Thanks to a viral milk tea photo, a young Chinese mom named Zhang "Nancy" Zetian has landed a huge endorsement deal from an Australian firm, news.com.au reported.
The 23-year-old Nancy Zetian will be endorsing for Bubs Australia as the company eyes to gain a lead in the fierce competition in China's $295 million baby formula industry.
Recently, a photo of a high-school student Zhang from the province of Nanjing emerged online and became a sensation on various social media sites. The popularity of the photo has earned her the moniker, Milk Tea Sister.
According to Chinese netizens, her online fame can be mainly attributed to her fair complexion, which is considered by Chinese women as an "angelic" trait.
Apart from the endorsement deal, Zhang has also earned a huge following on Instagram because of the viral milk tea photo. Now touted as China's first social media influencers, gaining over 50,000 followers.
The news report noted that the fact that she herself is a young mother has helped her gain credibility to promote baby products to Chinese moms.
Zhang, nonetheless, is no ordinary Internet sensation. Her husband, Liu Qiangdong, with a net worth of $8 billion, is the CEO of the e-commerce firm JD.com, which also sells milk products made by Bubs Australia in the country as well as overseas.
Through Zhang's investment firm, she has also taken a 17 percent stake in the venture. Back in 2015, the couple's marriage also became widely known, not because of their fame, but of their wide age gap. The mom-turned-model is 19 years younger than the Chinese billionaire.
Zhang and Liu's high-profile romance has been followed by the public eye since its beginning--back when Liu courted Zang when she was still in U.S. as an exchange student. Chinese media has then covered their story quite extensively until their talked-about wedding.