On September 24, a longtime makeup artist who worked with Zhao Liying during the early days of her career unexpectedly shared a series of photos from her youth. Keywords related to the pictures immediately swept Weibo’s trending searches. Netizens jokingly gave Zhao Liying a “zero” — as in “zero flaws to criticize.”
In the precious photos that were unveiled, Zhao Liying radiates a fresh, youthful beauty from the time when she had only recently entered the entertainment industry. The actress immediately draws attention with her signature round, chubby face — a feature that once drew mixed reactions from directors when she was a newcomer but has since become one of her most distinctive trademarks.
Her bright, innocent eyes, petite nose and sweet, radiant smile instantly captured viewers’ hearts. The natural, delicate beauty of Zhao Liying in her early 20s quickly earned an outpouring of praise from netizens. Time may have passed, but that original innocence and charm remain a cherished memory for audiences who have supported Zhao Liying since the difficult early days of her showbiz career.
Looking back at the photos from her youth and comparing them with Zhao Liying today has left the public even more impressed by the actress’s remarkable transformation. Time has not diminished her beauty; instead, it has refined Zhao Liying into a woman who appears more mature, sophisticated and radiant than ever. The innocent and sweet young woman of the past has now taken on an entirely different aura — mature, elegant and undeniably captivating. Despite experiencing numerous ups and downs in both her career and personal life, Zhao Liying’s delicate beauty, combined with her resilience and perseverance, remains a unique strength that has helped her maintain her enormous popularity and status as an A-list star in the fiercely competitive Chinese entertainment industry.
Zhao Liying was born in 1987 in Langfang, Hebei, China. Without an artistic family background or powerful connections to give her a head start, Zhao Liying entered showbiz from scratch after winning a talent-search competition in 2006. She spent years taking on minor and largely unnoticed supporting roles while enduring prejudice over claims that her “round face was unsuitable for leading roles.” It was only through extraordinary perseverance and performances that resonated with audiences that she eventually stepped into the spotlight.
Zhao Liying is now regarded as one of Chinese television’s “ratings queens” and one of the industry’s leading actresses, with an impressive filmography that includes Boss & Me, The Journey of Flower, Princess Agents and The Story of Minglan. In recent years, she has continued challenging herself with more demanding productions such as The Story of Xing Fu and Wild Bloom, earning multiple prestigious acting awards and establishing herself among the acclaimed acting talents recognized by industry professionals.
In contrast to her glittering career, Zhao Liying’s personal life went through a major turning point when she married actor Feng Shaofeng in 2018 and welcomed their first son, Xiang Xiang. However, the couple officially went their separate ways in 2021, leaving many fans saddened by their divorce.
Following the divorce, Zhao Liying quickly regained her footing, pouring all her energy into her career and achieving some of the greatest accomplishments of her professional life. A devoted mother as well as a powerful, independent and talented actress, Zhao Liying today has blossomed into a woman admired not only for her beauty but also for everything she has accomplished.
Sources: k14