On March 2, Zheng Shuang surprised the online community by posting new images on Chinese social media. Contrary to widespread rumors claiming she had aged dramatically due to plastic surgery, financial hardship, or even hair loss from stress, the 1991-born actress appeared youthful and, according to many commenters, still strikingly beautiful.
Now 35 years old, Zheng Shuang seems to have retained the innocent charm that once earned her the nickname “youth goddess” of Chinese television. For years, she dominated the small screen with campus romance dramas and achieved remarkable popularity across Asia.
Following her massive scandals, Zheng disappeared from the entertainment industry and has reportedly been living in the United States, unable to return to China due to mounting legal and financial troubles. During difficult periods, she occasionally posted online pleas describing her struggles, claiming she had to save even on basic necessities and wore the same clothes for years. Leaked photos from that time showed her dressed casually, looking pale and far removed from her former glamorous image.
For that reason, her recent appearance stunned many netizens. Some expressed regret over her downfall, noting that with her natural beauty and fame, she could have continued enjoying a comfortable life in showbiz. Comments such as “A beauty is still a beauty,” “There was a time her face looked distorted from plastic surgery, but now she seems untouched,” and “I thought she had completely deteriorated” flooded social media platforms.
Zheng Shuang once rose to pan-Asian fame through hit dramas including Meteor Shower, Swords of Legends, The Four, and especially Love O2O.
However, in 2021, her peak career collapsed overnight after her ex-boyfriend Zhang Heng accused her of using a surrogate mother and allegedly attempting to abandon the pregnancy at seven months, as well as abandoning their twin children after birth. The scandal sparked nationwide outrage, as the actions were deemed both legally and morally unacceptable. Shortly afterward, she was embroiled in a tax evasion controversy.
Chinese authorities swiftly imposed an industry ban, effectively erasing her presence from entertainment platforms within a single day. She was fined and ordered to pay back taxes totaling 299 million yuan. Multiple film projects were halted, leading to lawsuits demanding compensation. For example, the production team of Secret Keepers reportedly sought tens of millions of yuan in damages, while the project Jade Lovers demanded repayment of 30.5 million yuan in initial salary plus an additional 60 million yuan in compensation.
Sources: K14