Model behavior

　　She was dubbed "the most expensive model" at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition this year, with her appearance even overshadowing deluxe cars displayed at the capital's premier auto show. However, the long-legged "beauty of Qingdao" was also accused of seeking instant fame by sporting a revealing diamond-studded dress and being suspected of undergoing plastic surgery. She is, of course, Li Yingzhi - the slender, 1.77 meter-tall model who shot to fame almost overnight after appearing at the auto show.

"I never expected I would arouse public attention before the exhibition. All I did was just try my best to carry out my duties, regardless of whether I would become the focus or not," Li told the Global Times.

Another outcome beyond Li's expectations was that her reputation would be compared to another model who showed up almost topless, sparking heated discussion over the glamor girls' attire and even courting criticism from authorities.

"Such criticism may have had an impact on someone who was trying to become a sensation, but I'm not that kind of person," insisted Li.

　　Diamonds are forever

Most car enthusiasts were astonished to find much of the attention at the auto show was on Li instead of the latest luxury cars from automakers keen to capitalize on China, the world's largest auto market.

On the auto show's opening day on April 23, pictures surfaced online of Li striking a graceful pose next a BMW X6 AC - her rouge lips, seductive gaze and eye-catching dress sending Web users' hearts aflutter.

Her dress, which looked inspired by a Las Vegas show girl and emphasized the contours of her breasts, was cut at the hip with a transparent lace bottom and fitted upper half studded with Swarovski diamonds.

Li said the dress was not provided by BMW but by a fashion designer who was inspired by features of the car. Though refusing to disclose its price, estimates from fashion experts put the cost at about 100 million yuan ($15 million), earning Li her reputation as "the most expensive model" at the auto show. By contrast, the costliest vehicle at the auto show - the UNICAT off-road touring car - was priced at 80 million yuan.

Apart from the fetching dress, she also embraced the more racy appearance of a Grand Prix girl by slipping into a tight-fitting, black outfit to pose alongside BMW sports cars. Li became the focus of the auto show, not that the many men attending minded.

Many men attend such events to appreciate female models as much as they do cars. Li noted both glamorous girls and stylish cars go hand-in-hand, while denying such shows objectify women.

"I think cars and models are complementary to each other. Sitting down to eat a meal without chopsticks would be weird and it's the same with auto shows," said Li. "A car becomes a knockout with a model standing beside it, otherwise it's just a stationary object."

Something that hasn't remained stationary though is Li's fandom. Her Sina Weibo microblog attracted an influx of followers, with more than 200,000 Web users now following the Shandong native.

Controversy revs up

While the auto show's spotlight during its opening days was firmly on Li, it shifted when Gan Lulu, another model who shot to infamy for showing off nude photos, appeared at the exhibition at the invitation of a motoring website on April 25.

Gan's bold taste in fashion, decried as "vulgar" by some Web users, triggered an online storm. Many people ridiculed the China International Exhibition Center for hosting what they described as a "breast show" or "silicon gel show." Some even joked that the police should swoop to crackdown on the event.

From that point onwards, Li was compared to Gan and became the target of scorn for dressing immorally.

Suddenly, what began as a joke calling for authorities to intervene became a reality when the Capital Civic Enhancement Committee Office issued a statement on April 28. In a thinly veiled reference to Li, it criticized models promoting BMW for their revealing dresses that caused a harmful social influence.

The office urged organizers of the auto show to take action in making new car technologies, and not female models, the focus of the exhibition.

"Exhibitors and models make their own choices. I think it's unnecessary to make a fuss if the dress matches the car and doesn't have an adverse effect on everyone," said Li. "Indeed, many models dress sexy. This is where a model's charm lies."

Rather than passively sitting by as gossip about her heated up, Li took to her Weibo account to take a stand against some other models' malicious self-promotion. She added that she would have rather not worn her diamond-studded dress to show her boldness and strength.

"My dress echoed the car's features and reflects its regal, deluxe engineering," said Li. "But beauty goes beyond the exterior. One should also pursue inner-cultivation."

Li's fame also aroused suspicion that she had gone under the knife and had plastic surgery in the past. Some Web users claimed there were obvious signs of surgery on her nose, eyelids, chin and breasts.

Past and present pictures were posted online by her critics, who were determined to prove she was a "synthetic beauty." For the record, Li denies having had any work done, even going through the undignified process of allowing a hostess from sina.com's Weibo Show to feel her breasts in an attempt to dispel rumors once and for all.

　　Building on fleeting fame

Li admits that, as a professional model, she's had to learn to satisfy visitors' needs at exhibitions while protecting herself. She recalled meeting one visitor who asked to have his photo taken with her and posed with his arm over her shoulder, making her feel uneasy.

"I was embarrassed and suggested we keep a distance," she said. "I don't treat myself as a big star. I just try to protect myself from unacceptable behavior."

Sectors of the Chinese media have reported that Li is ambitious and keen to build on her current popularity by entering the entertainment industry, most likely as an actress. It's a move she hasn't ruled out, though for now she appears happy modeling. "I'm not certain about my career plan. It will be arranged by my agency," she confessed. "I love modeling because it enables me to project diverse, artistic beauty to audiences and the camera."