Catwalk Entertainment

Catwalk Entertainment (; trading as Catwalk) is a Taiwanese model and talent agency based in Taipei. Founded in 1984 by choreographer and fashion producer Hong Wei-ming (洪偉明), it has been described by Taiwanese fashion media as the first professional modeling agency in Taiwan and a pioneering force in the local fashion industry. 

The agency is known for representing fashion models who later became prominent actresses, including Lin Chi-ling, Tiffany Ann Hsu, and Annie Chen, as well as actor Ethan Juan, who first worked as a Catwalk model before transitioning into television and film.

In 2018, Wu Feng, the Chief Executive Officer of Seed Music Group, joined Catwalk Entertainment, marking a new phase of development for the company. Under his leadership, the group expanded its operational presence by establishing additional offices in Beijing and Xiamen, and strengthened its collaborations with leading film-production companies. Catwalk further broadened its business portfolio to include model management, artist management, fashion show and event production, integrated creative styling, public-relations execution, and brand-marketing consultancy, thereby building a comprehensive footprint across the fashion, film, music, and cultural-creative sectors.

 History 
Catwalk was founded in Taipei in 1984, when Hong Wei-ming established what has been described as Taiwan's first dedicated model management company. Hong had previously worked as a professional choreographer and costume designer for television, and moved into agency work after observing that models in Taiwan lacked formal training, clear contracts and professional representation.
According to Hong, he aimed to create a more structured system for model training, bookings and workplace protections at a time when modeling in Taiwan was still widely regarded as a marginal occupation.

During the late 1980s and 1990s Catwalk organised fashion shows, commercial campaigns and print work that helped shape the emerging Taiwanese fashion market.
 In 1990 Hong served as creative director for a Gianfranco Ferré runway presentation in Taiwan, using an all-Asian cast of models; the show has been cited as an early example of cross-border collaboration between international designers and Taiwanese production teams. Over time the company developed in-house training programmes covering runway presentation, styling and performance, which Taiwanese media later identified as an early model for local talent development in the field.

By the 2000s Catwalk had expanded from fashion modeling into broader talent management, with a growing number of its models crossing over into television dramas and film work.Ethan Juan first worked as a Catwalk model before transitioning into television and film roles.
 Outlets such as udn STYLE and Women's Health Taiwan have highlighted Catwalk as the starting point for several high-profile actors and actresses who later became associated with luxury brands and award-winning screen roles.
 Dream Star contest 
In the 2000s Catwalk launched the talent search program Catwalk Dream Star (), described in Taiwanese coverage as one of the first large-scale model and performing arts competitions organised by a local agency. The competition combines open auditions, training workshops and a final stage show for contestants seeking careers in modeling or entertainment. 

In its tenth edition in 2016, the program introduced separate divisions for models, acting and singing, with Catwalk stating that it sought to recruit young people interested in runway work, drama and performance across different media. The first-edition winner, actress Annie Chen, has publicly credited the contest with launching her career in television drama. Vogue Taiwan has reported on Dream Star's training process and backstage activities, describing it as a route for aspiring performers to gain practical experience before debut.

In 2024 the competition was relaunched in partnership with TDI Dream Institute (TDI夢幻學院), with new divisions for fashion models, actors, singers and social-media creators. Coverage by Yahoo Taiwan and ETtoday characterised the event as a "classic" talent search brand being updated for newer categories such as social-media creators and KOLs, while continuing to function as a platform for recruiting new models and performers for Catwalk and its partners.

 Notable Talents 
Media reports have identified several Talents who began their careers as Catwalk models or through its Dream Star program, including:

 Lin Chi-ling – model and actress, often cited in Taiwanese media as one of Catwalk's most prominent former models.
 Tiffany Ann Hsu – actress and model who started as a fashion model before moving into television drama.
 Annie Chen – actress and model, winner of the first Catwalk Dream Star competition.
 Ethan Juan – actor and former Catwalk model, later winner of the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actor for Monga.

 Awards 
 Drama 
2007

 Lin Chi-ling was nominated for the 13th China Huabiao Awards for Outstanding Overseas Chinese Actress and the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards for Best New Actor for her film Red Cliff.

2010

 Chuang Kai-hsun was nominated for the 49th Golden Horse Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his film Birds of the Year.
 Christopher Lee was nominated for the 47th Golden Bell Awards for Best Actor in a Television Film for his film Forgotten.
 Cheng Yuan-chang won Best Actor in a Television Series in Taiwan at the 14th Global Chinese Chart Awards and Asian Influence Awards.
 Ethan Ruan won the 47th Golden Horse Awards for Best Actor for his film Monga.
 Bianca Bai was nominated for the 45th Golden Bell Awards for Best Actress in a Drama Program for her film Bright Days.

