BEIJING: A deaf-mute girl in China whose beautiful appearance has been accredited to artificial intelligence, or AI, has been defended for her excellence and kind nature.
Chenyue, 20, from Sichuan province in southwestern China, shares her fashion insights on mainland social media and has attracted more than 600,000 followers.
She currently studies at the School of Special Education Art at Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, in Shaanxi province in northwestern China.
The university is the only fine arts institution in China that accepts students with disabilities.
Chenyue was admitted after excelling in sketching, colour theory, Chinese and in interviews.
Despite losing her hearing at the age of two due to medication, she maintained a strong sensitivity to colour and a deep passion for art.
On April 17, a video of Chenyue marching at a school sporting event went viral, receiving more than 300,000 likes.
In the clip, she wore a white sparkling wedding dress, her long black hair flowing, and held a sign for the school.
Some netizens criticised her appearance, commenting that she looked “unnaturally beautiful”, “like an AI face”, while others compared her to a porcelain doll and claimed she “lacked vitality”.
An alumnus, surnamed Tian, defended her, saying that Chenyue, who is deaf-mute, always kindly agrees to take photos with students and is both kind and motivated.
“The online criticism is so disrespectful. Getting into an art academy is no easy feat for her,” Tian added.
In response to the online comments, Chenyue suggested that her make-up on the day may have influenced opinions about her appearance.
She admitted to undergoing several minor cosmetic procedures such as double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and cheek fillers, as well as a hair transplant.
However, she insisted that despite these subtle changes, her friends say she looks the same, just more mature and refined.
Chenyue also said that none of her photos are edited.
Also, she often shares photos from her secondary school days, with some netizens saying that she has “always been pretty” and got a “naturally beautiful base”.
The controversy quickly made headlines on mainland social media, amassing over 200 million views on one platform alone.
One online observer said: “As a deaf-mute person, Chenyue had to work harder than others to study fine arts. I really admire her.”
“She reminds me of a young Fan Bingbing. They both have that dignified and graceful presence,” said another.
“Is there anything wrong with being beautiful? Everyone has the right to pursue beauty,” added a third.
On April 22, Chenyue shared a post in which she wrote: “Thank you all for your attention. It is the support and encouragement from my friends and family that gives me the courage to keep going.”
She added that she will focus more on her studies and continue to improve as a person. - South China Morning Post
