E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSA Chinese grandfather is proving love knows no bounds as he models looks to promote his granddaughter's clothing store for teens. The photos went viral after they were posted on the Internet.
Updated at 9:43 a.m. ET: BEIJING -- Liu Qianping is a retired farmer from China's Hunan province. But after jokingly modeling a range of ladies' wear, the 72-year-old has become an online sensation.
"I never dreamed all this. I used to be a farmer, but now, after coming to the big city, I have become famous,” Liu told NBC News.
Daily sales for the outlet he models for, Yecoo Fashion Store, have jumped from an average $160-a-day in May to more than $1,100. Altogether, Yecoo's site has recorded 250,000 visits. China’s Twitter-like social networking site Weibo has recorded more than 9.6 million searches for “granddad,” how Liu is now known by millions.
It all started with Lv Ting, Liu’s granddaughter. Armed with lots of enthusiasm but no experience, the 24-year-old and four friends set-up Yecoo out of a tiny apartment in Guangzhou, the capital of the booming southern province of Guangdong, in May.
Lv borrowed 160,000 Renminbi ($25,000) from her brother as security deposit to register her store on Taobao, China's leading online shopping site.
At first her sister-in-law modeled the clothes -- models are expensive in Guangzhou – and Lv served as photographer. However, in the first five months, with only several items sold per day, they could barely make ends meet.
"It wasn't smooth sailing at all in the beginning," Lv said.
Courtesy of Lv Ting
Liu goes "Gangnam Style," left, and in his regular clothes, right.
Then Taobao announced a big discount ahead of November 11 -- China's Bachelors' Day -- for all its shops. Lu and friends decided to splash out on a new collection for the big day.
Coincidentally, Lv's grandfather came to visit her during this time. As a joke, Liu tried on some of the merchandise.
"I saw they bought lots of new colorful clothes, and so I started trying out a new cloak coat, because it was cool," Liu told NBC News.
More China coverage on NBC's Behind the Wall blog
Lv and her colleagues took pictures, and sent them to friends for a laugh. To their surprise, the feedback was positive, and soon decided that the skinny former farmer was the supermodel they have been looking for.
Courtesy of Lv Ting
Liu Qianping, 72, started modeling clothes from his granddaughter's online shop as a joke, but he has become an online sensation.
The fashion photos went viral on Weibo, and Taobao posted them on their cover page to attract sales.
But none of this has gone to Liu’s head.
"Besides cleaning up the apartment for my little granddaughter every day, I get interviewed by many people. And I still enjoy playing poker online as usual," he said.
When asked if he was embarrassed about the pictures, he said no.
"I will definitely share these photos with [my friends] when I go back to Hunan during Spring Festival!"
Courtesy of Lv Ting
Liu takes his role as supermodel lightly -- and still finds time to clean his granddaughter's apartment.
Most important to Liu was that he had been helpful to Lv.
“Most special is that I could do something for my little granddaughter. I feel fulfilled," he said.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Despite US woes, Twinkies reign supreme on the Nile
- Analysis: Why Hezbollah sat out the Gaza conflict
- Vote rejecting women bishops was 'willfully blind,' Anglican leader says
- Too much democracy? Apathy triumphs in UK's latest election
- Obama's visit a sign of Myanmar's dizzying pace of change
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Something queer about this.
Funniest thing I have ever read.........LOLZ.....This guy can't wait to get back home......I think he thinks everyone is pretty weird ....and he can't wait to laugh with his friends about what those crazy queerish people would pay money for....LOLZ
If I had to dig in a field all day for a dollar and a half I'd go for pantyhose and a tutu.
I enjoyed reading about his love for his "little" granddaughter. It's obvious that he's been in her life from her beginning.
I also appreciate that there are photos with this story, as that's not always the case. He does look like most of the super-models we've seen through the years, especially his legs!
This is a GREAT ad campaign. So avant-gardes! Those outfits are so cute and he looks great in them. He is the best presentation for these items of clothing. These pics show that the clothes look great independent of who wears them, that their style stands alone. I have an 11 year old granddaughter and was tempted to check out the store for Christmas gifts for her because in these pictures I first focused IMMEDIATELY on the clothes. Unfortunately, for my granddaughter and her friends, last year was the year of the skirts and this year is the year of the skinny jeans. Maybe I'll check out the store to see if it has a skinny jeans line...
He's China's version of Twiggy.
Ramen Noodle .
Far out. There's always a second career waiting after you retire. You just have to look around! Never know!
Scary- modeling teenage girl's clothing? Very scary
Cross Dressing Grampa.....................Cool Beans! LOL :-)
Nothing queer about this at all. He very obviously loves his granddaughter and did this to help her. Who knows, we may all see him in Paris next year strutting his stuff. I love people who don't take themselves to seriously. Congratulations to them all for their success.
Amazing what parents/grandparents would do for their kids/grand kids. I bet that even if he's not into what he's doing, he would still do it to help his granddaughter.
