Child Model Forced to Wear Winter Coat in Brutal Shanghai Heat
The city is in the grip of extremely hot weather and almost all residents are donning their summer wardrobes to combat the high temperatures. Nevertheless, a little boy was spotted wearing winter clothing on a street in downtown Shanghai.
It turns out he is actually a child model. According to the photos shared by a netizen, the boy, who appears to be six or seven years old, was striking different poses and presumably faking smiles while wearing a thick down jacket. In sharp contrast, everyone around him wore light clothes, including a woman who is holding more down coats for the child to model.
Images via XUAN_KE_JIONG/WeChat
Without a doubt, the photos went viral in no time and incited controversy as to whether this should be considered child abuse.
“The mercury had reached 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) this morning,” the netizen wrote in the caption. “I wonder how badly his family needs money that they would let their own child wear winter clothes on a hot summer day.”
“It is sick for them to count on their boy to make money for the family,” commented one netizen.
“I highly doubt the boy chose to take this gig at his own will,” said another.
Of course, there are also netizens who think others worry too much and they have no right to judge someone else’s ways of life.
“Come on, it‘s nothing but a normal job,” wrote the netizen. “Instead, I think we should all give this boy praises for his hard work and strong will.”
The industry of child models has bloomed during the past few years. According to the Paper, some renowned child models can make more than RMB1 million a year.
[Cover image via XUAN_KE_JIONG/WeChat]
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