Profile | China ‘genius’ Blossoms Shanghai actress Wang Ju rises above appearance criticism
From stellar debut on TV reality show to accomplished actress, ‘ordinary’ woman rises to nationwide fame, learns to live with criticism
Six years after making a phenomenal debut on the girl group reality show Produce 101, pop idol Naomi Wang Ju is now widely recognised as a promising actress.
When Wang, 32, appeared on the 2018 show with another hundred slim and pale-skinned girls who conformed to the traditional idea of Chinese beauty, she faced mocking that she was “chunky” and “dark-skinned”.
But Wang impressed many by saying she loved her body and did not mind other people’s criticism.
Wang was born into an ordinary family in Shanghai. Her father was a salaryman and her mother was a teacher.
They supported Wang’s interest in dancing and signed her up for dancing classes, but they did not want her to pursue a career in show business as they did not have connections.
