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Lauren Chan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lauren Chan
Born (1990-08-09) August 9, 1990 (age 35)
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Western Ontario (BA)
Occupations
Years active2012–present
Known for
Spouse
Hayley Kosan
​
(m. 2025)​

Lauren Chan (born August 9, 1990)[1] is a Canadian model, editor and entrepreneur. She is the founder of the plus-size clothing brand Henning.

Early life and education

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Originally from Brantford, Ontario, Chan was born to a Chinese father and Armenian mother.[2][3] She attended the University of Western Ontario with aspirations of playing basketball. After her appendix ruptured, she took an interest in fashion.[4] She graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology.[5]

Career

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After graduation, Chan moved to New York City to pursue a career as a plus-size model with Ford Models[6][7] and as a fashion writer.[8][9] Three years after moving to New York, when she was 25, she stepped away from modeling and became the associate fashion news editor for Glamour in 2015.[4][10][11][12] In addition to covering the womenswear market, Chan focused on size-inclusion via her print column and digital vertical called "Style Your Size",[13][14] the Glamour x Lane Bryant clothing line which she co-designed,[15] and broadcast appearances on Good Morning America and Today[8]—still, she struggled to find clothes in plus sizes to wear to work.[16] As a result, Chan left her job in 2018 to create Henning, a plus-size clothing brand, and to return to modeling.[11][17][18] Ranging from size 12-24, the company's business model was based on made-on-demand, slow fashion.[19] In April 2023, Henning was acquired by Universal Standard.[20]

In 2018 the American Society of Magazine Editors awarded Chan the ASME Next Award for Journalists Under 30.[21][22] In 2019, Chan was named one of Chatelaine magazine's Women of the Year.[23] That same year, she was recognized by Toronto Life magazine as one of the city's best dressed.[24] In 2021, she was nominated for the Canadian Arts and Fashion Award for Digital Fashion Creator of the Year.[25] In 2023, she won the Canadian Arts and Fashion Award for Model of the Year.[26] That year, she also appeared on Toronto Life's list of the 50 most influential Torontonians[27] and Marie Claire's Power List.[28]

In 2023, Chan appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was the first queer plus-size Sports Illustrated rookie.[4] In 2025 she appeared solo on a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover, making her the first out lesbian to do so.[29] Same year, Henning was acquired by Universal Standard.[30]

In 2024 Chan appeared on the second season of The Traitors Canada.[31]

In May 2026, Chan launched a Pride-themed collection with Joe Fresh, featuring colorways inspired by the top of the progress pride flag.[32]

Activism

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Chan has been an ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association since 2019.[33] She is also a member of the advisory board for Model Alliance, an advocacy group for models.[34] In 2024, she was honored by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and New York State Assembly member Grace Lee for her leadership in New York City's Chinese-American community and work on size inclusion in the fashion industry.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Chan publicly announced her divorce from her husband on Valentine's Day 2023.[35] Later that year, in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue article, Chan came out as a lesbian.[36][37] In 2024, she announced her relationship with film director Hayley Kosan.[38] The couple got engaged in March 2025, and they married in October 2025.[39]

