In the Chinese entertainment industry, beauty ideals have long emphasized being pale, slender, and delicately framed. For years, the “A4 waist” standard where a woman’s waist is as slim as an A4 sheet of paper has dominated discussions of female beauty. However, this obsession with extreme thinness has now sparked growing alarm among fans and media alike.
Recently, QQ Entertainment published a striking article asking, “Are these five beautiful stars surviving on paper?”, after several well-known actresses appeared alarmingly underweight, to the point of looking frail or malnourished. The list includes Sammi Cheng, Gülnezer Bextiyar, Lu Yu, Jiang Zi Xin and Jin Chen, all of whom have drawn concern for their visibly skeletal figures.
Sammi Cheng
Born in 1972, Sammi Cheng is one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated divas, affectionately known as “Hong Kong’s daughter” and regarded as a successor to icons like Faye Wong and Anita Mui.
During her early years, Sammi charmed audiences with her radiant smile and healthy, feminine figure. Yet in recent years, her public appearances have shown an increasingly frail and lifeless image. Observers noted that her face and body have grown noticeably gaunt, sometimes revealing her chest bones. Despite standing at 1.67 meters, Sammi reportedly weighs under 40 kilograms, prompting worries about her health from both colleagues and fans.
Gülnezer Bextiyar
Renowned as the “No.1 beauty of Xinjiang,” Gülnezer Bextiyar was once admired for her curvy, goddess-like physique and stunning red-carpet presence. However, in pursuit of the “zero-size” ideal, the actress has reportedly undergone harsh dieting to fit into child-sized outfits.
Her recent appearances show a drastically thinner frame arms and legs as slender as sticks, and collarbones protruding sharply. Many netizens commented that she looked “as light as a leaf”, worrying that even a breeze might blow her away.
Lu Yu
Born in 1970, talk show host Lu Yu is often described as “China’s Oprah Winfrey” for her charm and interviewing prowess. Despite her professional success, Lu Yu has long been known as one of the thinnest figures in Chinese entertainment.
With a body “as thin as paper,” her head-to-body ratio appears unusually disproportionate. Yet Lu Yu has expressed comfort with her physique, once saying: “When I look in the mirror, I don’t think I’m too skinny.”
Jiang Zi Xin
The 1996-born actress rose to fame through dramas like Story of Yanxi Palace, The Legend of Hao Lan, and Lighter & Princess. However, her severe obsession with weight loss has become a topic of concern.
Reportedly, Jiang lost 20 kilograms in a few months, dropping from 55 kg to just 35 kg because she felt she was “too fat.” The result is an extremely emaciated frame, with visible bones that make her look like a “walking clothes hanger.”
Jin Chen
Actress Jin Chen, born in 1990, is known for her roles in Wu Xin: The Monster Killer, Legend of Nine Tails Fox, and Little Valentine. Apart from discussions about her frequent cosmetic surgeries, Jin has also attracted attention for her dangerously thin appearance.
Photos from public events show her face sunken, shoulders bony, and ribs clearly visible. Fans have repeatedly voiced concern, urging her to prioritize health over maintaining a “model-thin” body.
A Dangerous Beauty Standard
The extreme slenderness of these five celebrities has reignited debate on the unrealistic beauty expectations within Chinese entertainment. Many fans argue that “being thin doesn’t always mean being beautiful.”
As one netizen commented, “They look like they’re made of paper. I hope they eat well and stay healthy.”
While the pressure to stay thin remains a powerful force in showbiz, audiences are increasingly calling for healthier and more diverse representations of beauty—ones that celebrate vitality, confidence, and balance over extreme dieting.
Sources: kenh14
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