. I went into it with the mentality of, “If it works out, amazing. If not, life goes on.”At the same time, I’ve also always been very determined. I’ve never really liked being told “no,” especially when I know I’m capable of something. Throughout modeling, there were definitely moments where I was told I wasn’t the “right” size or fit for certain opportunities, but instead of letting that discourage me, it motivated me even more to continue proving to myself that I could still succeed in my own way. I’m also very much a “go with the flow” type of person because I’ve learned that life rarely goes exactly according to plan anyway. Ironically, modeling itself is the perfect example of that. What started as something completely unexpected ended up changing my life in the best possible way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aemodelmgmt.com/women/lulu
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luludoann/

Image Credits
– Personal photo and first headshot: Noah Nash – https://www.instagram.com/noahnash/
– Second black and white smile: Joshua Burch- https://www.instagram.com/joshuaburch/
– Third beauty skincare: Carolina Tapia – https://www.instagram.com/caro.takahashi/
– Fourth Swimsuit: Charlotte – https://www.instagram.com/lotteimages/
– Fifth Black Liner: Alan Nguyen
– Sixth: Bridal side smile: Emily Brianne – https://www.instagram.com/emilybriannephotography/
– Seventh: Editorial Suit: Vinh Phan – https://www.instagram.com/vinhphanstudio/
– Cyberpunk: Antonio Espino – https://www.instagram.com/antonioxespino/
– Backless Bridal and Black & white coat: Alexandria Eissinger – https://www.instagram.com/alexeissinger_photography/
– Belva Chan https://www.instagram.com/belva_chan/