Shanghai Today
Novelty is the spice of life - October 15, 2023
老年模特的精彩生活
Yang Guang transitions from standing, to using props and sitting positions, to show each outfit in a wide variety of poses.
Senior product model Yang Guang in Shanghai finds why retirement hasn't slowed her down.
Unlike most septuagenarians in China, who spend their time looking after their grandchildren and taking life easy, Yang Guang still works one week every month.
Since 2015, the 76-year-old has been leaving her home at 6:30 am to board a high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou in neighboring Zhejiang province at 7:30 am. After making not one or two but four transfers, she finally begins work at around 10 am, ends her day at around 7 pm, and then takes the train back to Shanghai.
But it's not just the hectic work schedule that is so unusual for someone of her age. Yang's job is even more unusual, as she is a product model for Taobao, China's largest online marketplace.
Being a model for Taobao is starkly different to being a fashion model. Because of the massive number of products that need to be shot, Yang spends seconds in each dress before putting on the next. During those few seconds, she transitions from standing poses, to using props and sitting positions, to show each outfit in a wide variety of poses.
"Why do I continue to work? Because trying new things excites me. The internet is a new frontier, and I don't want to be left behind by the times," Yang says.
Yang Guang transitions from standing, to using props and sitting positions, to show each outfit in a wide variety of poses.
She says that her work, although exhausting at times, is deeply gratifying.
"I still remember my first photo shoot. I spent three hours on the makeup, and by the time it was done, I was completely exhausted. However, the moment I stepped in front of the camera, all my fatigue disappeared. It was as if I transformed into a different person, full of energy and spirit," she recalls.
But then Yang is no stranger to the spotlight. When she was 18, she joined a musical theater troupe in Hunan province. Despite challenges resulting from family issues, she rose to become its lead actress. Twenty years later, when her husband relocated for work, she transitioned into working in higher education, taking on support roles at a university.
Fueled by her passion for the performing arts, Yang not only excelled at her administrative duties but also channeled her energy into teaching and mentoring students in the university's performing arts group.
"Even though I couldn't directly pursue a career in the performing arts, I managed to connect with the world of performance through my teaching. Watching my students take the stage has been my way of staying connected to the performing arts," she says.
After retiring in 2002, Yang and her family moved to Shanghai, where she found herself singing I Love You, China at a concert organized by the neighborhood committee. She also took part in a skit titled The Wedding Dress, which won her a major award at the 9th China Arts Festival.
In 2006, as her reputation grew within the community, Yang started receiving offers to do commercials, and even television dramas. In 2015, as offers to become a product model began streaming in, and always being eager to try new things, she jumped at the opportunity.
Since 2015, the 76-year-old (first from left) has got used to carrying a suitcase and traveling from Shanghai to Hangzhou in neighboring Zhejiang province for her modeling work.
One of the first things she noticed as a product model was that many brands were more interested in chasing the latest trends than in focusing on quality. Some even produced deceptive imagery. One relatively common practice that she dislikes is the use of clips to clamp together ill-fitting clothing during a shoot, pinning the back to the front and the front to the back, to make an item look more fitted.
Despite repeated attempts to rectify such problems, no one listened. After all, she was still a newcomer to the industry.
Within a year, Yang earned herself a reputation as a tireless professional who never let her clients down. The number of job offers soared, and she soon found herself traveling to places in other provinces like Changshu and Jiaxing in Jiangsu, Hangzhou in Zhejiang for photo shoots.
"Back then, I spent nearly half of my time on the road or in the photo studio. On the day of a shoot, I could work as late as 10 pm. I felt like a machine. I was just trying on outfit after outfit," she says.
By 2020, Yang's growing stature in the industry earned her the clout to be able to pick the photographers and brands she wanted to work with, and as her intense work schedule had started to take a toll on her health, she decided to be more selective.
"As I grew older, I realized the importance of leading a more relaxed life and embracing the retiree lifestyle. I've tried it all, and it was satisfying to some extent but most importantly, I wasn't finding enjoyment in doing it anymore, but I still wanted to experience the joy of art," she says.
Yang Guang transitions from standing, to using props and sitting positions, to show each outfit in a wide variety of poses.
Today, Yang only works with those who, like her, believe that authenticity is the most important factor when selling a product. In fact, she is such a fervent supporter of this philosophy that she refuses to have her image digitally enhanced.
Now that she only works one week a month, she has more time to pursue other interests. Over the past two years, she has taken online courses in smartphone photography, and this has in turn benefited her health as she has started traveling around the country to capture its sights and sounds. She has also started learning to play the piano.
Looking ahead, Yang says that she wants to learn vocal singing and to do traditional painting and calligraphy.
"I am someone who can't stay idle for long. I believe that one of the secrets to a long and healthy life is to keep working, even in old age. Being engaged in work helps maintain vitality," she says.
Aware that aging comes with its own set of problems, Yang has made contingency plans in case she will be too old to travel, and plans to enroll at a university for the elderly to learn new skills.
"Learning is what keeps me motivated and interested in life. During my younger years, opportunities to learn new things were relatively scarce. Today there is a plethora of online courses and opportunities. I can learn anything I desire," she says.
Yang Guang transitions from standing, to using props and sitting positions, to show each outfit in a wide variety of poses.
Source: China Daily
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