China’s socialite training schools spark debate amid Ye Ke fame

The revelation that celebrated actor Huang Xiaoming is dating Shenzhen entrepreneur Ye Ke has sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media. The 46-year-old actor, one of the highest-paid stars in the nation, confirmed the relationship in mid-September, putting an end to weeks of speculation. The announcement came just over a year after Huang’s high-profile divorce from actress and model Angelababy, with whom he shares a seven-year-old son nicknamed “Little Sponge.” Huang’s new romance quickly became a trending topic on Weibo, as netizens delved into Ye’s background to better understand the woman who captured the heart of the entertainment mogul. Born and raised in southern China’s tech hub of Shenzhen, 31-year-old Ye has built a diverse business portfolio that spans biological technology, cosmetics, and fashion. Her entrepreneurial streak led her to establish a luxury women’s golf apparel brand, and her activity as a livestreamer on Douyin has garnered her half a million followers. Controversial training program Despite her achievements, Ye’s newfound fame has not been without controversy. Netizens uncovered details suggesting she was involved with a “socialite training school” — a phenomenon that has captivated Chinese social media in recent years. The rise of socialite training schools has redefined the meaning of socialite in China, moving from the image of independent, confident women with unique personalities. These schools, offering courses on everything from posture and conversation skills to luxury brand appreciation and horseback riding, have created a new breed of high society hopefuls. Graduates of these programs emerge with an air of sophistication and an array of Instagram-worthy experiences, making them prime candidates for China’s wealthiest circles. “These training sessions were a hot topic about 10 years ago, in the early 2010s in China. Now, they seem well-established in the lifestyle training industry. China has seen a boom in companies offering these services, and the debate about how the wealthy spend their money and organize their social circles seems less contentious today,” says Guillaume Rué de Bernadac, CEO of Académie de Bernadac, which provides etiquette training for both individuals and businesses. However, netizens argue that these programs cultivate superficiality over substance, mass-producing what some refer to as “prefabricated girlfriends,” whose only goal is to marry into wealth, or gain influence in the entertainment industry. China, an increasingly image-conscious society The discourse around Ye and others like her sheds light on a troubling trend: the commodification of female identity in modern China. Online users argue that these schools promote the idea that success and happiness are tied to a set of curated behaviors and appearances, undermining women’s individuality. The backlash against socialite schools reflects a broader anxiety about the erosion of traditional values and the rise of a materialistic culture that prizes luxury and status above all else. “I see the growing pressure on women’s image in China. A young woman must be beautiful, youthful, cute, well-mannered — and now, she also has to show off,” De Bernadac says. “This is not the case for men. Yet, I’ve rarely encountered women complaining about it. Most of the women I’ve met see it as a way to improve themselves. They’re eager to learn and curious. “I see this as one of China’s strengths — the population’s thirst for knowledge. To me, it bodes well for these women’s future,” he adds. The intense online debate is emblematic of the pressures faced by young women navigating China’s increasingly image-conscious society. As influencers and businesswomen blend social media prowess with beauty, the boundaries between self-expression and self-commodification have blurred. The result is a generation of women encouraged to prioritize aesthetics over authenticity, presenting curated and polished images to gain a foothold in competitive social circles.

Socialite training schools spark debate amid Ye Ke fame

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Socialite training schools spark debate amid Ye Ke fame