If there’s one thing Issy Yong refuses to do, it’s dim her light to fit into someone else’s idea of beauty.

With a degree in interior architecture under her belt, she pivoted from design blueprints to modeling shoots, and eventually to launching her own size-inclusive swimwear brand, Issere. But Issy isn’t just building a business; she’s reshaping an industry that has long dictated who gets to be seen and celebrated. As a curve model, she’s stood in front of international campaigns, including Sol de Janeiro, and even found herself towering over Bukit Bintang on a billboard—moments that her 18-year-old self would have laughed off as impossible. Yet what makes Issy’s story powerful isn’t the glossy achievements; it’s the way she’s rewriting beauty’s rulebook.

Her love for makeup started the way many of ours did: sneaking into her mother’s collection, experimenting with Dior shadows and Bobbi Brown eyeliner to create a smoky eye that was more ambition than precision. Fast forward to today, and her beauty drawer is stocked with luxury staples and cult-favourites. But ask Issy, and she’ll tell you it’s not about the products; it’s about the confidence they help unlock. Her go-to routine is built on skincare that gives her a fresh, glowing base, layered with a few strategic touches.

Still, Issy knows beauty is about far more than a dewy finish. She’s spent years navigating an industry that hasn’t always made space for women who look like her, and instead of bending to fit the mold, she’s determined to expand it. She envisions campaigns that feature faces with acne scars, fine lines, and every skin tone on the spectrum. For Issy, representation isn’t just about visibility—it’s about rewriting the narrative so no one feels like they’re an exception in spaces where they should belong.

What’s most striking about Issy is her approach to influence. She isn’t chasing virality or shaping herself to trends. Instead, she’s leaning into storytelling—cinematic, poetic, and personal narratives that let her audience connect with her beyond the scroll. Her work is as much about intention as it is about aesthetics, rooted in a belief that beauty is most powerful when it comes with honesty. Whether she’s building Issere into a global brand, dreaming of collaborations with Fenty Beauty, or simply showing up online as her unfiltered self, Issy Yong is carving a path for future generations of women who deserve to see themselves celebrated—not hidden.

Now, Issy sits down with Fathom to talk beauty must-haves, breaking barriers, and why fitting in has never been the goal.