BEIJING: A Chinese woman who dreamed of becoming a dancer spent four months losing 20 kilograms and is now being mistaken for the actress Joey Wong, gaining over 310,000 followers online.
Liu Wendi, 32, from Ezhou in Hubei province, central China, recently gained online attention after sharing a video documenting her weight loss journey.
She documented her transformation from 72.5kg to 52.5kg, losing nearly 20kg in just four months, prompting many netizens to remark on her striking resemblance to Hong Kong actress Joey Wong.
Her height was not disclosed.
Wong, 58, is one of the most iconic Taiwanese actresses, known for her roles in A Chinese Ghost Story, Green Snake and The Eagle Shooting Heroes. She was nominated for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 1988.
Liu has lived in Wuhan, also in Hebei province, since 2010 and is married. She began gaining weight in 2018 following a period of binge eating.
Her weight gain became so noticeable that her friends and family began asking her to pay attention to her health.
“I had been overweight for five years,” Liu said. “One day, a friend casually told me that losing weight makes you beautiful. That stuck with me and I went from 72.5kg to 52.5kg.”
She started her weight loss journey in July 2022.
At first, she followed a strict diet, which helped her lose 10kg. However, this extreme approach came with side effects. Her mood worsened and she began to lose hair.
After two months, she realised that cutting out staple foods entirely was unsustainable.
Liu then switched to the “16+8 diet” method, where she ate all her meals within eight hours and fasted for the remaining 16 hours.
She also incorporated both strength and cardio training, working out five times a week. By November, her weight had dropped to 55kg and she eventually stabilised at 52.5kg, nearly 20kg lighter than before.
Liu said that the benefits of her weight loss extended beyond numbers on a scale. Her skin improved, her posture became better, and she looked noticeably younger.
After successfully losing weight, she shared her journey online and gained more than 310,000 followers.
Many netizens found her transformation deeply inspiring, while others were surprised by her striking resemblance to Wong, the actress.
Liu said she had no intention of imitating Wong. If she ever live-streams, it would likely be guided workout sessions.
“If the casual videos I post while pursuing my dreams can inspire others to set and achieve their own goals, then they already hold great value,” she said.
Liu has dreamed of becoming a dancer since childhood.
Recently, she left her job in construction cost management and with her new-found confidence she now plans to become a dance teacher.
Her story has resonated online.
One online observer said: “This is not just weight loss, it is a life transformation. Her healthy, confident look is beautiful. That dance teacher dream is definitely within reach.” - South China Morning Post
