Resilient China acting ‘goddess’ Wang Churan ridiculed for going make-up free｜王楚然

A photo of Chinese actress Wang Churan minus her make-up has sparked mockery
with online observers saying it had cured their “appearance anxiety”.
The unofficial image of the actress – who is known as “Goddess of Historical Dramas”
was posted on Xiaohongshu by someone who saw Wang on a flight and asked for her autograph.
“When I was on the plane, I thought the girl behind me really looked like Wang Churan.
I could not resist asking her, but she seemed shocked to be recognised,” the woman wrote.

“Later, during the meal service, I boldly asked for her autograph.
Since she was with her family and without make-up, I felt it was rude to ask for a photo.”

However, a photo showing Wang relaxing in her seat while frowning at her phone was later added to the post.
What suprised many was her completely bare face, showing dull,
oily skin and messy hair – a stark contrast to the polished and glamorous look she usually displays on screen.
The woman who shared the post said that Wang looking this way significantly
alleviated her own appearance anxiety.
“Seeing her like this made me feel much better about my own looks. But she is indeed very tall and slim.”
The post quickly made “Wang Churan’s bare face under scrutiny” a trending topic on Weibo,
with numerous internet users expressing their shock at the stark contrast.
“Are you sure this is Wang Churan? If it is, you’ll be getting a call from her studio soon,
asking you to delete the photo,” one person said.
“Honestly, if she were just an ordinary person, she looks fine.
But for someone who markets herself as a beauty icon, this is really disappointing,” said another.
“I’m more shocked by her age. She is only 25? From the photo, I thought she was at least 35,” a third person said.
The scrutiny of Wang’s appearance partly stems from long-standing criticism of her acting skills,
with many labelling her a “pretty face” rather than a talented actress.
Wang has portrayed several beautiful characters,
notably the role of imperial concubine Zhang Bihan in Serenade of Peaceful Joy,
a character that was pampered and arrogant.
The role provoked an online backlash and animosity towards the character
spilled over into the actress’s real life.
Many people expressed their anger on her Weibo account, saying:
“Seeing your smug face as Concubine Zhang, I cannot wait for you to be written out of the show.”
Wang remained resilient in the face of the harsh comments, even engaging humorously with her critics.
“Is Zhang Bihan still being a troublemaker tonight? Yes, she has not stopped.
Feel free to share and vent with Zhang Bihan memes, let’s vent together,” she posted on social media.
Despite her efforts, doubts about her acting skills and personality persist.
This year, when she appeared in the national hit TV drama Joy of Life 2 as a famous singer in a brothel,
she was again praised for her looks but criticised for her performance and dialogue delivery.