https://www.scmp.com/rss/500158/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3314236/teaching-internet-hakka-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3314236/teaching-internet-hakka-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Chinese social media users are speculating the US could be the source of monkeypox infections now reported in at least a dozen countries, including the UK, Spain and Australia. The viral infection has been highlighted as a trending topic on popular social media platform Weibo for the past three days with a hashtag on the US reporting two suspected monkeypox cases attracting more than 51 million views as of Monday. While Chinese state media has refrained from accusing the US of intentionally... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3178814/us-let-monkeypox-loose-conspiracy-theories-swirl-chinas-weibo-platform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3178814/us-let-monkeypox-loose-conspiracy-theories-swirl-chinas-weibo-platform?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 May 2022 10:02:44 +0000 Update: On May 7, his birthday, MrBeast posted on Instagram that he would give US$10,000 each to five followers who shared his post to their Instagram Stories and tagged someone in the comments section. He said he would choose the five winners of the money within 72 hours. His post has become one of the most liked and most commented upon ever on Instagram. In an undisclosed location in the US state of North Carolina, Jimmy Donaldson is about to show me a million dollars in cash. Donaldson, aka... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3178307/youtubes-mrbeast-giving-away-his-millions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3178307/youtubes-mrbeast-giving-away-his-millions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 May 2022 21:15:19 +0000 Popular US YouTuber Emma Chamberlain is facing a backlash from the South Asian community for wearing a controversial diamond necklace at New York’s Met Gala. Controversy erupted as soon as Chamberlain walked onto the red carpet wearing the jewellery at the May 2 annual fundraising event attended by global glitterati for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Word began to spread that the necklace originally belonged to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, in India’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3177817/furore-over-emma-chamberlains-met-gala-diamond-necklace-puts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3177817/furore-over-emma-chamberlains-met-gala-diamond-necklace-puts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 May 2022 09:00:13 +0000 Wang Sicong, son of Chinese property tycoon Wang Jianlin and an influencer on Weibo with 40 million followers, had his account removed from the social media platform after he openly questioned China’s state-sanctioned medicine for treating Covid-19 and the government’s mandatory testing policy in Shanghai. Wang’s Weibo account was “not viewable” on Wednesday, removed due to a “violation of related laws and regulations”, according to a notice published on the platform. The complete removal of his... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3175977/wang-sicong-chinas-famous-scion-erased-social-media-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3175977/wang-sicong-chinas-famous-scion-erased-social-media-after?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Apr 2022 11:00:28 +0000 Indonesia’s move to select a celebrity as its G20 spokesperson underlines President Joko Widodo’s fixation on his public image, analysts said, as Jakarta continues to rely on influencers to communicate its policies to the public. Southeast Asia’s biggest economy last month named Ayunda Faza Maudya, 27, as its official G20 spokesperson, in the hopes that the actress, singer, author, activist and social media influencer – more popularly known as Maudy Ayunda – will be able to impress upon young... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3174874/indonesias-oxford-stanford-educated-influencer-maudy-ayunda-faces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3174874/indonesias-oxford-stanford-educated-influencer-maudy-ayunda-faces?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Apr 2022 09:30:30 +0000 Malaysian social media influencer Siew Pui Yi caused a social media storm recently when she shared rather suggestive photos of herself posing in Vietnam’s national dress ao dai. Siew Pui Yi, nicknamed Ms Puiyi, a Malaysian celebrity, posted an arguable picture on her personal Facebook. On the evening of April 4, she took a boat to the middle of Hoai River, Hoi An Town, wearing offensive clothing. https://t.co/Hm6IsyIlRF pic.twitter.com/Vd1DlKMd3W — Loc Dang (@LocDang4) April 6, 2022 The ao dai... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3174852/meet-siew-pui-yi-controversial-malaysian-influencer-whose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3174852/meet-siew-pui-yi-controversial-malaysian-influencer-whose?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Apr 2022 06:00:14 +0000 Former England football captain David Beckham handed over his Instagram account on Sunday to a doctor helping women give birth in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Beckham, the 46-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder and current co-owner of American Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, told his 71.6 million Instagram followers to look at his profile to see the work of Irina, a child anaesthesiologist, and her team amid the conflict. Beckham, a goodwill ambassador... