BEIJING: Two recent successful maiden live-streaming sessions by Hong Kong actor and model Jacky Heung, who appeared in drag with heavy make-up, demonstrate the enormous popularity he enjoys in mainland China.
The 40-year-old is the eldest son of Charles Heung, the founder of China Star Entertainment Limited, a prominent Hong Kong entertainment conglomerate.
The junior Heung is better known as Xiang Zuo in mainland China. Chinese internet users are charmed by his down-to-earth style and his lighthearted, wacky performances on social media, which stand in contrast to his “rich second-generation” identity.
On China’s top two social media platforms – Weibo and Douyin – Heung boasts 20 million and 17 million followers respectively, establishing him as a leading influencer in the country.
At the beginning of this month, he launched his live-streaming sessions.
During the two events on December 3 and December 4, Heung donned women’s attire while selling daily necessities and cosmetics.
He achieved an impressive sales revenue of over 52 million yuan (US$7 million) in total from these sessions, ranking second among all live-streamers during this period.
This is not the first time Heung has appeared in public wearing women’s clothing.
Last month, at a Weibo award ceremony, he showcased a pink pajama set followed by a long, white marten coat that revealed a significant portion of his back.
Heung was honoured with the “Excellent Art Talents Award”.
“I borrowed this white marten coat from my mum. Exposing the back is not the exclusive right of women, right?” he quipped in a Weibo post that garnered 22,000 likes.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Heung studied in Britain for several years before returning to Hong Kong to pursue a modelling career. The specifics of his education in the UK remain unclear.
He has appeared in numerous Hong Kong martial arts films in supporting roles, though he did not attract much attention initially.
In recent years, Heung has shifted his career focus to mainland China, taking part in various variety show programmes.
He married the renowned Taiwanese actress and model Bea Hayden, whose Chinese name is Guo Biting, in 2019, and the couple have two children.
A few months ago, a gesture from his recent film 100 Yards, in which Heung uses his thumb to hold his jaw and his index finger to rub his nose while pondering, went viral in China, inspiring many online celebrities to imitate him.
“It is an honour. Thank you for liking and imitating my gesture,” Heung expressed on Weibo.
His two recent live-streaming sessions have once again brought him into the spotlight, sparking renewed discussions about his controversies.
“Brother Zuo has found the right track of competition for him. It proves that the funnier he performs, the more popular he becomes,” remarked one online observer.
Another expressed admiration for Heung: “Whether he is acting in films or creating content as a KOL, Brother Zuo always puts in the effort. He is far superior to other wealthy heirs.”
However, not everyone shares this sentiment.
One critic remarked: “How awful it is for him to wear female clothes! Is he drunk?” - South China Morning Post
