WASHINGTON (AP) — Joyce Yip, a 39-year-old entrepreneur from Guangzhou in southern China, has developed a new celebrity admiration: Melania Trump.
The former first lady has gained significant online fame in China, particularly among women. This rising admiration might seem unexpected, especially considering her husband’s antagonistic stance towards China, but social media reveals a respect for her independence, fashion sense, and her approach to raising her teenage son.
Moreover, her steadfast loyalty to President Donald Trump, in spite of his misogynistic remarks, allegations of extramarital affairs, and being found responsible for sexual abuse in a civil lawsuit initiated by a New York advice columnist, is particularly noteworthy.
“She appears heroic, elegant, and resolute—so powerful and majestic; I admire her so much,” Yip commented on the Instagram-like platform Xiaohongshu following last month’s inauguration.
After the first lady donned a wide-brimmed hat for the inauguration, similar styles quickly appeared in online shops, with knitting influencers on Xiaohongshu sharing tutorials on how to create their own designs within 48 hours.
In China, traditional expectations for women often emphasize being supportive of their husbands and focused on child-rearing. However, Melania Trump’s display of independence resonates with her Chinese audience, as does her remarkable journey from small-town Slovenia to the pinnacle of global society.
“Chinese audiences appreciate her embodiment of both traditional and modern femininity,” mentioned Jingsi Wu, an associate professor of media studies at Hofstra University in New York.
Both aspects of her persona were highlighted in a four-year-old video showing Melania Trump refusing to hold her husband’s hand while disembarking from Air Force One. This clip has garnered over 5 million “likes” on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, and continues to attract views and commentary.
A November post joking about Melania’s apparent reluctance to return to the intense public life of a first lady also attracted around half a million likes on Xiaohongshu. Additionally, a satirical piece in The New Yorker that critiqued her marriage received 1 million views on Bilibili, a platform reminiscent of YouTube, further boosting her popularity.
A post from November about a past interview featuring Melania Trump and her husband on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where they described their relationship as “super sweet,” received nearly 30,000 likes.
Among her supporters is 24-year-old Ge Yahan from Zibo on China’s eastern coast, who refers to Melania as a mysterious woman brave enough to chase her aspirations from a small town in Slovenia to the United States.
Her admiration has also turned into a side business; she has been selling unauthorized translations of Melania’s new self-titled memoir, rendered into Mandarin by AI, on China’s social media underground for eight yuan ($1.10).
Donald Trump has vocally criticized China’s economic practices, viewing them as barriers to American success. He instigated a trade war during his initial term by imposing significant tariffs on Chinese imports, and has added more since his return to office last month. He has also disparaged the deadly coronavirus with the term “Kung Flu,” which is a racially charged reference to COVID-19. Earlier this year, Trump alleged, without any supporting evidence, that thousands of Chinese immigrants were flooding into the U.S. to form an “army” and attack the country.
Yet, Wu asserts that people in China often perceive U.S. politics as a sort of soap opera.
Diving into the lives of political figures is often intriguing for many in China, where top leaders typically exist only in meticulously staged public settings. While Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan, once a famous singer prior to her marriage to Xi Jinping, holds a more prominent public presence than previous first ladies, details of their lives remain largely obscured, leaving uncertainties about their residence or whether they own pets.
Rose LuQiu, an associate professor at the School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University, suggests that fans view Donald Trump as a successful individual, a success mirrored by his first lady.
“The more independent and accomplished she proves to be—yet still unwaveringly loyal to (Donald) Trump—the more it reflects his perceived dominance as a man,” she expressed.
Huang Li, who works in public relations within the fashion sector and sells Melania Trump’s memoir on the side, emphasizes her apolitical stance, admiring Trump for his diligence and the bravery he displayed in rallying supporters by shouting “fight, fight, fight” following an assassination attempt in July.
Huang has sold over 30 copies of Melania’s memoir, which is unavailable within China. China’s National Publications Import & Export Shanghai Co. is pre-selling English copies for 290 yuan ($40), and it remains unclear whether there are plans for an official translation.
“People are eager to learn more about her,” Huang noted.
Fans are also drawn to what they perceive as sacrifices Melania Trump has made for her 18-year-old son, Barron. Many have humorously suggested she only agreed to return to the “White House dormitory” to advance his career.
Wu observes that this aspect resonates with her Chinese audience. “Chinese culture places significant emphasis on parenting,” she remarked.
Melania’s resilience amidst her husband’s personal and political controversies resonates deeply with her fan base.
“Melania is a low-key woman, very genuine, who supports her husband from the sidelines and stands beside him in times of need,” said Yip, the entrepreneur.
Like many of Melania’s admirers, Yip previously admired Ivanka Trump during her prominent moments eight years ago but now considers her a traitor for testifying in her father’s civil fraud trial in New York last year, following a judge’s order. Despite Ivanka Trump sharing little during her testimony, Yip and numerous others believe she betrayed her father.
“In this society, men are often forgiven for disloyalty, while women are not,” remarked Yip. “Melania’s loyalty to her husband stands out.”
