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Which girl will you 'pick' ?

 

The final list of 22 contestants in Produce 101.

The verb "pick" is one of the more frequently used words on Chinese social media platforms these days, thanks to the mega-hit girl group survival reality show Produce 101.

"Pick", which refers to "choose and love me" in the show, is not only the wishes of those young girls, but acts as the bridge to connect their fans with them — "If you select me to be your idol, I will show the best of me for you" — just like the theme song goes, "I am the one you love, baby you want to pick me up."

As an spin-off of the South Korean television show of the same name, the Chinese Produce 101 premiered on Tencent Video on April 21 and marketed itself as "the first agency-collaboration girl group project" in China.

A total of 101 trainees from different entertainment enterprises competed against one another to become one of the 11 finalists that would make up China's brand new girl group.


A total of 101 trainees from different entertainment enterprises competed against one another to become one of the 11 finalists that would make up China's brand new girl group. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The amount of "likes" as voted by netizens measures the popularity of each trainee and determines if she can stay onstage.

In the show, candidates including Meng Meiqi, Wu Xuanyi, Yang Chaoyue and Gao Qiuzi enjoy high popularity. They vary in appearance, body type and personality, but they have all stolen the hearts of hundreds of thousands of fans.

The contestant Wang Ju, hailed as "China's Beyonce" by some Western media outlets, has aroused heated discussion both at home and abroad, with many saying she manages to break down traditional beauty barriers. Here are five "types" shown in the show, which, to some degree, reflect changing aesthetic standards among Chinese.


Contestant Meng Meiqi [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

1. "Dancing queen"

Candidates including Meng Meiqi, Fu Jing often catch the spotlight, thanks to their long, toned limbs in a nearly endless array of flattering and revealing outfits.

They are fluid in their movement, and often prove their status as dancing queens through dazzling, complicated dance movements. Midriff-baring tops, backless dresses and miniskirts are necessities in those girls' wardrobes.

People often associate this type with South Korean girl groups, a well-known combination of cheeky, colorful concepts, sexy costumes, clever choreography, cute girls and catchy songs.


Contestant Wang Ju [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

2.Western "diva"

When we use the word "diva", it usually refers to Western celebrities such as Britney Spears, Beyonce or Rihanna. But Wang Ju has proved she is capable of being the Chinese diva.

Wang is definitely the dark horse candidate of the show. No one could imagine such a young woman would rise to fame overnight with her candor, uniqueness and independence.

Wang is not "beautiful" by Chinese pop's exacting standards, so she did not win favor at the initial stage of the show.

She once said, "Some people say girls like me cannot be idols. But what exactly are the standards for being a girl idol? I've eaten up all the standards."

Wang has pushed back against standards. Also, thanks to her rich life experience as a headhunter and modeling agent in the past, she tears down traditionally cultivated public images for young girl groups, encouraging all the women to be independent and become what they want to be.


Contestant Yang Chaoyue [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

3. "Fostered idol"

Thanks to the rise of social media platforms and a preference for younger stars in China over the past two to three years, "fostered idols", or yangcheng ouxiang in Chinese, have swept the country. The contestants Gao Qiuzi and Yang Feiyue are some examples of this type.

The Chinese word yangcheng means "to bring up," and this naturally makes fan engagement a key part of these idols' success.

Fans often witness the way these untrained teenage girls grow into real stars. If those idols are not good at singing or dancing, that's fine. All you have to do is work hard, as fans also can enjoy the thrill of growing up with their idols together.

Different from traditional stars who remain out of fans' reach, these "fostered idols" are known as idols that you can communicate with face to face.


Contestant Lai Meiyun (left) and Li Zixuan [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

4. Traditional "cute girls"

In Produce 101, contestants like Lai Meiyun and Li Zixuan belong to this type.

They are considered to represent traditional perceptions of femininity. They are sweet and a little bit shy.

They often take sing songs to fulfill young male fans' fantasies. Most of them like the color pink and follow the latest "Lolita-style" fashion.


Contestant Yang Yunqing (left) and Chinese pop singer Li Yuchun [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

5. Masculine-style

Thirteen years ago, Chinese singer Li Yuchun won the music competition Super Girl — the Chinese answer to American Idol. Since then, she has been identified with the "masculine style" in China.

Back in 2005, the majority of singers competing on the show were girly and twee, so Li was a breath of fresh air.

Her fashionable dressing style and comfort with herself inspired a whole generation of women over the subsequent years. The contestants Yamy and Yang Yunqing have picked up the baton.

From clumsy flat shoes that seem to shorten a woman's legs to voluminous coats that hide every curve, there is seemingly no end to the trends which these cool women love.

Their supporters question many of the traditional values and roles assigned to Chinese women — a step that is key to developing a new feminist standard.


Contestant Gao Qiuzi, known as the "walking emojis" in the show, enjoys high popularity on the social media platform Sina Weibo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

 
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