To pose or not to pose

Success of five-year-old child model draws attention to the ethics of child modelling.

BEIJING: A five-year-old model has once again raised the debate on child modeling in China, reports the Qianjiang Evening News.

Xinyan, from Hangzhou, has worked as a child model for more than two years.

At the beginning of her career, she earned 20 yuan (RM12) for each clothes items she modelled.

Her latest offer has increased to 80 yuan (RM49) per piece. Xinyan now works about six to seven hours a day, with a monthly income of more than 30,000 yuan (RM18,500), according to her mother.

Xinyan’s mother also said that she has put her daughter in some professional model training, and she would like Xinyan to have some stage experience such as modelling in fashion shows.

“Her income from photoshoots usually goes into the expenses to join a fashion show. It’s hard to be a child model, but as long as she’s enjoying it, I’m happy,” said the mother.

Xinyan told Qianjiang Evening News that her dream is to become a star when she grows up, so that “my fans can ask me for my autograph”.

The story of Xinyan has raised debates online.

Many worry that commercial modelling could cost Xinyan a normal childhood.

Netizens commented to say that frequent make-up could be bad for the kid’s skin, and the girl’s parents should have “preserved the innocence of their daughter”.