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3171298/ukraine-david-beckham-hands-over-instagram-account-kharkiv-doctor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3171298/ukraine-david-beckham-hands-over-instagram-account-kharkiv-doctor?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Mar 2022 12:09:36 +0000 Veronika Belotserkovskaya, an influencer best known in Russia for glamorous Instagram posts on her life and cooking classes, has become one of the first targets of the country’s draconian new legislation that makes criticism of the war in Ukraine punishable by as many as 15 years in jail. An unlikely candidate for the wrath of President Vladimir Putin’s government, the influencer known on Instagram as Belonika, had until recently mostly posted pictures of her glitzy lifestyle, featuring elegant... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3170890/ukraine-crisis-glamorous-russian-influencer-targeted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3170890/ukraine-crisis-glamorous-russian-influencer-targeted?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Mar 2022 16:15:02 +0000 With only two months left before the May 9 presidential elections, the candidate leading the polls continues to avoid debating his opponents and doing hard interviews with the press. On February 27, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr, 64, refused to join nine other presidential candidates in a debate sponsored by CNN Philippines. He said he had a “busy schedule”. On January 22 he was a no-show in a three-hour interview featuring four other candidates with the GMA Network TV station. Marcos’... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3169252/philippine-election-why-front-runner-bongbong-marcos-jnr-so-hands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3169252/philippine-election-why-front-runner-bongbong-marcos-jnr-so-hands?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 04:00:19 +0000 Tax authorities in southern Guangdong province have slapped live-streaming star Ping Rong with a 62 million yuan (US$10 million) fine for tax evasion, making her the latest Chinese online influencer to be charged with the offence over the past several months. A popular live-streamer on Kuaishou Technology’s short video-sharing platform, Ping was held liable for tax irregularities in 2019 and 2020, according to a statement on Tuesday by the Guangdong Provincial Tax Service, which is under the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3167996/china-tech-crackdown-authorities-slap-us10-million-fine-live?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3167996/china-tech-crackdown-authorities-slap-us10-million-fine-live?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Feb 2022 14:00:26 +0000 With his softly-spoken manner and quiet air of calm, it is not hard to picture Ryo Chuh-yeop in his former job as an aerospace researcher for South Korea’s Agency for Defence Development. As someone who has spent most of his professional life studying, he is contemplative and methodical in his speech and not particularly talkative. Which is perhaps why it is somewhat harder to picture him in his present job, as a “Professor of Influencing”. Ryo scored his job as an adjunct professor at South... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3167452/youtube-fame-k-pop-fitness-says-professor-south-koreas-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3167452/youtube-fame-k-pop-fitness-says-professor-south-koreas-first?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Feb 2022 23:00:19 +0000 NFTs continue to take the world by storm and social media influencers are starting to catch on to the trend. Case in point: for Irene Zhao, one of Singapore’s biggest Instagram stars, these uniquely identifiable jpegs earned her over US$5 million this January. Over the last few months, the 28-year-old has gone from being a model to a notable figure in the cryptocurrency space. And although many have written off her success as a stroke of luck, there’s a lot more to Zhao’s NFT collection,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3165835/who-irene-zhao-singapore-instagram-influencer-who-made?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3165835/who-irene-zhao-singapore-instagram-influencer-who-made?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Feb 2022 01:00:25 +0000 Even if you haven’t watched Single’s Inferno, Netflix’s hit dating reality show, you’ve most likely heard of its breakout star, Song Ji-a. The influencer, who already had a relatively large audience, saw her popularity spike immediately after her appearance, with her followers surging from around 400,000 to over 3.7 million in a few weeks after the show’s completion. But her beauty and bold personality aren’t the only things that have captured people’s attention. Recently, she’s been making... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164808/how-song-ji-career-crumbled-days-singles-inferno-star-was?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164808/how-song-ji-career-crumbled-days-singles-inferno-star-was?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jan 2022 21:00:15 +0000 The fiancé of Gabby Petito, a social media influencer whose disappearance and death gripped America last year, confessed to her killing in writing before taking his life, the FBI said Friday. Brian Laundrie killed himself amid suspicion about his possible role in the young woman’s death as the two of them took a cross-country road trip, filming themselves along the way and posting the videos online. His body was found on October 20 in a nature reserve in Florida along with some belongings,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3164335/gabby-petitos-fiance-confessed-her-killing-own?