References

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  1. ↑ Chan, Lauren [@lcchan]; (August 9, 2025). "happy birthday to me !!!!!" – via Instagram.
  2. ↑ Panchal, Ananya (February 27, 2024). "Lauren Chan Reflects on Increasing Diversity and Inclusion in Fashion". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ Melero, Angela (February 20, 2024). "Sports Illustrated Model Lauren Chan Talks Identity & How Society 'Sets Us Up For Straightness'". The Zoe Report.
  4. 1 2 3 Alberga, Hannah (April 28, 2023). "This Ontario model is the first queer plus-size Sports Illustrated rookie". CTVNews. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ Renic, Karla (April 20, 2023). "Meet Canadian model Lauren Chan, Sports Illustrated's latest rookie: 'Icon'". Yahoo Style Canada. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ Karounos, Patricia (August 7, 2019). "Lauren Chan on Size Inclusivity and Her Fashion Favourites". Elle Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  7. ↑ Eqbal, Amelia (September 23, 2020). "A way around the no's". Western Alumni Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Bedolla, Daise (November 2023). "Lauren Chan Won't Gatekeep The Industry's Best Lash Hack". Into The Gloss. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lauren Chan Is Constantly Evolving — But Always Has One Goal in Mind". Cliché Magazine. June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ Stern Milch, Claire (July 11, 2023). "Lauren Chan Already Made 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit' History, and She's Just Getting Started". ELLE. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Satenstein, Liana (October 20, 2021). "How Model Turned CEO Lauren Chan Finds the Coolest Vintage Online". Vogue. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Lauren Chan". JAG models. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Style your Size". Glamour. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  14. ↑ Slone, Isabel B. (June 9, 2023). "Lauren Chan Is Bringing Queer Pride to Size-Inclusive Fashion". Canadian Business. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  15. ↑ Fernandez, Chantal (October 17, 2016). "The First 'Glamour' x Lane Bryant Collection Is All About Chic, Simple Basics". Fashionista.
  16. ↑ "The Profile: Lauren Chan". Rose Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ Scriver, Amanda (January 31, 2020). "Designer Lauren Chan is making pieces worthy of the plus-size consumer". CBC News. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  18. ↑ Parker, Odessa Paloma (September 12, 2019). "Lauren Chan couldn't find chic plus-size office wear. So she started a new label". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  19. ↑ Fisher, Lauren Alexis (September 13, 2019). "This New Brand Is One of Fashion Week's Most Important Launches". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  20. ↑ James, Dani (April 14, 2023). "Universal Standard acquires plus-size brand Henning". Retail Dive. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  21. ↑ "ASME NEXT AWARD 2018 WINNERS ANNOUNCED". ASME. February 7, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  22. ↑ LeSavage, Halie (June 16, 2022). "13 Things Henning Founder and Model Lauren Chan Would Buy Again". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  23. ↑ Kong, Stacey Lee (November 29, 2019). "Woman of the Year 2019: Lauren Chan". Chatelaine.
  24. ↑ Leydon, Erin (September 5, 2019). "Toronto's Best Dressed, 2019". Toronto Life. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  25. ↑ Mariotti, Sarah (May 20, 2021). "CAFA 2021 Winners: The Full List of Winners From the 2021 CAFA Awards". FASHION Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  26. ↑ "All the Winners at the 2023 CAFA Awards". Elle Canada. October 14, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  27. ↑ "The 50 Most Influential Torontonians of 2023". Toronto Life. November 16, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Presenting This Year's Power List". Marie Claire. December 13, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  29. ↑ Yurcaba, Jo (May 13, 2025). "Lauren Chan is the first out lesbian to appear solo on a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover". NBC News.
  30. ↑ Chen, Cathaleen (April 13, 2023). "Universal Standard Acquires Plus-Size Workwear Brand Henning". The Business of Fashion. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  31. ↑ Palombi, Laura (September 10, 2024). "Lauren Chan Wants You To Embrace Your Dualities". ELLE Canada Magazine. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  32. ↑ Knowles, Lauren (May 29, 2026). "The May 2026 Fashion Moments We Can't Stop Thinking About". Elle. Canada. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Henning CEO Lauren Chan Joins National Eating Disorders Association as its Newest Ambassador". National Eating Disorders Association. March 29, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  34. ↑ O'Bleness, Cara (April 19, 2023). "Meet 2023 SI Swimsuit Rookie Lauren Chan". Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  35. ↑ Jones, Allie (March 28, 2023). "Everyone Announces Their Divorce Like a Celebrity Now". The Cut. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  36. ↑ Studley, Chris (June 2, 2024). "'You will never take away our pride': Lauren Chan represents Toronto queer history at Miami Swim Week". Yahoo! Life. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  37. ↑ Lee, Michelle. "SI Swimsuit Model Lauren Chan 1 Year After History-Making Rookie Debut: 'I've Come Into My Own' (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  38. ↑ Spina, Ellie (January 2, 2024). "Canadian model Lauren Chan 'hard launched' her new girlfriend Hayley Kosan: 'Couple goals'". Yahoo! Style. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  39. ↑ LaGorce, Tammy (October 27, 2025). "Finding Herself First, Then Finding Love". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
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