China KOL with 5.8 million fans criticised for costume-makeup transformation video that ‘reinforces Asian stereotypes’

Chinese social media observers criticised Liu for eschewing authentic Chinese attire, instead opting for a Westernised depiction of Chinese culture. Photo: Xiaohongshu/@lucia宇坤

• Video was leveraging on 'Asoka makeup' trend, and was popular on TikTok
• When she posted it on Xiaohongshu, clip received significant backlash

A US-based Chinese TikTok influencer is under fire in mainland China for "reinforcing Asian stereotypes" after she posted a video of her changing costumes while using body movements that incorporated traditional cultural dress and makeup.

Lucia Liu initially posted the video on TikTok on May 4, and it has since received 16.3 million views and 2.2 million likes.

It features multiple costume changes that include a large variety of Chinese cultural outfits ranging from a cheongsam, an armoured chained dress, Peking opera makeup and even an outfit that is clearly inspired by Chun-Li, a female character from the Japanese Street Fighter video games. She often uses an Asian foldable hand fan to facilitate the transitions.

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The video was an adaption of the "Asoka makeup" trend on TikTok, in which influencers created looks inspired by traditional Indian weddings and danced to a tune from the 2001 Bollywood film Asoka.

TikTok users marvelled at Liu's creativity.

"The Asoka trend but with different cultures. Love to see it!" commented one online observer who received more than 21,400 likes.

"This one is way better and more unique," added another.

"THE QUEEN OF TRANSITIONS!!" said a comment with nearly 14,000 likes.

However, the reception was different when Liu posted the same video a week later on Xiaohongshu, China's equivalent to Instagram.

Mainland Chinese users criticised Liu for not selecting authentic Chinese outfits and leaning towards a Westernised portrayal of China.

"This looks like American-styled Chinese costumes. If you had chosen Zhang Ziyi's look from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, no one would have thought it was a stereotype," one person commented.

Another said: "None of the makeup changes truly reflects traditional Chinese aesthetics."

However, a few pushed back against the criticisms.

"What's wrong with an American aesthetic? It does showcase Chinese culture, and it looks good too," commented a Xiaohongshu user from Canada.

This incident highlights ongoing debates regarding the representation of Asian cultures in global media.

In 2020, the Western makeup trend of "fox eyes", which was characterised by using makeup to alter the shape of the eyes to make them appear elongated, was criticised as cultural appropriation.

The trend was accompanied by models taking pictures of themselves pulling their eyes back, a common racist gesture used to bully Asians for their eye shapes.

In 2021, French fashion brand Dior faced accusations of racial discrimination for a poster showing a Chinese model with freckled dark skin and gloomy squinted eyes, which some people said was an attempt by a Western brand to intentionally "uglify" Chinese people.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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