In 1990, she started working as a professional model as she joined a fashion show team in Beijing.
Then she participated, and ended up as a runner-up, in the New Silk Road Chinese Modeling Competition(新丝路中国模特大赛)in 1991.
[1] After the modeling competition, Qu acted in a large number of television series and films.
First in series "Plum Woman" in 1990, the most memorable ones are "Love Talks"(真情告白) and its spinoff sequel, "Adieu".
Qu has been called "China's first generation of supermodel,"[2] and has represented international brands such as Pantene and Maybelline cosmetics.