China KOL mimics athlete in sexy video, igniting debate over objectification of sportswomen
‘No matter how hard she tries to look like Wu Yanni, she cannot run as fast as her,’ says a commenter
A live-streamer in China mimicked national track and field athlete Wu Yanni and performed provocative dances for profit, sparking a heated online debate.
Videos by Douyin influencer @xiaoyu, a key opinion leader (KOL) who has over 4,000 followers, went viral and topped the Weibo trending list on December 5.
The controversial videos feature her wearing make-up and styling her hair to resemble Wu, dressed in sportswear, and copying Wu’s signature gestures, such as pointing skyward before starting a race.
Wu, 27, completed her 100m hurdles at the Paris Olympics in 12.97 seconds, narrowly missing the semi-finals but setting a record for Chinese women’s 100m hurdlers.
Dramatic make-up and, more importantly, Wu’s confident and assertive personality have made her an icon for young Chinese generations who value individuality and self-expression.