 2011 

 Ethan Juan was nominated for Best Actor at the 5th Asian Film Awards for the film “Monga”.

 2012 

 Annie Chen won Best Actress at the first Sanlih Drama Awards Ceremony for her performances in “Love, Now” and “Inborn Pair”.

 2013 

 Annie Chen won Best Actress at the 2nd Sanlih Drama Awards Ceremony for her performance in Love Around.

 2014 

 Kaiser Chuang was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Program at the 49th Golden Bell Awards for A Good Wife.

 2015 

 Kaiser Chuang won Best Actor in a Television Movie at the 50th Golden Bell Awards for “The Road Home” from the PTS Life Story series.
 Tiffany Hsu won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Program at the 50th Golden Bell Awards for “The Way We Were”. 

 2016 

 Kaiser Chuang won Best Supporting Actor at the 18th Taipei Film Festival for “Maverick”.
 Annie Chen was nominated for Best New Performer at the 52nd Golden Horse Awards for “The Lies We Tell”.
 Tiffany Hsu was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Awards for The Tag-Along and won Best Actress  at the 18th Taipei Film Festival for her performances in “The Tag-Along”, “End of A Century: Miea's Story”, and “White Lies, Black Lies”. 

 2017 

 Christopher Lee won Best Actor in a Mini-SeriesTV Movie at the 52nd Golden Bell Awards for “The Long Goodbye”.
 Kaiser Chuang was nominated for Best Actor at the 19th Taipei Film Festival for “目擊者”.
 Annie Chen was nominated for Best Actress in a Mini-SeriesTV Movie at the 52nd Golden Bell Awards for “The Long Goodbye”. 

 2019 

 Frederick Lee was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 21st Taipei Film Awards for “The Scoundrels”.
 Fann Wong was nominated for Best Actress at the 25th Star Awards for “The Intruder”. 

 2021 

 Christopher Lee won Best Actor in a Mini-Series/Movie at the 56th Golden Bell Awards for “Workers”.

 2022 

 Christopher Lee won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program at the 57th Golden Bell Awards for “Danger Zone”.
 Regina Lei was selected as a Supernova at the Taipei Film Festival.
 Fann Wong was nominated for Best Actress at the 59th Golden Horse Awards for “Ajoomma ”and

won Best Actress at the 8th Asian International Film Festival.

 2023 

 Frederick Lee was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Program at the 58th Golden Bell Awards for “Taiwan Crime Stories – A Matter of Life and Death”.
 Kaiser Chuang was nominated for Best Actor in a Mini-Series/ Movie at the 58th Golden Bell Awards for “Bonus Trip”.
 Queena was nominated for the Most Promising Newcomer Award for “Sister”.
 Richard Lin was nominated for Best Actor at the 10th Taoyuan Film Festival for “Boys on the Bridge”. 

 2024 

 FrederickLeewasnominatedforBestActoratthe28thAsianTelevisionAwardsforTaiwanCrimeStories–A Matter of Life and Death.
 Frederick Lee won Best Actor at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Australia) for Fish Memories.
 Frederick Lee was nominated for Best Actor at the 26th Taipei Film Awards for Fish Memories.
 Frederick Lee was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 26th Taipei Film Awards for A Boy and a Girl.
 Fukuchi Yusuke won Best Actor at the 2024 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards for Last Madame: Sisters of the  Night.
 Hong Hui-Fang was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 29th Star Awards for Strike Gold.
 Richard Lin was selected as a Supernova at the Taipei Film Festival.
 Vito Hsia was nominated for Best Host for an Educational/Reality Program at the 59th Golden Bell Awards for  Naughty Kids Summer Camp.
 Christopher Lee won Best Actor in a Mini-Series/TV Movie at the 59th Golden Bell Awards for Port of Lies.
 Frederick Lee was nominated for Best Actor in a Mini-Series/TV Movie at the 59th Golden Bell Awards for Night  Blindness.
 Regina Lei was nominated for Best Actress in a Mini-Series/TV Movie at the 59th Golden Bell Awards for Port of  Lies.
 Yao Zhang was nominated for Most Promising Newcomer in a Mini-Series/TV Movie at the 59th Golden Bell Awards  for Port of Lies.
 Sandrine Pinna won Best Young Actress in a Feature Film at the 10th Antalya Film Awards for Go For Broke.
 Sandrine Pinna was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 61st Golden Horse Awards for Dead Talents Society.

 References 

 Other websites 
 CatWalk     （中文） （英文）




 Taiwan company information 

Category:Modeling agencies
Category:Companies of Taiwan
Category:1997 establishments in Asia