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3164335/gabby-petitos-fiance-confessed-her-killing-own?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Jan 2022 23:21:08 +0000 Around the world, the name Disney is usually associated with classic characters such as Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, but in China, soft toys of LinaBell – a pink fox that did not exist until four months ago – have become the latest offerings from the “happiest place on Earth” to set off a mania among young consumers. Three days before New Year’s Eve, thousands of people lined up outside the Shanghai Disney Resort overnight, braving the cold weather in hope of grabbing a prized limited... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3162715/move-over-mickey-mouse-disneys-hottest-hit-china-pink-fox-called?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3162715/move-over-mickey-mouse-disneys-hottest-hit-china-pink-fox-called?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jan 2022 10:00:27 +0000 Every Sunday Sunita Sharma, 39, her daughter Priti and sister-in-law Aarti huddle around her phone for two hours after wrapping up their household chores to watch make-up tutorials by leading beauty influencers on YouTube. “We take notes, shop online for some of the affordable products they recommend, experiment with them and then get each other’s feedback. In today’s socially competitive environment, it’s vital to look good,” explains Sunita, a schoolteacher based in Noida, a town in India’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3161993/nykaa-purplle-sugar-plum-indias-us27-billion-beauty-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3161993/nykaa-purplle-sugar-plum-indias-us27-billion-beauty-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Jan 2022 00:59:24 +0000 The sales-pulling power of China’s top e-commerce live-streamers is immense. In a matter of hours, the superstar influencers of the industry can generate revenue equivalent to the annual take of department store chains. The record fine of 1.34 billion yuan (HK$1.6 billion) imposed on one of the most successful and renowned, Viya, for tax evasion, sends a signal to other online celebrities and the companies they work with that they have to be honest. But given the government’s wide-ranging... https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/3160870/china-must-keep-influencers-honest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/3160870/china-must-keep-influencers-honest?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:15:20 +0000 Ben Chin Ben Chin China’s expanding celebrity crackdown has now reached some of its top influencers, including “live-streaming queen” Huang Wei, more commonly known as Viya. The popular Hangzhou-based e-commerce expert was recently fined a record US$210 million for tax evasion. Often touted as being able to “sell anything” on Taobao Live’s live-streaming platform, the 36-year-old quickly became an internet celebrity in her country, amassing over 18 million followers on microblogging site Weibo and 80 million... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3160684/who-viya-chinas-live-streaming-queen-millennial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3160684/who-viya-chinas-live-streaming-queen-millennial?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Dec 2021 08:29:23 +0000 It has been a spectacular fall from grace for Chinese online influencer Viya, who went from being the country’s most bankable live-streaming e-commerce star to a virtual pariah overnight after authorities in the eastern city of Hangzhou slapped her with a record 1.34 billion yuan (US$210 million) fine for tax evasion. One of China’s rare one-name celebrities, Viya – whose real name is Huang Wei –saw her widely followed social media account on microblogging platform Weibo and her online presence... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3160598/who-live-streaming-e-commerce-star-viya-and-how-did-she-become-famous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3160598/who-live-streaming-e-commerce-star-viya-and-how-did-she-become-famous?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:23:31 +0000 The tax bureau of China’s e-commerce hub Hangzhou has fined leading e-commerce influencer Viya a record 1.34 billion yuan (US$210 million) for tax evasion, in a move bound to send shock waves across the country’s live-streaming industry. Huang Wei, known as Viya online, avoided more than 700 million yuan in total taxes from 2019 to 2020 through a slew of tax evasion methods, including hiding commission fees, declaring personal wages as corporate income, and omitting reports of taxable income,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3160436/china-tech-crackdown-hangzhou-fines-top-influencer-viya-record-us210?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3160436/china-tech-crackdown-hangzhou-fines-top-influencer-viya-record-us210?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Dec 2021 10:41:09 +0000 At just 19 years old, Indian teen Anushka Sen is already an internet sensation. She has more than 29.3 million followers on Instagram and 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube, regularly posting single videos that get millions of views. Perhaps best known for her role in children’s fantasy TV show Baal Veer, the Indian actress also won awards for 2021 film Am I Next. Most recently, Sen was in the Maldives with her parents. As she shows off her incredible physique, we had a look at her YouTube... