BEIJING (VnEXpress) At 32, Zhang Zetian, China’s youngest female billionaire, has transformed from the fresh-faced “Milk Tea Girl” who rose to online fame into a polished businesswoman known for her refined image.
Zhang remains a prominent figure in China's business and social circles, attracting media attention wherever she appears, according to Sina newspaper.
She first rose to fame in 2009 at age 16 after a classmate posted a photo of her holding a cup of milk tea online. Her delicate features, fair complexion and youthful appearance earned her the nickname "Milk Tea Girl" and made her a teenage heartthrob across China, The Straits Times reported.
Throughout high school, her photos frequently appeared on online forums and newspapers, and she became one of the country's most famous student celebrities.
In 2013, Zhang again became a social media sensation after photos of her playing baseball on Tsinghua University's campus circulated online. Chinese media outlet Sohu described her as energetic and athletic while retaining her signature gentle image. Many Weibo users said her natural beauty and radiant smile had changed little since high school.
The same year, she attended Barnard College in New York, US, as an exchange student and met Chinese billionaire Liu Qiangdong, who was studying at Columbia University, through academic events. Reports later emerged that they were dating despite their 19-year age gap and Liu's previous marriage.
Zhang during a physical education class at age 18. She also attracted attention for her academic achievements. In 2011, she was admitted directly to Tsinghua University, ranked China's top university in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
While studying there, she occasionally appeared on television and hosted "The Brain," a Jiangsu Television show that tests contestants' mental abilities. She also turned down a role in the movie "The Flowers of War" directed by Zhang Yimou to focus on her studies.
Zhang and Liu, founder of e-commerce giant JD.com, had their wedding in Australia in November 2015. The couple registered their marriage in Beijing on Aug. 8, 2015, one month after Zhang graduated from university.
Many people at the time mocked her for marrying an older billionaire and accused her of being motivated by money, while others viewed the pair as a good match.
But Zhang and her husband always rose above the issues and media outlets noted that she maintained her youthful appearance and quickly regained her figure after childbirth.
That year in 2017, she appeared on Chinese business magazine New Fortune's list of the country's 500 richest people and was recognized as China's youngest female billionaire at age 24, according to Business Insider. Zhang then became pregnant with the couple's first child in 2016 and gave birth to a daughter later that year.
At a 2018 event, she received widespread praise for her appearance while wearing a dress designed by Chinese-born fashion designer Ester Hsu.
Beyond serving as an executive at several companies, Zhang has built a reputation as an investor. She has advised JD.com's luxury business division, managed the company's charitable foundation, organized major fashion events and regularly attended Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks as well as the Cannes Film Festival.
Liu came under intense public scrutiny in 2018 after a former University of Minnesota student accused him of rape, according to the Global Times.
He was arrested on suspicion of felony rape, but prosecutors later declined to file criminal charges due to what they described as "serious evidentiary problems." The civil lawsuit was settled in 2022, the same year Liu stepped down as CEO of JD.com.
Afterward, Liu praised Zhang for supporting him throughout the ordeal, saying: "Without her, I couldn't have made it to this day. I will cherish, care for, and protect my family."
Rumors emerged the following year that she had welcomed a second child, though she did not publicly disclose details. Some reports claimed she gave birth to twin boys.
And China now believes '17 years after becoming famous as the "Milk Tea Girl," Zhang has gradually shifted from a sweet, youthful image to a more elegant and mature public persona while retaining her youthful appearance', top news outlet Sina noted.
