Chinese woman spent Rs 9 cr to look like Fan Bingbing, then marries man who alter looks to resemble actress’ bf; then a heartbreak

A woman in China who spent eight million yuan (approximately Rs 9 crores) on cosmetic surgery to resemble actress Fan Bingbing has had to reinvent her life after the star’s reputation collapsed.

He Chengxi, 31, from Shenzhen, underwent 37 procedures—mostly on her face—between 2008 and 2016.

“I want to be like her,” she said, pointing to a teenage photo of Fan, adding that she had never been satisfied with her own appearance.

Her parents initially opposed the surgeries, but she insisted, even threatening suicide if they tried to stop her.

Thanks to her striking resemblance to Fan, He gained fame in 2016 as a contestant on a national singing competition and was dubbed “Little Fan Bingbing.”

She landed minor roles in film and television and even dated Yu Xiaoquan, a doctor who had also altered his appearance to resemble Fan’s then-boyfriend, Li Chen. The couple later married in 2017 and had a son the same year.

Their marriage ended in 2018 after Yu had an affair with a man, and Fan herself became embroiled in a tax evasion scandal, being ordered to pay 884 million yuan (US$122 million) and banned from acting in China. As a result, He faced ridicule online and acting opportunities dried up.

In recent years, He has rebranded herself as a fashion blogger and live-streamer, amassing 3,30,000 followers. She also underwent additional surgery to look less like Fan. “I am who I am,” she said in a video last year. “One of my life principles is not to please others.”

Her story has sparked widespread discussion on social media. Some admire her beauty and dedication, while others caution that trying to imitate someone else can cost a person their sense of self.

Fan Bingbing, meanwhile, has been blacklisted in China but is pursuing a career abroad. Last month, she won Taiwan’s Golden Horse Best Actress Award, a victory that was met with muted coverage in mainland media.