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3158642/inside-anushka-sens-fitness-and-beauty-routine-bollywood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3158642/inside-anushka-sens-fitness-and-beauty-routine-bollywood?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:33 +0000 The K-pop world is filled with beautiful faces; some idols were even scouted for their striking looks at a young age. And it comes as no surprise that many Korean stars have siblings who share their talent and attractive appearance. K-drama’s top 10 male luxury brand ambassadors, from Hyun Bin to Gong Yoo Some A-listers’ siblings have gone on to become famous themselves, while others live regular lives while looking like they wouldn’t be out of place on a concert stage. J-Hope of BTS’ sister,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3157504/5-k-pop-idol-siblings-know-about-blackpinks-rose-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3157504/5-k-pop-idol-siblings-know-about-blackpinks-rose-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Nov 2021 09:30:32 +0000 With only four professional fights to his name, YouTuber Jake Paul has become one of the biggest paydays in boxing. Over the past 12 months, Paul has reportedly earned millions, putting him third on the list of highest-paid boxers, according to Sportico. The only two fighters ahead of him are super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The return of Melania Trump: 5 signs she’s making a comeback As the 24-year old gears up for another fight this... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3157233/how-did-jake-paul-become-one-highest-paid-athletes-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3157233/how-did-jake-paul-become-one-highest-paid-athletes-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Nov 2021 22:00:18 +0000 The recent move by authorities in Hangzhou, China’s eastern e-commerce hub, to name and shame two popular online influencers for tax evasion and then slap both with hefty fines sent shock waves across the country’s live-streaming sector. Zhu Chenhui, known online as Xueli Cherie, and Lin Shanshan have now become the unofficial poster girls of this new campaign, which targets the booming live-streaming segment of China’s vast e-commerce market, where there is a spotty track record of compliance... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3157243/chinas-tech-crackdown-live-streaming-e-commerce-stars-get-reality-check?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3157243/chinas-tech-crackdown-live-streaming-e-commerce-stars-get-reality-check?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Nov 2021 11:10:27 +0000 Katie Gu started developing acne at the age of 12. The California-born woman, now 23, says that she grew up feeling insecure and self-conscious as a result. “I learned how to wear foundation at a young age, listened to well-meaning people tell me to wash my face, drink more water and consume less dairy, and dealt with salespeople at beauty counters urging me to try different skincare products,” says Gu. “I’ve even had people tell me that I was ‘brave’ for showing my skin.” By the time she... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3151238/shes-not-ashamed-her-acne-any-more-how-skin-positivity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3151238/shes-not-ashamed-her-acne-any-more-how-skin-positivity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Oct 2021 23:15:12 +0000 If you’ve been on social media, or texted with GIF-loving friends, you know Drew Scanlon’s face. His GIF, known as “Blinking Guy” or “Blinking White Guy”, is estimated to have been used more than 1.7 billion times across the internet to express disbelief or confusion. It even has its own Twitter page. Scanlon hasn’t been wasting that internet fame. He’s using it for good – soliciting donations for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to aid with research and advocacy for the disease. Last... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3150260/blinking-white-guy-viral-gif-uses-his-face-and-fame-ask?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3150260/blinking-white-guy-viral-gif-uses-his-face-and-fame-ask?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:15:10 +0000 OnlyFans is not only one of the most popular content-sharing platforms today, but possibly one of the most controversial. Featuring only a website with no official apps, creators offer their followers videos, photos and even chances to chat one-on-one for a price. Since its inception, the platform has given its creators free rein to upload any content, including adult content, which is locked behind a paywall. It was initially dismissed as a platform meant only for adult content makers, but... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3149995/10-top-celebrity-earners-onlyfans-ranked-former-disney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3149995/10-top-celebrity-earners-onlyfans-ranked-former-disney?