Home>News Center>Life
         
 

Stardom at touch of knife?
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2005-04-04 09:00

The starstruck no longer have to be content just dreaming about looking like a movie star.


A competitor in China's first artificial beauty pageant receives final touches before the opening presentation in Beijing December 12, 2004. The finals for Miss Artificial Beauty are due to be held Saturday December 18, 2004, when contestants ranging from 17 to 62 years-old will parade their surgical nips and tucks-- enhancements once banned in beauty contests. Cosmetic surgery has become popular in China. [Reuters]

A Shanghai plastic surgery hospital is promoting a service it claims can turn an office clerk into a spitting image of a silver screen icon.

A lucky three to five people will receive a free face-lift, makeup, clothing and training to help them make a beachhead in the entertainment industry.

Everyone else will have to pay an unspecified fee for the service.

Even for free, however, local entertainment experts say that turning someone's face into a likeness of Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi or Andy Lau is far from a guarantee for stardom.

Shanghai Kinway Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery has been promoting the operations in newspaper ads since last month.

Anyone who bears at least a 30-percent similarity to a star can apply for a face-lift that will upgrade the likeness to 80 percent, the hospital claims. And with the right makeup, hairstyle, clothing and training, the program promises a full 100 percent cloning quotient.

"We've received applications from some 20 people age 20 to 25, two-thirds of whom are females," said Zhang Wei, a Shanghai Kinway official.

"Most are performance fans and are longing to enter the entertainment field."

The hospital will make its selections later this month, vetting applicants on appearance, surgical potential and aptitude for acting, singing or modeling.

The winners, Zhang said, will become the hospital's "brand ambassadors."

Shanghai Kinway became well known in 2003 when it gave away a cosmetic procedure that turned a plain-looking woman into a beauty.

"Now, we want to perfect some good-looking people and turn them into real stars," Zhang said. "A face recognizable to the public can streamline their startup."

Though the promotion may turn out to be a successful marketing tactic, show business insiders interviewed by Shanghai Daily said they don't think the idea can transform amateurs into stars at the touch of a knife.

"We never select an actor or actress just because he or she is good-looking - acting and singing require talent," said Hong Lu of Beijing Ciwen Art Agency Co.

Some Shanghai residents also don't think the promotion is a good idea.

"There may not be anything wrong with seeking perfection, but copying the face of a star is no shortcut to success," said Zhu Li, a Shanghai resident.



Jet Li to lead new 'Shaolin Temple'
Chongqing International Auto Exhibition
Chinese Elegance Model Contest
  Today's Top News     Top Life News
 

Wife's 'rebirth' proves husband's innocence

 

   
 

Guessing game in battle for papal succession

 

   
 

Gov't urges increased mine safety spending

 

   
 

Vice-governor gets 12 years for taking bribes

 

   
 

Kuwait seeks strong oil ties with China

 

   
 

Ma Ying-jeou seeks rule over Nationalist Party

 

   
  Stardom at touch of knife?
   
  Gala concert held to commemorate Andersen
   
  Camilla will be Princess of Wales
   
  10-year-old girls sell condoms on streets
   
  Jackson accuser's former lawyer testifies
   
  Study: Viagra may cause vision loss
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Graduates turn to plastic surgery
   
Middle-aged seek plastic surgery
   
TV hostess Li Xiang denies cosmetic surgery
   
China awaits crowning of Miss Plastic Surgery
   
Journey into Artificial Beauty
   
Made-for-order beauty in dispute
   
Price of made-to-order beauty
  Feature  
  1/3 Chinese youth condone premarital sex  
Advertisement