SHANGHAI (SCMP): A 20-year-old woman who collects and sorts rubbish in eastern China gained online fame after her modelling talents were discovered by the renowned self-made “village supermodel” Lu Xianren, who shares a similar childhood background.
Identified by her alias Chaoren Leng (translated as “Superman Leng” in English), the woman assists her boyfriend’s father in managing his rubbish collection business in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, as reported by Shenzhen TV.
Born Leng Minghui in a village in Fuyang, eastern Anhui province, she caught significant attention in July last year through videos depicting her work at the refuse collection station. Internet users were captivated by her tall, slim figure and small, chiselled face – features often regarded as essential in the modelling industry – contrasting sharply with her dirt-tainted work clothes and the refuse surrounding her.
Leng stands at 1.81 metres tall and weighs 50kg.
“She is the female version of Lu Xianren,” another noted, highlighting the striking resemblance between Leng and Lu.
At 27, Lu is among China’s top male models. He hails from the rural Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, where he was raised by his grandparents while his parents worked in Guangdong province.
Lu is a self-taught model who gained attention by posting videos of his distinctive catwalks in the fields. In 2019, he rose to fame with his imaginative self-designed “couture” and fashion shows.
To date, Lu has walked at prestigious domestic and international fashion venues, including China Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Milan Fashion Week.
Last year, Lu expressed his desire to leverage his influence to support more children from rural areas with modelling aspirations.
Lu also noticed Leng, complimenting her with: “You are a born supermodel.”
Since then, Lu has not only shared catwalk tips with Leng but also introduced her to modelling job opportunities.
Brands that have collaborated with her include car manufacturer CHERY and Chinese luxury art brand Zhu Bingren Copper.
However, Leng has turned down offers from several modelling agencies, details of which remain undisclosed.
Instead, she chose to stay with her boyfriend’s family and continue working at the refuse collection station as a way to repay their kindness.
Leng’s parents divorced and left their hometown when she was just one year old. She was raised by her grandparents in the village.
At 15, the death of her grandfather forced her to leave school. She worked as an assembly line worker, a cashier, and took various odd jobs until she met her boyfriend.
His family welcomed her and provided financial support for her to complete her secondary school education.
Last summer, she graduated from secondary school and took the national university entrance exam, known as the gaokao. Her scores were low, only allowing her to secure a spot at a junior college.
Consequently, Leng chose to remain with her boyfriend’s family and assist in their rubbish-handling business.
Details regarding her boyfriend remain undisclosed in the report.
Her videos depict a strong bond with his family; she often affectionately refers to her boyfriend’s 64-year-old father as “Dad.”
On social media, she stated: “Collecting rubbish is a means to have a full meal, while modelling is a dream. These two paths do not conflict.”
“I am fully aware that opportunities in modelling are rare for me. I must double my efforts,” she mentioned in her videos.
Leng stressed: “I am focusing on perfecting details in my catwalk, head turns, poses, and more. Only by doing so can I truly shine on the runway.”
-- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