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:00:13 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3149949/fearsome-nepali-women-fighters-lalisas-favourite-meatballs-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3149949/fearsome-nepali-women-fighters-lalisas-favourite-meatballs-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Sep 2021 08:00:22 +0000 Let’s talk make-up. Aside from being a lifelong beauty enthusiast, I also trained as a make-up artist, and had Rae Morris, the longest serving make-up director of L’Oreal Paris, as a guest instructor. The training gave me the confidence to do the make-up for my friends’ weddings and photoshoots, but it’s also made me critical when it comes to make-up I see online. Robert Welsh, a professional make-up artist and YouTuber, says it best: “Individuality and creativity have no rules, but make-up most... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3149675/what-has-instagram-done-make-how-it-became?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/3149675/what-has-instagram-done-make-how-it-became?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Sep 2021 20:15:13 +0000 Insta-bragging – posting self-congratulatory photos on Instagram with the sole intention of inspiring jealousy – doesn’t just create envy and adoration among followers, but is increasingly leading to more sinister outcomes than many had bargained for. In fact, there’s an increasing number of bitcoin traders and Insta-influencers attracting thieves and criminal gangs online, with experts suggesting around eight per cent of people could be targeted by criminals due to what they share on social... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3147947/8-influencers-who-were-robbed-after-flaunting-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3147947/8-influencers-who-were-robbed-after-flaunting-their?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Sep 2021 02:42:35 +0000 Initially rising to fame on the video platform Vine, US social media personality Jake Paul has come a long way. He has since added Disney Channel actor, YouTube megastar and professional boxer to his resume. On August 29, he will bid to further his professional record of 3-0 as he squares off with former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in Paul’s hometown, Cleveland, Ohio. Like his older brother and fellow YouTuber Logan Paul, this 24-year-old multi-hyphenate has had his share of bouts... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146645/jake-pauls-lavish-life-youtube-sensation-splashes-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146645/jake-pauls-lavish-life-youtube-sensation-splashes-his?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Aug 2021 21:00:44 +0000 California-based multimillionaire and supercar collector Manny Khoshbin is well known for his love of highly customised exotic cars. The real estate mogul reportedly has a net worth of more than US$80 million, out of which his insane collection of cars alone is worth at least US$30 million. Meet the world’s richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers Some of those cars are so incredibly rare and expensive that the popular YouTuber recently called his Bugatti Veyron “basic”. His... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3146235/supercar-blondies-look-hermes-only-hypercars-world-youtuber?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3146235/supercar-blondies-look-hermes-only-hypercars-world-youtuber?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:35:06 +0000 A string of videos that appear to show celebrities like Ben Affleck and Matthew Perry connecting with dating app users are sending chills through both the entertainment and dating app industries. Since its launch in 2015, invite-only dating app Raya has advertised itself as an elite platform catering to the needs of celebrities. But in early May 2021, Nivine Jay, an actor and model, posted an explosive TikTok of a video purportedly sent to her by Ben Affleck after she says she unmatched with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3141683/celebrity-dating-app-leaks-ben-afflecks-private-video?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3141683/celebrity-dating-app-leaks-ben-afflecks-private-video?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jul 2021 23:00:16 +0000 For years, the entertainment industry has excelled at getting fans to follow new manifestations of their favourite childhood characters into all sorts of moneymaking venues, including cinemas, cruise ships and theme parks. Now the allure of nostalgia is often aimed at a new destination. Enter streaming services. 5 celebrities who defied chronic conditions to find fame, from Lady Gaga to Johnny Depp This summer, ViacomCBS Inc’s Paramount+ is rolling out a reboot of iCarly, a once-popular cable... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3137917/icarly-grown-ups-can-paramount-catch-netflix-and-disney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3137917/icarly-grown-ups-can-paramount-catch-netflix-and-disney?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Everybody wants to be like Bretman Rock Sacayanan Laforga, but absolutely no one can even come close. Let’s start with his name. You’d think he came up with a stage name, but no, “Bretman Rock” is really on his birth certificate. According to an interview he gave to KITV in 2015: “My dad was obsessed with wrestlers, and he liked Bret Hart and The Rock, so that’s how he got Bretman Rock.” Is MrBeast the world’s most controversial YouTuber? The internet sensation became famous for a make-up... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3134933/inside-bretman-rocks-eccentric-hawaii-home-filipino?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3134933/inside-bretman-rocks-eccentric-hawaii-home-filipino?