At the age of five, her family relocated from London to New York. Chow later moved to Los Angeles, where she attended Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles. She went on to study psychology at Scripps College in California, earning her bachelor’s degree. Fluent in French and deeply interested in the arts from an early age, she was often exposed to the creative world through her culturally rich upbringing.

Modeling Career and Fashion Industry Impact

After graduating from college, China Chow embarked on a successful modeling career. She became a sought-after face in the fashion industry and modeled for major brands including DKNY, GAP, Tommy Hilfiger, Barneys New York, Lane Crawford, and Shiseido. Her work drew the attention of top fashion photographers such as Arthur Elgort, David Bailey, Mario Testino, Richard Avedon, Mario Sorrenti, Inez & Vinoodh, Terry Richardson, and Patrick Demarchelier.

Acting Career and Television Appearances

Chow made her acting debut in 1998 alongside Mark Wahlberg in the action-comedy film The Big Hit. She continued acting with roles in films such as Head Over Heels directed by Mark Waters and Spun directed by Jonas Åkerlund. On television, she appeared in the first season of the USA Network series Burn Notice.

In 2010, Chow expanded her presence on television by serving as a judge on Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, a Bravo reality competition series that premiered on June 9, 2010. She has also made guest appearances on various talk shows, including NBC's Today Show and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, contributing to her visibility in popular culture.