In 1990, Chow's parents divorced. In 1992, Chow's mother died. In 1992, Chow's father married Eva Chun and eventually she gained a half-sister, Asia Chow.
In modelling, Chow was discovered by Roger Museenden. Chow spent several years following in her mother's footsteps working as a model for Shiseido cosmetics, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. Her modelling led to her being named one of Harper's Bazaar's "It Girls" in 1996 and an appearance in the December 1996 edition of Vogue's "The Next Best-Dressed List".
In 2000, she posed for Maxim and was featured in their gallery, Girls of Maxim. She was ranked No. 22 and No. 54 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women (2000 and 2001, respectively).
Chow made her acting debut in 1998, starring opposite Mark Wahlberg in The Big Hit. In 2004, she was shot by a house in Frankenfish. In 2007, Chow appeared on USA Network's first season of Burn Notice. She is the host and a judge of Bravo's Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, which premiered on 9 June 2010.
Chow has dated famous actors such as Steve Coogan and Mark Wahlberg. As of 2011, Chow is single.