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 May 2021 00:00:10 +0000 It was uploaded by mistake. And the photo seemed reminiscent of any old Kardashian snapshot: a dreamy backdrop, perfectly manicured nails and a fashionable bikini. The difference from Khloé Kardashian’s usual posts? This photo was without obvious edits, filters or Photoshopping. It was quickly deleted, and her team reportedly tried to make it disappear, a reaction the 36-year-old reality star addressed directly. “The photo that was posted this week is beautiful. But as someone who has struggled... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3128880/khloe-kardashians-beautiful-unfiltered-bikini-photo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3128880/khloe-kardashians-beautiful-unfiltered-bikini-photo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Apr 2021 05:40:06 +0000 Originally from the US state of Louisiana, Addison Rae rose to fame when she started posting dance videos – some of them with her mum, Sheri – on social media platform TikTok in 2019. In less than two years, she has amassed a staggering 78.9 million followers, making her the second most followed person on TikTok after Charlie D’Amelio. Rae has collaborated with fashion brands including FashionNova and has launched her own line of merchandise, which includes products such as hoodies and mugs.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3128851/tiktok-star-addison-rae-has-sleepovers-kourtney?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3128851/tiktok-star-addison-rae-has-sleepovers-kourtney?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Apr 2021 02:14:50 +0000 For the many travel influencers on social media, 2019 was not a good year. Hotel and resort owners from the Philippines to Dublin, drowning in demands for freebies from what they frankly described as “freeloaders”, went public with their disgust. As a result, many followers finally woke up to what had long been obvious to others – that the purportedly independent opinions of their digital pin-ups were all too often bought and paid for, not only with sponsored stays, meals and travel, but with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3126947/covid-19-has-grounded-travel-influencers-after-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3126947/covid-19-has-grounded-travel-influencers-after-being?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Mar 2021 21:15:13 +0000 Recently news that Chinese wanghong Guo Meimei has been arrested broke across the nation’s social media. It’s the second time the notorious internet influencer has been taken in by Chinese law enforcement, following her gambling offences in 2014. A year later, the then-24-year-old was sentenced to five years in prison for operating a private gambling business in Beijing, and was released in July 2019. On March 11, Shanghai police arrested a group of people who produce and sell weight loss... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3126471/who-guo-meimei-notorious-chinese-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3126471/who-guo-meimei-notorious-chinese-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Mar 2021 02:00:19 +0000 When Antoine Bunel first posted about cooking on China’s Twitter-like microblogging site Weibo in 2015, he didn’t think his use of Chinese social media tools would lead to a full-time job as a key opinion leader (KOL). Calling himself the French KOL who is the most familiar with the China market, he has amassed over a million fans through his cooking videos and recipes in Mandarin on Weibo, video platforms Douyin and Bilibili, cooking app Xiachufang, and other channels. The former marketing... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3122154/social-media-stars-china-who-arent-chinese-how-foreign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3122154/social-media-stars-china-who-arent-chinese-how-foreign?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Feb 2021 23:15:08 +0000 She grew famous for portraying an idyllic rural lifestyle in China, she courted controversy by cooking “kimchi,” and now she has been crowned the undisputed queen of Chinese-language YouTube.  Li Ziqi has set a record for “Most subscribers for a Chinese- language channel on YouTube,” Guinness World Records announced on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like service on Tuesday night. Li had 14.2 million followers on YouTube as of early February. She launched her YouTube channel in 2017, with a video on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/li-ziqi-queen-china-influencers/article/3120483?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/li-ziqi-queen-china-influencers/article/3120483?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Feb 2021 09:52:24 +0000 Key opinion leaders, or KOLs, have recently come to dominate the advertising and marketing industry. They are celebrities in themselves, who have managed to gather a massive list of followers to leverage into commercial opportunities for brands and themselves. But a new breed of KOLs in China use their platform to champion worthy causes, ranging from environmentalism to sharing legal and medical knowledge.  Here 5 of the biggest stars.  Liang Yu grew to prominence when she decided to take the... https://www.scmp.com/society/new-breed-chinese-kols-who-champion-worthwhile-causes/article/3114529?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/new-breed-chinese-kols-who-champion-worthwhile-causes/article/3114529?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:39:39 +0000 A viral blog that attacked Australia’s failure to stop the months-long bush fires and implied Chinese firefighters were braver and more patriotic has stirred vigorous online debate. The post, published on China’s Facebook-like WeChat, contrasted the situation in Australia with China’s largest-ever wildfire, which lasted just under a month in 1987.  