Profile | Ex-Chinese lingerie model Ni Hongjie becomes celebrated actress and household name
Widely regarded entertainer uses experiences of unhappy childhood, troubled first marriage to shape on-screen persona
She may be widely regarded as a versatile actress and pioneering lingerie model, but Ni Hongjie has not always been confident about her physical appearance.
In fact, the 46-year-old once said she felt ashamed about some of the reactions she received about the way she looked.
In 1999, Ni debuted as a model in China’s first television lingerie advertisement.
Unlike today, when it is normal to feel proud about flaunting your physique as a model, Ni’s entry into the fashion business occurred during a time when social mores were much more conservative.
When her initial lingerie advertisements were aired on national television, Ni became the talk of the town.