BEIJING (SCMP): A 55-year-old Chinese medical aesthetics tycoon has shocked the internet by marrying her 25-year-old husband, reportedly with a 50 million yuan (US$7.3 million) dowry.
Yu Wenhong, 55, was born into a financially modest family in Dalian, Liaoning province, in northeastern China.
After her father died, she began working in the beauty industry at the age of 18 to support her mother and younger brother.
She started as an eyebrow tattooing technician and later went on to establish her own beauty salon.
In 2004, she founded Young Merry Real International Group in Hong Kong, gradually building a medical aesthetics business empire.
Medical aesthetics focuses on non-surgical, doctor-led procedures to enhance appearance and improve skin health, combining clinical treatments with personalised care.
By 2005, the company’s network of partner shops had expanded to more than 150.
However, her business has been surrounded by controversy.
For instance, Yu and her partners introduced various beauty treatments, including the so-called “Porcelain Doll” procedure.
This treatment involves extracting the client’s own serum and injecting it back into the face to promote skin renewal, allegedly resulting in smooth, fair “porcelain-like” skin.
While such procedures may appear questionable and lack medical proof, a single session can cost as much as 15,000 yuan (US$2,200).
In 2022, she was also involved in a tax scandal, in which she concealed 4.7 billion yuan (US$682 million) in income and evaded 147 million yuan (US$21 million) in taxes.
Besides Yu’s rise-to-success story, her romantic life has also been complex, as she reportedly had five marriages before the latest one.
At the age of 45, she entered a relationship with a 25-year-old Albanian model, Rolando Lekaj. The two were together for a decade and had a second child.
Online, Yu has consistently crafted a strong “female lead” persona, portraying herself as an independent and resilient woman. This image has brought her significant online traffic and helped promote her brand.
She has often said: “Women must earn money to achieve happiness,” and “Men are unreliable. Only the money you earn yourself is truly dependable.”
Her personal life took another turn when she met Liu Yuchen, nicknamed Renren, who was born in 2001 and had previously worked as a model for her company.
The two reportedly met in the second half of 2025.
Some sources claim they connected through live-stream interactions, where Yu frequently sent him gifts and tips, while others say they were introduced at a business event.
After they began their relationship, Yu reportedly lavished Renren with expensive gifts, including a Rolls-Royce and a Mercedes-Benz.
In one widely circulated moment, the couple appeared alongside Yu’s 17-year-old son, whose visibly awkward expression drew attention from netizens.
Online reports claim the two married in March 2026, with Yu gifting Renren assets worth 50 million yuan (US$7.25 million), including cash, property and luxury cars, as a form of dowry.
Renren previously addressed their relationship, saying: “I never planned to live this kind of life, but no one could have expected things to turn out this way. It just landed on me. Who would not want an opportunity like this?”
Their marriage sparked controversy online, leaving many netizens astonished.
One person said: “It is just a gender-reversed version of a rich man marrying a young female influencer. Everyone is playing to their strengths.”
Another asked: “She really loves getting married. As such a wealthy woman, would dating not be enough?”
While a third said: “I hope she signed a solid prenuptial agreement.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
