Inside Mimi's Harper’s Bazaar Tokyo Shoot
- Mimi Piqua
- Aug 23
- 5 min read
Some moments in life make you want to pinch yourself. Mine came in Japan, when I spontaneously decided to spend three months living in Tokyo. I worked with a multitude of companies, but couture roses on my dress, a giant bow on my chest, and Harper’s Bazaar on the other side of the camera? That had to take the crown.
It still feels crazy to type that out. It’s been over five months since I got back from Japan (although it feels like it was yesterday) and that shoot remains one of my favourite achievements of my gap year.
I’ve always been a dreamer, in every sense. That didn’t change upon entering the modelling industry at age 16. I set my mind that I wanted to do a big editorial (in one of the big 3) , walk a runway at Paris Fashion week, and work for a high end designer.
The Big three -
The hierarchy of fashion magazines is pretty clear for the top three:
Vogue reigns supreme, fronted by none other than Anna Wintour herself. Every fashion girl’s dream is to work with Vogue or be affiliated in some way with Condé Nast. There’s a reason people hoard stacks upon stacks of old Vogues like treasure.
Harper’s Bazaar is a close second, from a different publisher - Hearst. Born in New York in 1913, Bazaar is like Vogue’s more relaxed, go with the flow sibling. Underrated, in my opinion. And the one I now have my face in. (Feel free to applaud.)
Elle comes in third, boasting a strong focus on beauty, setting it apart from Vogue as it has a stronger focus on the beauty side of things.
The call that made my gap year -
I remember the exact moment I found out I was going to Japan on a modelling placement, because it was so sudden.
My agent phoned me while I was working at Anthropologie HQ during my internship. She asked if I could jump on a call with a Tokyo-based agency in five minutes. UM, babe, I’m working. I explained to my boss, got a 15-minute break, and hopped on Zoom ASAP. They took some photos, we chatted, and by 5 p.m. my agent texted,
“Guess who’s going to Tokyo?”
Immediately I was filled with excitement, but then an overwhelming wave of apprehension. I was freshly eighteen, had just started a new job, and had plans for the new year - which is when I'd be leaving.
Deciding it would be stupid to say no, I quit my job, cancelled my new years plans, suffocated my anxiety & said YES!
In January 2025, I landed in Japan and began my three-month adventure in the cultural hub of Tokyo. I have millions of stories from that trip, which I'm sure you’ll hear one day, but today, let’s skip to week eight.
How i found out about Harpers -
I was in my cutesy little Tokyo apartment - my first time ever living alone, and on a completely different continent, and somehow I was thriving. I miss my apartment profusely.
It was a Sunday, my only day off, and I was doing laundry when my Tokyo agent texted:
“You booked Harper’s Bazaar Japan tomorrow 🖤”
I screamed, jumped up and down - before realising the Japanese are very precious about their flooring, so I switched to quietly hopping. I blasted music and tried to call my mum despite the eight hour time difference.
Ecstatic doesn’t even cover it.
Manifesting to the Max -
One of my best friends in Tokyo had already shot for Harper’s Bazaar a few weeks before this and I was so jealous. I even sent my mum a video saying how happy I was for her, but also that I was surrounded by people constantly saying, “Oh, I did Harper’s the other day,” “I did Elle yesterday,” “I’ve got a Vogue shoot next week.” At the end of the video, I literally say, “Let’s touch wood and manifest it for me!”
WHAT. THE. HELL. I had no recollection of sending the video, and the very next day, I got the booking. If that doesn’t prove the power of voicing your goals, I don’t know what will.
The Big Day -
For those who don’t know: modelling shoots can be long, exhausting, and, frankly, horrible. But in Japan, I felt like royalty. The level of respect is unmatched, so I had no doubt the Harper’s Bazaar team would be the same.
When I arrived, I felt welcomed (even though I was unfortunately burdened with a cold). Turns out I’d already worked with the hairstylist before, when I shot for Numero Magazine in January! Last time he gave me extensions and a faux fringe. This time, he backcombed my entire head - ouch. It took forever, my hair was massive, but honestly?
I’d have let them do anything to it (minus dyeing or cutting). I mean it was Harper’s Bazaar!!
It’s crazy how well I remember all the details. It was such a big moment for me. The room smelt of roses and soap, there were hair products everywhere and rows upon rows of couture.
It was every fashion lover's dream. My outfit was a one of a kind Marni dress with a high neck and was covered in hand-drawn black and red roses. Around the bust, they added a huge Nina Ricci bow top. I was covered from neck to ankle, but I loved the modesty of it.
They even brought out the wind machine, and my backcombed hair was going for it. The entire team was lovely, and I felt so pampered while getting my hair and makeup done - nothing like in the UK. The team spoke Japanese with some broken English, but two months in, I’d learned a few phrases and did my best to make an impression.
SO in my broken Japanese I joked about how big my hair was and everyone actually laughed and understood me - goals.
Release day -
My stupid visa expired and my contract ended one week before the magazine's release, so I was back in dreary England when my best friend - who stayed an extra month - facetimed me with it in her hands.
I’d begged her to buy it for me and bring it back to London, which she did. She flicked through… and there I was. AND. The picture they’d chosen was actually good (Models will understand the fear of opening final shots and seeing something muggy as hell.)
Then she flipped to the cover. My jaw dropped. Rihanna. My queen, Riri?! Hell yeah. In my mind, that basically equates to a meet and greet. We share paper together. We are in the same magazine. We both looked good as hell.
Accomplished to the max. Life made.
For my super mysterious anonymity to remain in tact i can't be sharing my face. Just be grateful you got some crumbs from my camera roll. You'll get a face reveal at some point xox
Slowing Down to Celebrate
Shooting for Harper’s Bazaar is 100% one of the highlights of my modelling career so far, even if I had to explain the significance to my fashion-dense friends and family.
I wanted to write about it today because as I’m nearing the end of my gap year, yesterday I found myself feeling like maybe I hadn’t accomplished enough or utilised my time effectively. But here’s the thing: so many of us forget our old goals as soon as we hit them. We don’t celebrate. We move on too fast.
After I did Harper’s, I moved on immediately to seek higher. I’m now realising the importance of slowing down and appreciating what I once dreamed of I also accomplished. And that’s a great feeling.
With love, mimi
xox
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