Early Life & Family Roots
Olivia Yumi Nootenboom—known professionally as Yumi Nu—was born on September 23, 1996, in Englewood, New Jersey. She is of Japanese and Dutch descent, the granddaughter of Rocky Aoki, founder of the Benihana restaurant chain, and niece to model-developer Devon Aoki and DJ Steve Aoki Into The Gloss+15Wikipedia+15InStyle+15Glamour+6Teen Vogue+6PAPER Magazine+6.
Yumi grew up first in New Jersey, later in Maryland, before moving at age 14 to Newport Beach, California. She has openly reflected on being one of few Asian American students at school and facing racial bias during childhood Wikipedia.
Modeling Beginnings
Yumi entered the fashion world very early—her mother brought her to modeling shoots as an infant, though she would cry. By age 12, she began actively modeling and went on casting calls during her teens, booking occasional jobs in high school despite industry resistance toward her then size (~size 10). She relaunched her modeling path around 2010 when plus-size modeling began to develop more fully Into The Gloss.
Her early career included campaigns for H&M and features in Vogue editions, including American, British, and Japanese Vogue. These successes emerged as the fashion industry shifted toward greater diversity and body inclusivity Famous Birthdays+15Vogue+15Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+15.
Breakthrough: Sports Illustrated & Vogue
In 2021, Yumi Nu made history by becoming the first nonstop Asian plus-size model to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, marking her debut in the iconic fashion franchise Parade+15Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+15Wikipedia+15. In 2022, she landed on the cover of SI Swimsuit, the first Asian curve model ever to do so, shooting in Montenegro alongside icons like Kim Kardashian, Ciara, and Maye Musk Vogue+10Wikipedia+10People.com+10.
That same year, Yumi had the honour of being Vogue Japan’s first plus-size cover model, a milestone she described as particularly meaningful since Japanese culture often values slim physiques, making her visibility profoundly affirming Vogue+15Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+15Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+15.
Music Career & Artistic Vision
Parallel to modeling, Yumi Nu is a singer‑songwriter. With singing lessons at age 12 and songwriting by 15, she recorded her first song in 2016. She released her debut EP in June 2019 on Dim Mak Records—the label owned by her uncle Steve Aoki—and rebranded her sound in 2022, reflecting alt‑R&B and indie influences, ahead of releasing the sophomore EP Hajime (meaning “beginning”) Vogue+6Wikipedia+6bighassle.com+6.
Entrepreneurial Venture: Blueki
In response to limited plus-size fashion options, Yumi founded Blueki—a size–inclusive clothing line designed for all body types, ranging from XXS to 6XS. Launched in fall 2022, Blueki emphasizes sustainable, high-quality and timeless garments made ethically and intentionally for curvier consumers Celeb Health Magazine+3Hypebae+3Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+3.
Agency Representation & Modeling Stats
Yumi is represented by The Society Management in New York and Wilhelmina Models in Los Angeles BrightCeleb+3Wikipedia+3Celeb Health Magazine+3. According to her profile on Models.com, she’s also represented by Elite in Paris, Milan and London Models.com.
Although some reports list her height between 5′6″ (1.68 m) and 5′11″ (1.80 m), the verified Wikipedia entry states she’s 5 ft 11 in tall, with brown hair and eyes WikipediaCeleb Health Magazine.
Personal Life & Residence
Residing in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, earlier she also lived in Brooklyn following her rise in modeling. Her younger sister, Natalie Nootenboom, is also a model and musician, and the two often collaborate and support representation together Vogue+6Wikipedia+6Teen Vogue+6.
Activism & Message
Yumi Nu is a vocal advocate for body positivity, Asian American visibility, and mental health awareness. She has shared candidly about self-acceptance and the shift in her mindset starting in her teens. Her public statements emphasize that representation matters deeply—for young plus-size and Asian girls who rarely saw people like her reflected in media or on magazine covers Celeb Health Magazine+4Glamour+4Philstar Life+4.
Her essay “My Year of Visibility” for SI Swimsuit discusses breaking cultural beauty norms and encouraging women everywhere to embrace their bodies—especially those cultures that idealize being dainty or slim Glamour+4Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+4People.com+4.
She also responded strongly to backlash after body-shaming comments, calling for respect and emphasizing that her success cannot be undone by negativity Teen Vogue.
