She was considered “so pretty” that she was removed as platoon leader... and is now a top model

Imagine pushing yourself to stand out in a high-pressure environment like the military – only to be discharged just as you’re succeeding, and then finding success somewhere entirely different because of your appearance. That’s the story of Cheon Mi-kyung, a South Korean woman born in 1999 who, between 2022 and 2024, served as a second lieutenant in the Republic of Korea’s 7th Infantry Division.

Military to model

More specifically, Cheon led the third platoon of the ninth company and also worked as a public relations model for the army – a position she was offered following a recommendation from Army Headquarters.

But once her military service ended, she pivoted to modeling, where she quickly made a name for herself thanks to her physique and bold, eye-catching looks.

“My experience in front of the camera during my military service gave me confidence,” she said in an interview, “and became the driving force that pushed me to take on the challenge of becoming a full-time model after I left the army.”

In that same conversation, she made no secret of how much she loves her new career: “Photoshoots aren’t a solitary job – they’re a creative result made possible through the collaboration of experts in different fields,” she said.

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