Sunday Times 2
The power of beauty
Xue Yun Fang (above and left) who was crowned Miss China in August this year is currently touring Sri Lanka. Pix by Amila Gamage
Beauty is probably one of the most debated, diverse and elusive concepts around the world. Everyone wants to be perceived as beautiful, but what does that mean? For Xue Yun Fang, Miss Universe China 2015, beauty is about being fearless. Elegant, poised and intelligent, one gets the impression that she is not easily fazed.
Yun Fang and the Miss Universe China’s pageant’s first runner-up, Wang Meng Jia, are currently touring Sri Lanka courtesy of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts. The girls comment excitedly on the good weather as we sit down for a chat at the beautiful Cinammon Bey Beruwala. “We live in Shanghai and Shenzhen which are big cities with not much nature. Being in Sri Lanka, we have been able to experience nature, and it has been very relaxing and quiet,” said Yun Fang.
Yun Fang, who was crowned Miss China in August this year, said she was a little dumbfounded when she won. “This was my first time in a pageant and I never thought before that I could win, I just wanted to try my best,” she said. Surprisingly, she says her biggest learning experience was team spirit gained through rigorous training which the finalists undergo in the lead up to the competition. “All the girls live together and we go through the process together. We are a team,” said Yun Fang.
Miss Universe China's pageant's first runner-up, Wang Meng Jia at the Seenawatte Hospital's children's ward
Yun Fang also found her ideals of beauty changing with the demands of this training schedule. “Every morning we had to get up early, around 6 a.m., for Yoga and exercise,” said Yun Fang. “This was the most difficult thing for me, maybe because I’m not very fit. Miss Universe is not about being skinny, you need to be fit and healthy.” Laughing, she tells us that while she doesn’t think she will be quite as thorough with the exercise, being a part of this pageant has made her want to maintain her fitness in the future.
Having recently graduated from university where she majored in broadcasting, Yun Fang hopes to become a television host someday. She believes this requires confidence and constant desire to move beyond your comfort zone, which is an attitude she hopes to inspire in other young girls and women as Miss China. She takes the responsibilities that come with her role very seriously, saying, “I don’t think Miss China is like being a star. It’s a job. Like any other, you need to be punctual, you can’t be lazy.”
Following our interview, the girls paid a visit to the Seenawatte Hospital’s children’s ward, which is maintained by Cinammon Bey, where they distributed gifts and spent some time talking to the children. Although most of the kids were shy and perhaps a little intimidated by these tall, glamorous strangers, a friend was made in little Nimasha Piyumandi who even sang a song for them.
In times when we are bombarded by beauty standards and quick to dismiss things like pageants as superficial, Yun Fang is frank about her thoughts on beauty and being associated with the industry. “I think beauty is special. It’s a job. It’s not easy and maybe it will change you, but it can help you open your heart to people. If I weren’t Miss China, I would just be a student with little power. But as Miss China or Miss Universe, there are more people watching you, so I can influence people through social media about things like education, or caring about the environment. Being Miss China gives me the chance to get more people to focus on these questions.”