Skincare & Personal Rituals
In an interview with Vogue’s Beauty Secrets series, Yumi shared her daily skincare and beauty rituals: cleansing with Foreo tools, Japanese sheet masks, daily sunscreen (EltaMD), and minimalist makeup with winged eyeliner, faux freckles, gloss, and setting mist. She emphasizes self-care through creative expression in both music and modeling as vital to her mental wellness Vogue.
Timeline of Milestones
Timeline Highlighting Yumi Nu’s Career and Impact:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Born in Englewood, NJ |
| ~2008 | Began modeling and singing lessons |
| 2010 | Started modeling more regularly as industry evolved |
| 2019 | Released debut EP on Dim Mak Records |
| 2021 | First Asian curve model in SI Swimsuit; featured in Vogue |
| 2022 | SI Swimsuit cover model; Vogue Japan cover; released EP Hajime; launched Blueki |
| 2023–2024 | Continued SI appearances; featured covers on Vogue Japan; brand growth |
| 2025 | Editorials in British Vogue and V Magazine; walking runways (Models.com updates) Celeb Health Magazine+1Wikipedia+1Vogue+6Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+6Wikipedia+6Vogue+4bighassle.com+4BrightCeleb+4TheCurvyMagazine+12People.com+12People.com+12Models.com+1Wikipedia+1 |
Cultural Legacy & Future Outlook
Yumi Nu’s impact resonates beyond fashion. As a model, musician, entrepreneur, and advocate, she continues to challenge beauty norms, uplift marginalized voices, and expand inclusivity in body representation. She has appeared at public events like the White House celebration of AAPI Heritage Month in May 2022 Wikipedia+1Celeb Health Magazine+1.
Future goals include growing her music career with richer alt‑R&B/dream pop offerings, expanding Blueki to international markets, and using her voice to support mental health and self‑esteem initiatives.
Quick Facts About Yumi Nu
- Full Name: Olivia Yumi Nootenboom
- Born: September 23, 1996 (Age 27–28) Wikipedia+4Wikipedia+4Celeb Health Magazine+4
- Nationality: American (Japanese‑Dutch heritage)
- Height: ~5 ft 11 in (≈1.80 m)
- Agencies: The Society Management (NY), Wilhelmina (LA)
- Key Achievements: First plus-size Asian SI Swimsuit cover; Vogue Japan cover; founder of Blueki
- Music: EP Hajime (May 2022); signed to Dim Mak Records
- Followers: ~135–140 K on Instagram @_yumi_nu Models.com+11Famous Birthdays+11Wikipedia+11Wikipedia+1Vogue+1Teen Vogue+6Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+6Celeb Health Magazine+6
External Links
- Yumi Nu’s Wikipedia Page
- Model Yumi Nu Launches Blueki (brand launch coverage) Celeb Health Magazine+2Hypebae+2Sports Illustrated Swimsuit+2
- Teen Vogue Feature on Yumi & Natalie Nootenboom Teen Vogue
Internal Links (Sample site context)
- Top Inclusive Fashion Brands to Follow
- Plus Size Models Who Changed the Industry
- Impact of Representation in Media
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Q: How old is Yumi Nu?
A: She was born on September 23, 1996, making her around 27–28 as of 2024.
Q: What is Yumi Nu famous for?
A: She’s known as the first Asian-American plus-size model on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, a Vogue cover star, musician, and founder of the inclusive brand Blueki.
Q: Is Yumi Nu active in music?
A: Yes—she has released music, including an alt‑R&B style EP titled Hajime in May 2022, under Dim Mak Records.
Q: What is Yumi Nu’s clothing brand?
A: Blueki, a sustainable, size–inclusive fashion line launched in late 2022, offering styles from XXS to 6XS.
Q: What causes does Yumi support?
A: She advocates for body positivity, Asian American representation, mental health awareness, and sustainable fashion.
Final Words
Yumi Nu symbolizes the convergence of fashion, music, activism, and entrepreneurship—a true multi-hyphenate shaping modern inclusivity. From baby model to sports illustrated trailblazer, her personal journey embodies resilience and representation.
Her bold stance on visibility—both as a proud Asian-American and plus-size individual—has inspired fans worldwide. As a brand founder and musician, she continues pioneering change, reminding us all: real beauty is bold, inclusive, and unapologetically human.