(Ecns.cn)--For most 12-year-olds, the school and the playground are at the center of their lives, but for a girl named Guo Xin in Shanxi Province, it's the catwalk.
On August 16, Guo Xin participated in the adult-targeted 11th Annual Chinese Professional Modeling Competition in Shanxi and came away with an award of excellence, causing a stir online.
Some web users say it is way too early for such behavior, and that exposing a child to the adult world at such a young age will have little benefit. "The girl is being influenced by adult thoughts and actions which may bring her potential negative influence," said one man on his Weibo microblog.
Though most have condemned the girl's participation in the contest, her parents have been supportive. They say that studying is their first priority for the girl, but if participating in such a contest does not affect her studies, it is acceptable.
Guo's appearance is not a rare phenomenon, however. In recent years, the ages of participants in modeling contests have continued to decrease.
For many girls, modeling is an attractive career option where they can primp in beautiful clothes beneath the spotlight. But the "parents of these children need to think twice before they let their children join these contests," said an industry insider.
"It is more important for these kids to build up their own character before they enter society," added the insider.
