Hello kitty walk

Two children take part in a modeling competition for children held by New Silk Road in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Wang JianKang / For China Daily

Child models in China are increasingly popular, but not as controversial as their international counterparts. Gan Tian reports.

The international fashion industry has been mired in controversy recently over the 10-year-old French model Thylane Blondeau who dresses in adult-looking outfits and strikes sexy poses.

But Wang Xuexing, a Beijing girl two years younger than Blondeau, is still working on her poses at model training sessions every Sunday, in addition to her weekend piano and swimming classes.

Together with 20 other children aged between 4 and 16, she learns how to put on simple cosmetics, appreciate the beauty of fashion, and most importantly, walk the catwalk. She is also required to learn some ballet steps.

The one-year course, provided by one of the country's biggest model agencies, New Silk Road, costs Wang's parents 2,180 yuan ($342). A friend of theirs recommended the agency, saying their daughter was pretty and could be a supermodel in the future.

Neither Wang nor her mother know anything about Blondeau and her controversial fashion photos. Even so, Wang adores cover girls and wishes to be one herself some day.

Wang's mother, on the other hand, does not expect her to become a supermodel but hopes the course will teach her to become more confident, sociable and communicative.

"I was very shy, but after I went on the course I started to become more confident," she says, putting one of her hands on her waist and striking a professional pose.

Sun Jianqin, director of the Children Training Department at New Silk Road, says about 1,000 students are currently enrolled on the course.

"Most parents send their children on the course, expecting them to become more confident and communicative, but there are also some who expect their children to become professional models in the future," Sun says.

Child models are in great demand. There are around 50 kids fashion labels in the country. At China Fashion Week, more than 10 fashion shows for kids are held, with models ranging from 4 to 16. Some adult fashion labels' shows also require child models, says Hu Nan, an officer with the China Fashion Association.

The National Children Model Competition has been held annually for seven years. In 2011, 53 kids modeling competitions were held, and they attracted agencies from France and the United States.

There is some public criticism, however, saying children should not be exposed to fashion and its adult messages.

New Silk Road's Sun responds that the main idea of the course is to help kids gain confidence, rather than become professional models.

"Children are still growing. Positive characters are very important for them. The course provides them a platform to shine, and this is what matters," Sun says.

The nation's A-list fashion magazines, such as Vogue China, Harper's Bazaar China and Elle China, do not use under 16 models.