- The photo, which was also posted on Dior’s Weibo page, soon became the subject of a hit piece from the state-owned Beijing Daily. The news outlet asked, “Is this the Asian woman in Dior’s eyes?” and slammed it for featuring “spooky eyes, gloomy face and Qing Dynasty armor.”
- “The photographer is playing up to the brands, or the aesthetic tastes of the western world,” Bloomberg translated the publication as saying. “For years, Asian women have always appeared with small eyes and freckles from the Western perspective, but the Chinese way to appreciate art and beauty can’t be distorted by that.”

- Some users pointed out that the image is reminiscent of Chen’s 2012 series called “Whatever the Weather,” which was shot for British magazine i-D. The series featured 12 women from different Chinese ethnic groups wearing modern spins on traditional clothing.
- State-run Global Times took a more neutral approach on the issue. While reporting similar criticisms, the outlet acknowledged that some praised Chen’s work for departing from China’s own beauty standards, which include having large eyes and fair skin.

- This is not the first time Dior caused controversy in China. In 2019, the brand gave a presentation at a university that excluded Taiwan in a map of China. The ensuing backlash forced the company to issue an apology. “Dior always respects and upholds the one China principle, strictly safeguards China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and treasures the feelings of the Chinese people,” it said at the time, according to Reuters.
- Still, Dior is only one of multiple luxury brands that have upset China over political and cultural insensitivities. In 2018, Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana released a series of ads that depicted Chinese people as lacking refinement in eating foreign food. Amid the scandal, co-founder Stefano Gabbana was also accused of calling China “the country of sh*t.” Fashion watchdog Diet Prada, which broke the controversy on Instagram, has been sued by the brand for defamation.