Fame is fleeting in China. Just like elsewhere, reality TV balladeers and syrupy boy bands drift in and out of the national consciousness and controversial bloggers enjoy 15 minutes before being dropped in the dustbin of near-celebrity history.
But, amid a business world dominated by statistics, share speculation
and cynicism, it makes a pleasant change to report a ‘good news’ story.
And the story of Yang Yan Jiao (Jane) makes chirpy reading.
Two weeks ago, the 18-year-old from a small country town near Chongqing
was welcoming guests at the city’s new Howard Johnson ITC Plaza. By
chance her photo was taken, revealing a photogenic, ad-friendly smile.
The marketers got to work, and within 24 hours Jane featured in a
full-page advertisement for the hotel's grand opening. Fame got even
bigger; an ad campaign, named ‘Smile is Everything’, was launched
featuring the smiling teen on nine-metre-high billboards around
Chongqing.
She's now known locally as Chongqing's SuperGirl, after a popular
television talent show, and this week travelled to Shanghai to provide
the VIP quotient for a hotel launch in the city. And, as Howard Johnson
has plans to open several new hotels in China, her smiling image may
well spread nationwide during 2008.
News & Interviews 
Fame is fleeting in China. Just like elsewhere, reality TV balladeers and syrupy boy bands drift in and out of the national consciousness and controversial bloggers enjoy 15 minutes before being dropped in the dustbin of near-celebrity history.
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