虽然时装商在全球的确有很大的影响力，但在它们究竟能不能引领人们对美的理解这一点上还有待商榷。此外，对于选择模特的目的究竟是不是要让普通女性自叹不如这一点上，人们也莫衷一是，未有定论。不能忽视的是，秀场上的模特并不仅仅是在诠释美丽。选择模特的标准也决定了她们同时也是一种有助于提升品牌知名度的个人形象。仍以吕燕为例，吸引时尚界的并不是她的美貌，而是她那种最经典的中国女性形象。虽然西方人在中国还能找出很多比吕燕更漂亮的女性，但是这些女性并不是西方时尚品牌们所希望传达的经典中国形象。吕燕在广告中所起到的作用就像在英文广告中使用法语一样，或者是在日语广告中加入一些英语，这些策略都能够给品牌带来一些异国风味和国际感。

    In addition to wanting to promote a certain image, fashion houses need to attract attention with something a little unusual. The best way to attract attention is with a person that is somewhere between conceptions of ugliness and beauty. Ironically, part of the appeal of LvYan is that many people don't find her beautiful. On the page of a magazine, she looks like a work of art. Her unusual look keeps people wondering whether she is beautiful or not. As they keep looking at her and try to decide how they feel, her sharp features draw attention to her make up, while her classical Chinese look helps to associate a cosmopolitan brand identity with any product that is using her.

    除了希望打造推广某种形象外 ......