A good ole makeover can take anyone’s look from mundane to marvelous. Many of China’s younger generations believe that putting yourself out there on social media and expressing the willingness to take note of other netizens’ feedback on your (life)style “signifies trust” and is “the quickest way to connect with strangers.” Enter: hashtag “I will listen” aka young netizens making the most of a tag to overhaul their clothes and confidence.
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As of January 20, the hashtag 听劝 (tīngquàn | meaning “listen to persuasion” in Chinese but to be interpreted as “I will listen”) had raked in over 2.8 million views on China’s lifestyle guru and e-commerce app 小红书 (xiǎohóngshū| Little Red Book (LRB)), one of the country’s top-used apps for tips on topics like beauty, fashion, travel, food and education. Generally, posts under the “I will listen” hashtag receive an average of 44 sincere (!) responses.
According to many Chinese late millennials and Gen Zs using and/ or responding to said posts, expressing the willingness to take note of other netizens’ feedback “signifies trust” and is considered “the quickest way to establish a rapport with strangers.”
Everyone, as long as they post their real, unfiltered photos on the platform and use the “I will listen” hashtag, can count on getting some well-intended input.
The story began with a “simple” question from an LRB user who goes by the name of Xiao Ai. In December 2021, he posted the question “Why am I 26 and single?” accompanied by his picture on LRB, asking everyone to chime in and help him become “a better(-looking) man.”
Above: Xiao Ai and his SO in 2023; below: Xiao Ai before his complete makeover. How it all began… In December 2021, a user on China’s exceedingly ubiquitous lifestyle and e-commerce app 小红书 (xiǎohóngshū| Little Red Book (LRB) who goes by the name of Xiao Ai wondered: “Why am I 26 and single?” Adding the “I will listen” hashtag. Image via Xiao Ai’s LRB account
Makeover 1: Xiao Ai
When posting his question to invite feedback, Xiao Ai only had some 200 followers. But the post received tens of thousands of likes and comments. He even replied directly to inquiries about his professional and family backgrounds in the comment section. In this context of mutual sincerity, the tag “I will listen” was born.
Xiao Ai started with the easiest and most obvious way to change his appearance. He was advised to change his hairstyle, and the next day he went out to get a side-part haircut. He also ditched the glasses and got contact lenses. Others said his outfits looked a little outdated, and so Xiao Ai decided to up his style game by incorporating more hot, hip and happening clothing labels, after conducting a full-fledged poll, mind you. He tried them on one by one, with LRB users voting for their favorites.
Then one girl DMed him, saying that men can also exfoliate, apply toner and serums and moisturizer, and doing so two to three times a week can give you a more glowing, healthy appearance. Plus, she added, men should not be ashamed to dabble a little in makeup. And so Xiao Ai learned how to use an eyebrow pencil, apply eyebrow powder, the works.
But he didn’t stop there. This man with a plan–to find the love of his life–decided he needed to tone up and subsequently took up running.
He ran almost every day to lose weight. “Sometimes when I’m running late at night or in the middle of the night and there’s no one around, I think about what all of you [LRB users] are telling me and I feel empowered,” he once wrote.
In the end, what Xiao Ai gained from putting himself out there and opening up to netizens’ constructive criticism, was a confidence boost and a sense of pride when looking in the mirror.
Ah, and in case anybody’s wondering: Xiao Ai’s also found his significant other–as seen in the pic above.
And they lived happily ever after.
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Makeover 2: Xiao Wang
And according to Chinese news portal Bianews.com on January 9, it’s not just Xiao Ai whose look (and life) got a makeover after expressing a “willingness to listen.”
Here’s another extreme makeover example courtesy of the still trending “I will listen” tag.
In April 2023, 30-something Xiao Wang, only known by her LRB moniker, embarked on a six-month challenge of “embracing advice from fellow users and transforming herself,” as reported by an account called Meiri Renwu (Daily Portrait) on China’s ubiquitous super app Weixin (aka WeChat).
She shared a full-body shot, sporting her signature ponytail, a pink Chanel-style jacket, jeans and chunky sneakers—her usual attire. With no expectations or intentions of going viral, she captioned the post, “I will listen [to your advice] and I’m not easily offended. Please help me make some changes.”
As had been the case with Xiao Ai, instead of devolving into an “attack of the trolls,” the post marked the beginning of Xiao Wang’s “I will listen” series.
For many years, she’d had no desire to change the way she looked, believing she simply didn’t have the potential to change.
With a somewhat square facial shape and a wardrobe that had been curated by her mother for more than three decades–consisting of mostly pink and red turtlenecks that accentuated her complexion–Xiao Wang had always been one happy cookie. “It’s not that bad, right? I can’t be bothered to change,” she remarked on LRB.
