Named “the most beautiful new generation”, Ayla Sham is the spitting image of her mother Chingmy Yau. She made her foray into fashion as a model and quickly became the darling of  many fashion brands, representing a new generation of rising talent in the industry. This new year, Sham is embarking on a new journey as Ayla, her lesser-known English name, which she turned into an acronym for Vogue Hong Kong’s Youthquake issue: “Adventure”, “Youthquake”, “Love” and “A little bit of creativity”. In the bloom of her youth, Ayla sets off her very own “Youthquake” with vigour.

With a wealth of experiences at 20 years old, Sham is destined for extraordinary things. “With great power comes great responsibility”, an ancient adage made popular by crowd-favourite comic Spiderman, rings true for the young socialite. Mature beyond her years, Sham knows that she has the ability to influence other people around her, and the power of creating change has become the source of her positive energy in life. During her interview, the word “love” lingered on Sham’s lips — surrounded by a loving family and opportunities to pursue her passions, she carries the love that she receives with her in everything that she does and treats every person she meets with kindness and compassion. After all, love makes the world a better place.

What are three words you would use to describe the theme “Youthquake”?

I would sum it up with three Cs: Caring, Conscious and Creative. The younger generation has a lot of influence over society, culture and the world. They have many new creative ideas and they know how to utilise social media platforms to make their voices heard on issues they are concerned about, such as global warming. The younger generation is also very conscious about health in life, whether it be their physical and mental health or the health of the environment.  

Is there a reason why you chose to go by the name Ayla this time?

Ayla is actually not a new English name. I’ve always been affectionately referred to as “Yuet Yuet” by everyone around me because of my Chinese name, so I never went out of my way to bring up my English name Ayla.

What is the meaning behind the name Ayla?

Ayla has a Turkish origin, meaning “the moon”. In Scottish, it means “from a strong or resilient place”. I hope that I can live up to this name and shine as bright as the moon with a strong heart.

Why did you choose to officially go by your English name during the New Year? Does it imply that you are heading in a new direction?

I just turned 20, so I hope that I will enter the new year as Ayla as a marker of this milestone of stepping into my 20s. At the same time, I wish to show people a new side of me, a multi-faceted Sham Yuet.

If you were to introduce yourself with three adjectives, what would they be? 

The first adjective I would use is “love” because I have always been surrounded by love, love from family, friends, work, and even myself. Love is important, it is the starting point of everything. The second adjective I would choose is “lively”. I take time to warm up to people, so I seem like a quiet person. But when people get to know me, I am a cheerful person who likes to talk to people, and I like to share all my ideas. The last adjective would be “inquisitive” — I am curious about many things and I have the courage to try my hand at new things too.

When did you become interested in fashion? How would you describe your personal style?

I’ve been interested in fashion since I was a child, you can say that it started under the influence of my parents. Since my father was in the industry, I grew up surrounded by fashion and I enjoyed dressing up and experimenting with different styles. Apart from what I wear to work or special occasions, I prefer dressing casually. Comfortable basics such as t-shirts, jeans and sweatshirts are my favourite.

You have always been named “the most beautiful new generation” by the public. What do you think about that? What kind of “new generation” do you want to be?

Firstly, I would like to thank the public for giving me so much love. I am very lucky and grateful to be given such a title. I have to also thank my mother — she is not only my best friend, but she is also my role model. She is the reason why I’ve been so loved by the public. As a part of the new generation, I hope to show the public different sides of me and become a positive force by helping other children and teenagers of my generation.

Your parents are influential figures in the fashion industry. How have they inspired you?

As I mentioned, the most important thing my parents taught me is love. They are all very filial people and I’ve grown up feeling the love shared between my family members. Love is at the core of my values and at the starting point of my interactions with people around me. In terms of career, my father’s diligence and persistence in his work has inspired me to persevere in life. I’ve become someone who is constantly curious about the world and eager to learn new things.