Lauren Chan
Canadian model and entrepreneur (born 1990)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Lauren Chan | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 9, 1990 Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
| Education | University of Western Ontario (BA) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouse |
Hayley Kosan (m. 2025) |
Early life and education
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
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
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
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]