Chinese Netizens Clash Over JuJingyi’s “Raw Photos,” Sparking a Wide‑Scale Debate on Beauty, Surgery and Authenticity】

Ju Jingyi, a former member of the idol group SNH48 and now a high‑profile actress and solo artist, has long cultivated an image of flawless, doll‑like beauty. When a collection of raw, unfiltered shots surfaced on Weibo, fans rushed to share them, emphasizing how the pictures were “untainted” by the glossy polish of studio‑produced promotional material. One post that featured a series of candid frames amassed more than 750,000 likes in just five hours, underscoring the scale of the fascination.

The conversation surrounding the “生图” (raw photos) revolves around several recurring themes. First, there is the age‑old debate over retouched versus unretouched imagery. Enthusiasts and detractors alike post split‑screen comparisons of Ju’s polished magazine spreads against screenshots taken from live broadcasts or paparazzi snaps. The aim is simple: to assess whether the “four‑thousand‑year beauty” label attached to her holds up when the digital veneer is stripped away. Many users marvel at the apparent perfection that seems to persist even in unedited form, while others point to minor imperfections as proof that the star’s appearance is heavily engineered.

Second, the raw images have reignited speculation about cosmetic procedures—a topic that is both sensitive and ubiquitous in China’s entertainment industry. Observers scrutinize subtle details such as the shape of Ju’s nose, the contour of her jawline and the symmetry of her eyes, hunting for what they consider evidence of surgical enhancement. The discourse can turn sharply critical, with some commenters accusing the star of relying on “model‑like” or “CGI” features to maintain an almost artificial allure.

Third, the debate spills beyond aesthetics into the realm of performance. Critics argue that Ju’s commitment to preserving a pristine visual brand sometimes clashes with the demands of her acting roles. For instance, when she portrays a doctor on screen, some viewers note that her flawless complexion and stylized look seem incongruous with the gritty realism they expect from such a character. This tension fuels broader questions about whether Chinese celebrities prioritize image over artistic integrity.

Underlying all of these points is a vibrant, and at times volatile, fan culture. Ju’s admirers zealously defend her, framing the raw photos as proof of innate beauty, while anti‑fans seize the same images to fuel accusations of over‑editing and cosmetic manipulation. The rapid generation of new comparative photos, analytical memes and commentary threads creates a self‑sustaining feedback loop that keeps the topic trending long after the original post has faded.

While the phenomenon of “鞠婧祎生图” may appear as a niche internet craze, it reflects a larger conversation about celebrity image in contemporary China. The intense scrutiny of a single star’s unedited likeness highlights the public’s appetite for authenticity, even as it reveals persistent anxieties about the artificiality of fame. It also underscores how platforms like Weibo have become arenas where beauty standards, personal branding and the ethics of digital retouching collide in real time.

In short, the raw photos of Ju Jingyi have become more than just visual curiosities; they are a focal point for debates about natural versus manufactured beauty, the role of cosmetic surgery in the entertainment sector, and the expectations placed on public figures to look immaculate both on‑stage and off. As the discussion continues to evolve, it offers a vivid snapshot of how modern Chinese audiences negotiate the blurry boundary between reality and image in the age of social media.