Celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry are facing intense pressure over their weight, often resorting to extreme dieting just to meet harsh beauty standards.
Recently, actress Song Zu Er shocked the public with her drastically altered appearance. Once known for her healthy, balanced beauty, she now appears extremely thin, with visible bones and frail limbs. Photos of her looking almost skeletal on the red carpet on April 22 quickly spread, sparking widespread concern.
This has reignited debates about unrealistic body expectations and what many are calling “distorted beauty standards” imposed on stars in the industry.
“Thinner is always better”—and over 40kg is considered unacceptable
According to Chinese media, society still favors a fragile, delicate feminine ideal. Women are expected to be slim and petite, and the entertainment industry takes this to an extreme, promoting the dangerous standard of being “pale and ultra-thin.”
There’s a common belief that high-definition cameras add around 5kg on screen, reinforcing the idea that the thinner one is, the better they look. For female celebrities, the so-called “ideal weight” is under 40kg, while male stars are expected to stay below 60kg. Exceeding these limits can lead to criticism, with accusations of lacking discipline or professionalism. For actresses especially, going over 40kg is often equated with fading relevance.
Actress Li Xin Ai experienced this firsthand. After gaining weight from 45kg to 100kg, she reportedly struggled to find work for two years. She revealed that producers rejected her for roles due to her appearance. “Not even supporting or cameo roles were offered to me because I was considered too overweight,” she said. Eventually, she had to lose weight again just to remain in the industry.
Actress Zhang Tian Ai also emphasized how critical body shape is, especially for women. She noted that actresses who aren’t slim often struggle to land roles, particularly in historical dramas where layered costumes can make them appear heavier on screen.
Reports suggest that Song Zu Er herself lost over 10kg while filming multiple historical dramas back-to-back. Meanwhile, producer Yu Zheng sparked controversy after publicly pressuring actress Zhao Qing to drop from 46kg to 42kg, even criticizing her for appearing “too round” on camera—despite already being underweight for her height.
As extreme thinness becomes an unspoken requirement, many top stars like Dilraba Dilmurat and Angelababy frequently appear with visibly frail physiques on red carpets.
The obsession doesn’t stop at weight. Ideal beauty now includes features like “butterfly shoulders,” a “swan neck,” a V-shaped jawline, an “A4 paper waist,” and perfectly squared shoulders. Medical experts warn that some of these traits—like pronounced shoulder blades—can actually be signs of malnutrition rather than beauty, raising concerns about dangerous trends.
Zhao Lusi’s health scare and Luo Yunxi’s collapse highlight the dangers
Surveys indicate that around two-thirds of celebrities feel pressured about their appearance, with nearly 90% considering weight control their top priority.
As a result, many stars develop eating disorders and mental health struggles, viewing dieting as a nonstop obligation. Actor Xu Kai revealed he once lost 18kg in just two months after being criticized for his weight.
Similarly, Ren Jialun shared that he gradually reduced his weight from 85kg at debut to just 52kg in recent years.
Among male stars, Luo Yunxi is often cited as an extreme case. He reportedly pushed his body to the point of exhaustion through dieting, at one point requiring a wheelchair due to physical weakness.
For female celebrities, the pressure is even harsher. Actress Lin Yun admitted to experiencing stress and insecurity from constant scrutiny, while Zhang Tian Ai revealed she once survived on vegetables for a year to maintain her weight, leading to serious health issues.
Zhao Lusi is another alarming example. Initially criticized for her fuller figure, she spent years dieting to drop below 40kg—reaching just 36.9kg at 1.63m tall. Combined with intense work schedules, the extreme weight loss reportedly led to a severe health crisis, including stroke-like symptoms and mobility issues. It took over a year of rest for her condition to improve.
Chinese media outlets have since criticized the industry’s fixation on unrealistic body ideals, warning that such standards not only erase diversity in beauty but also endanger the physical and mental health of artists.
Sources: kenh14
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