In April 2023, 30-something Xiao Wang, her LRB moniker, embarked on a six-month challenge of “embracing advice from fellow users and transforming herself”–a makeover in the making. This image right here was the 23rd post in her “I will listen” series on LRB. Wearing a dress (right) many netizens told her to “weld to her body because it’s so flattering.” We agree. Image via Xiao Wang’s LRB account
Making the Most of a Tag
Venting her frustrations on social media was common practice for her, attracting dozens of fans. She cared little about the visibility of her posts. She considered complaining about the cold weather on her travels or the dampness in a hotel “part of her routine.”
But her “I will listen” post unexpectedly went viral, having garnered over 10,000 comments at the time of writing.
Comments came pouring in, suggesting she switch from her usual ponytail to curls to accentuate her facial features.
Some netizens even took to Photoshop to give her some visual guidance. Others felt that the Chanel-style jacket did not suit her, and the comments section was flooded with alternative style suggestions.
Remarkably, the overall tone of the comments was sincere and warm. Some users empathized with her, noting a sense of recognition and sharing their own experiences.
On the second day of her journey, Xiao Wang decided to go for a full-on makeover, donning a black suit and a sleek, long bob.
She then began sharing pictures of her new looks, essentially creating a compilation of the feedback she’d received.
Over the next 10 months, she enthusiastically explored the world of makeup, experimenting with French and American styles inspired by the input from her fellow LRB users. Remarkably, when she tried on a brightly colored off-the-shoulder dress in month three, comments encouraged her to “weld” it to her body because it looked so good on her.
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Meaning…?
According to the Bianews article, transformative journeys sparked by the “I will listen” tag have taught an important lesson to all who have interacted with LRB users asking for feedback: “Both those who seek advice and those who give it find happiness and a sense of accomplishment at the same time,” many Chinese millennials and Gen Zs commented.
But wouldn’t you rather ask a friend or some fashionable peeps in your social circle to give you a few tips, rather than putting it out there for the world to see and study and scrutinize? Let’s scratch the surface…
More than 60 percent of young people in China find it difficult to socialize with others, mostly finding themselves at a loss when meeting people offline, a recent survey has concluded. China Youth Daily in 2023 interviewed 2,000 people aged 18 to 35, 64 percent of whom said they feel “stuck” or freeze during social interactions.
Specifically, 27 percent of all those canvassed said they have problems with offline social activities, 17 percent said even online socializing is challenging for them, while 20 percent said both online and offline interactions are hard for them. #foodforthought
For many Chinese Gen Zs, specifically, human interaction is not on their list of daily activities. Yet while this generation may not be comfortable engaging in real life social activities, not all of them are necessarily lonely.
This generation started using cell phones, messaging tools and search engines at a very young (early primary school) age. Rather than meeting friends in a physical place, they prefer to reach out and get things done virtually. The ubiquitous social applications permeate every corner of life in China; 24/7 social platforms cover their daily lives–from making friends and learning to working and shopping.
From tools like WeChat to Bilibili, the Chinese equivalent of YouTube, which mainly targets Gen Zs, social media tools have shaped how this generation in China connects with the world.
But however convenient technology may be, at the same time, people may lose out on the chance to appreciate and understand the charm of real human interaction.
While social media can help people avoid the pressure and awkwardness of real life, these online interactions can be too easy for the digitally savvy.
Livestreams and chat rooms and apps in general make it easy to appear as if there’s social interaction going on, but it could also be unconsciously locking many young people into a circle of narrowness, extremity and isolation.
Could the above have something to do with young Chinese turning to random strangers online to ask for advice? Perhaps… Some people yours truly asked, were in agreement; others said it “is easier to ask strangers because asking people in your social circle might be a bit embarrassing.” Yet others stated, “If you don’t have anyone fashionable in your circle. what else are you gonna do? You will find the answers online.” So who knows. Either way:
This author is all for dressing to the nines and looking your finest self. And kudos to all those who had the guts to go on LRB and ask for inspo. However…
She does hope people seeking “I will listen”-generated makeovers are venturing outside to strut their stuff and have a wonderful daily conversation with the real world through their vamped-up styles.
And given Xiao Ai has managed to find love, hopes are high!
And always remember:
Never feed the trolls.
FEATURED IMAGE: getting an LRB makeover–“I will listen” hashtag collage
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Perpetually in pursuit of the greater good that is “China Fashion”, van Paridon set up The China Temper to help promote the dynamite dynamic fashion scene sprouting within Beijing, Shanghai, and China overall. Catering to anybody and everybody who reads English and/or Chinese, Temper covers all the basics and bases. From China's street style scenery to its budding photographers, internationally renowned designers, and underground quirks plus phenomena: We present one hot-hip-happening current collective weaving The New "Made in China" tag.
The term “Made in China” is undergoing the ultimate 21st Century makeover. Escorted by the increasingly strong influence of a new thinking among China’s younger generations, regarding individuality and the expression thereof, the fashion scene in the Middle Kingdom is exploding. And stretches far beyond what meets the eye. It’s appliqué, one might say.
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