Extreme weight pressure on C-drama stars is causing growing concern

In the Chinese entertainment world, the weight of celebrities is under constant pressure. Actresses and actors are often pushed to follow very strict diets in order to correspond to beauty standards considered unrealistic, which can have serious consequences on their physical and mental health.

Recently, Song Zu Er’s appearance at an event on April 22 sparked many reactions. Formerly appreciated for a balanced and healthy figure, today she appeared extremely emaciated. The photos, quickly relayed online, greatly worried the public and reignited discussions around the beauty standards imposed on stars.

In the Chinese entertainment world, thinness is often considered an essential standard. Actresses are frequently encouraged to have a very thin figure, with an aesthetic considered “fragile”.

A widely held idea is that cameras add weight to the screen, which pushes some productions to favor even thinner physiques. In this context, a weight below 40 kg is sometimes presented as an implicit standard for actresses, while male actors are also subject to expectations of thinness. Exceeding these standards may result in criticism of appearance or professionalism.

Actress Li Xin Ai experienced this. After a significant weight gain, she explains having been excluded from numerous projects for a long period. She even claims that she was refused certain secondary roles because of her appearance.

For his part, Zhang Tian Ai recalled that the silhouette plays an essential role in casting, particularly in historical dramas where costumes can accentuate certain shapes on screen.

Some people in the industry are also criticized for increasing these physical demands. Producer Yu Zheng reportedly asked actress Zhao Qing to lose several kilos very quickly, finding her “too round†on screen, even though she was already very thin.

In this context, stars like Dilraba Dilmurat or Angelababy often appear with very thin silhouettes during public events, which further maintains these standards.

Beauty criteria are no longer limited to weight. Expressions like “butterfly collarbones†, “swan neck†, V-shaped jaw or even “A4 size†have become common to describe an extremely precise physical ideal. However, specialists are warning about these trends, recalling that certain physical signs can be linked to poor nutrition rather than to a desired aesthetic.

This permanent pressure has very real effects. Many celebrities talk about having a lot of anxiety about their appearance. According to some surveys, a large majority of artists consider weight control to be a priority in their career.

Several cases illustrate these deviations. Actor Xu Kai, for example, lost a large amount of weight in a short time after being criticized. Others, like Ren Jialun, have gradually reduced their weight over the years to meet industry expectations.

For some actors, the situation has become worrying, as for Luo Yunxi, often cited for having pushed his body to the point of physical exhaustion.

On the actress side, the pressure is even greater. Lin Yun spoke about the constant stress of being criticized for his appearance. Zhang Tian Ai explained that she followed very restrictive diets for a long period of time, which took a toll on her health.

Zhao Lusi is one of the most notable cases. After being criticized for her figure, she reportedly followed a very strict diet to achieve an extremely low weight. Combined with an intense work schedule, this would have resulted in a serious health scare, with serious symptoms requiring a long period of rest.

Faced with these situations, more and more voices are being raised to denounce the beauty standards imposed in the industry. Some Chinese media criticize an obsession with thinness which erases the diversity of bodies and endangers the health of artists.

In your opinion, can the entertainment industry continue to impose such standards without changing its practices?