Ivanka Trump’s image in the United States is that of a controversial woman embroiled in her father’s business and politics. It’s a different picture in China, however, as more and more Chinese become fans of Donald Trump’s eldest daughter, the Boston Globe reported.
Her lavish lifestyle and success as a businesswoman have endeared Ivanka Trump to many Chinese young professionals, who also aspire to live her lifestyle of material wealth and success.
The fact that Ivanka Trump is also an attractive, fashionable woman has made her some sort of an icon for young Chinese women.
“She’s pretty, she has her own career, she’s hardworking and she has a beautiful family,” Wang Ge, a 26-year-old business student at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, told the Boston Globe. Her iPad’s camera roll is full of pictures of Ivanka Trump.
“She inspires me,” Wang said.
Ivanka Trump has cut a figure in modern American politics. While her father, Donald Trump, is known for his brash temperament and “volcanic image,” Ivanka projects a softer yet firm presence beside her father.
Aside from young professionals, Chinese working mothers have also come to adore Ivanka, calling her a “goddess” on social media for her own brand of feminism.
“A lot of people think Ivanka is the real president,” Li Moya, a 31-year-old professional in Beijing, told the Boston Globe. “We think she has the brains, not her father.”
“She’s very independent,” said 28-year-old Wang Jiabao, who works as a reality television producer in the Chinese capital. “She represents what we’re looking for--to marry into a decent family, to look good, and to also have your own career.”
Ivanka is not without detractors in China, however. A lot of people are aware of her father’s incendiary remarks against China. Some are critical of her lifestyle, calling her a “child of privilege.” Other people also view her decision to join the Trump administration problematic.
“She’s trying too hard and pretending too much,” noted 22-year-old Shi Yixuan, an administrative staff member at Peking University.