In December 1994, Minka made her debut as the covergirl for SCORE magazine, marking a significant moment in the industry. For her first-ever pictorial, Minka posed in a striking military uniform, setting the tone for her unforgettable career. This edition was groundbreaking in more ways than one. Big bust magazines at the time were hesitant to feature an Asian model on their covers, but SCORE boldly took that step, and Minka became an instant sensation.
Reflecting on how it all started, Minka recalls, “When my girlfriend showed me the magazine, I saw the telephone number, and I called. I sent three Polaroid pictures. One of the owners and chief photographer, John Graham, received them. He called my house and said, ‘An airplane ticket is going to be at your house in one or two days. I want you to come to England.’ That’s it. So I went to England. He took a test picture and said I would be on the cover, and then told me I would be a feature dancer.”
In all the photos, Minka’s natural smile shined through, and she felt proud to be the first Asian woman to grace the cover of such a prominent magazine—a personal and professional milestone that remains iconic to this day.
