A woman soldier from northwestern China who is known for her resemblance to a famous actress has developed into an outstanding sniper.
Buzainafu Yasenjiang looks strikingly similar to Dilraba Dilmurat, one of China’s top entertainers, who has more than 81 million followers on social media.
The 33-year-old actress and singer is a native of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in the northwest of the country.
She is celebrated for her unique beauty and talent, and has even been praised by the country’s foreign ministry for her dancing.
Buzainafu, who is also a native of Xinjiang, comes from the region’s Huocheng County, which is known as the hometown of lavender.
Raised in a herding family, she has loved horse riding since childhood.
According to the mainland news outlet Ziniu News, Buzainafu, who is in her twenties, admired the soldiers on horseback she saw on her native grasslands, viewing them as majestic and noble.
In 2014, Buzainafu earned top exam grades and was admitted to a secondary school in Wenzhou, eastern China.
In September 2019, while in college, she decided to join the army with full support of her mother and older sister.
Her 83-year-old grandfather even told her: “You are the pride of our whole family.”
Buzainafu cut her long hair and enlisted.
According to the People’s Daily, she excelled in basic training and came first in grenade throwing, a discipline in which she reached 41 metres, well above the 20-metre pass mark.
In June 2022, she was selected for sniper training.
At first, she struggled, but Buzainafu pushed herself, even asking her instructors for extra training.
Her hands became scarred and her skin darkened with exposure to the sun.
She said: “Since I have no natural talent, I will work harder to make up for it. I chose to be a sniper, so I am ready for any challenge.”
A year later, Buzainafu’s determination paid off, and her strong performance earned her the title of “Excellent Sniper” and a third-class merit citation.
Outside of military training, Buzainafu takes part in stage plays and song-and-dance performances.
She joined the army’s performance troupe and has appeared in more than 100 shows, gaining a reputation for her singing and dancing talent.
Buzainafu says six years in the military have strengthened her willpower, and she hopes to keep contributing to the army.
Her story has been widely featured in the mainland media, with many outlets calling her the “military version of Dilraba” and praising her as both beautiful and valiant.
She was recently named a National Outstanding Youth League Member, one of just 10 honorees from the People’s Liberation Army and Armed Police.
One online observer wrote: “This girl is amazing! She has a celebrity face but picked up a gun to defend the country.”
“Being a sniper takes more than accuracy. It takes a sharp mind,” said another.
A third person added: “Buzainafu has her own unique beauty and does not need to be compared to any celebrity.”