The article quickly racked up more than 23 million views, but was criticized by high-profile media commentators for insensitivity and using... https://www.scmp.com/society/chinese-blog-attacking-australias-firefighters-criticized-insensitive/article/3045994?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/society/chinese-blog-attacking-australias-firefighters-criticized-insensitive/article/3045994?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:33:14 +0000 China’s Communist Party aims to enlist online influencers – from make-up tutors to stunt performers – into its cause through its main outreach arm, the United Front Work Department. Cadres from the department as well as cyber administration officials and propaganda cadres from across the country met in Beijing on Thursday for the first time to discuss ways to co-opt influencers, party newspaper People’s Daily reported. Department head You Quan said that working with online influencers was now a... https://www.scmp.com/culture/china-wants-influencers-help-promote-communist-partys-message/article/3039858?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/china-wants-influencers-help-promote-communist-partys-message/article/3039858?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Nov 2019 02:44:47 +0000 A reality of 2019 is that surgical face masks have become ubiquitous across the world. They are commonly used for hygiene, avoiding pollution and, increasingly, fashion. Celebrities like British model Naomi Campbell went viral for her over-the-top airport routine (that involved face masks), while K-pop stars use it as a fashion statement. It can get tricky when the celebrity is from Hong Kong. Cantopop star Joey Yung Cho-yee donned a surgical mask right before a flight and posted a selfie.... https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-pop-star-joey-yung-slammed-chinese-fans-surgical-mask-selfie/article/3036581?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/politics/hong-kong-pop-star-joey-yung-slammed-chinese-fans-surgical-mask-selfie/article/3036581?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Nov 2019 09:46:57 +0000 Meet a new type of social media celebrity: the “granfluencer.” They are elderly social stars who are proving that the online world is not an exclusive club for millennials. Adored by millions of people of all ages, the granfluencers are bridging the generation gap as they encourage others their age to embrace the internet. Watch the video above to see how their tips about living an ageless lifestyle are finding plenty of younger fans too. https://www.scmp.com/health/asias-elderly-are-turning-social-media-celebrities-and-becoming-granfluencers/article/3014538?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/health/asias-elderly-are-turning-social-media-celebrities-and-becoming-granfluencers/article/3014538?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jun 2019 10:24:51 +0000 Karen Chiu Karen Chiu This article originally appeared on ABACUS In the race for eyeballs on China’s hottest video apps, a new breed of internet stars have emerged. One woman grins widely at the camera and breaks into an impromptu dance, swaying her hips from side to side. A farmer, with a wheat field as his backdrop, flings his arms wildly as he belts out a rock and roll ballad. Another man, looking dapper in a three-piece suit and immaculately styled hair, grills a steak in his kitchen. Dubbed by Chinese media as... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029400/forget-millennials-chinas-newest-internet-stars-are-senior-citizens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029400/forget-millennials-chinas-newest-internet-stars-are-senior-citizens?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:08:03 +0000 Karen Chiu Karen Chiu In the race for eyeballs on China’s hottest video apps, a new breed of internet stars have emerged. One woman grins widely at the camera and breaks into an impromptu dance, swaying her hips from side to side. A farmer, with a wheat field as his backdrop, flings his arms wildly as he belts out a rock and roll ballad. Another man, looking dapper in a three-piece suit and immaculately styled hair, grills a steak in his kitchen. Dubbed by Chinese media as the next wave of internet stars, Taoqi... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/forget-millennials-chinas-newest-internet-stars-are-senior-citizens/article/3013426?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/forget-millennials-chinas-newest-internet-stars-are-senior-citizens/article/3013426?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2019 14:08:03 +0000 Imagine being banned from buying phones from one of the largest US retail stores for Tweeting something bad about Apple. This week, this implausible fate struck a web celeb. The difference was that it happened in China on the microblogging platform Weibo, and it wasn’t Apple at the center of the dispute. It was Huawei. On Monday, internet celebrity Luo Yufeng, better known as Sister Feng, published a post saying “Huawei should have collapsed earlier.” The comment caused an unexpected outpouring... https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/dissing-huawei-chinese-social-media-bad-idea/article/3011069?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/dissing-huawei-chinese-social-media-bad-idea/article/3011069?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 May 2019 14:22:10 +0000