Well, nobody can accuse them of ageism lol.
Or sexism!
Considering the demands of Paris and Milan that models be rail thin and look like men...well...
I've heard Barney Frank may be working with him, behind the scenes.
The one child law is taking it's toll.
For years I have been pessimist and cautious about the Chinese but recently my spirit is lifting. They are openly showing their anger at what's wrong in the country and now are clearly showing they are developing a delightful sense of humour.
Good old granddad and an obviously entrepreneurial granddaughter.
Love it, love it, love it! Grandpa has a great attitude. Hope he lives a long and happy life.
I am always bewildered by the idiotic tripe that qualifies as an "online sensation." Really? People think this is a "sensation" ?
Are you jealous or nuts?
By the standards of our current online culture, I'm nuts. Thank you.
Hey - it's a sensation in China...where they have very little feeling for a very long time!
Bravo grandpa! He looks GREAT, he feels GREAT, he's getting a little silly with the people that he loves!
Perhaps it become a worldwide sensation...the world could use more good vibes!
I am surprised that cars going around the same track hundreds of times is a sensation. I am also surprised that a bunch of guys running up and down a fairly small piece of grass with a ball over and over again is a sensation. Please! Anything different is fun.
You just read it on a major US news source about a small-time man on the other side of the planet. That is pretty sensational. What isn't sensational is your apathetic ennui at things not personally affecting you. How cliche.
It makes a lot of people smile, and he's having fun. I think that's sensational.
This isn't news....this is just wrong. NBC why not post real news like what obama's doing to help get a budget passed, what he's doing to help create jobs, what he's doing about N.Korea, what he's doing about Iran, what he's doing to cut spending money we don't have, what he's doing about American jobs going over-seas.......The list can go on and on so why not TRY to be a productive NON BIASED news org..
Take couple of aspirins and a stiff drink!
No thanks as I'm not a democrat that feels the need to subject my brain to a drunken haze to gloss over obama's ineptness.
They can write that stuff all day long, but people still have to put their mouse icon on the article and choose to read it...you chose to read it and still blame MSN for the lack of content...I blame you for choosing to read fluff.
@Steve....This article should have been posted in the entertainment section not the news section.
Today is a Holiday, why not give it a break and be thankful for the light hearted tone of this story, I was so pleased to wake up with a smile and a laugh before starting the cooking. I'm glad and thankful that the race is over and politics can be left at the door for a day.
Well 7.62...when you are dictator of the internet, @!$%# is gonna change. Until then, you will be saddled with the overwhelming responsibility of NOT choosing an article about a 72 year old grandpa who is modeling his grandaughters female clothing line when you want in-depth coverage of the President. When you clicked on "farmer to supermodel" did you expect that President Obama would secretly be the focus of the whole thing? When you saw pictures of an old man in leggings and skirts and coats did you read the whole article to see if Obama is somehow implicated?
At what point did you get so offended by what you were fooled into clicking on and somehow forced to read that you decided to go to the comment page and tell all the other people who liked the article how stupid they were for feeling good for a minute?
It would go a long way toward reducing the overall anger in the world if you would quit bitching to the rest of the internet about your poor choices.
Not a chance of a snowball in hell!
7.62, you know comments like this make you sound crazy, right?
Oh jeeze get a life! Mittens lost, get over it! Let's see what the republicans do to block any effort the president makes in all those categories you snivel on and on about, then get back to us. This Grandpa is doing something sweet and silly to help his granddaughter and I think that is a sensational thing in any normal person's book.
Beautiful story! Thanks Grandpa.
I think Grandpa is just as attractive as any of those high priced supermodels and has a better attitude. Best of luck to all of them.
I think he's cuter, and maybe that's part of the appeal. he looks like a human being, not an alien.
OOOOO!! I bet there are some individuals in California and Florida that are SOOOOO jealous right now!
Article headline should read: Former Farmer Turned Sick Phuck.
You're the sick one. Granddad is having a little fun and helping his granddaughter.
I love this story! Obviously, this grandfather loves his "little" granddaughter and the love is mutual. A feel good story, even though a bit quirky. I bet my precious grandfather would have done the same.
My father was masculine enough to dress as a woman on several Halloweens...what I wouldn't give to see him like that again! Maybe grandpa gives these so called "supermodels" a run for their money! Wouldn't it be nice to get a nice paycheck out of being silly with your family!
This is hysterical!
So are these clothes made for very thin, flat chested women?
Yes. They are clothes for Asian women.
Asian women may be thin due to their low fat diet (men too), but they are certainly not all FLAT chested. Sheesh. To wear a kimono though, one might have to bind the "chest" area for a smooth fit.
I thought I read that these were children's clothes.
If he's making lots of yuan $ who cares, sure beats planting rice and cleaning pig pens. Besides, he's only 72 with a long career ahead..............
In this day and age you gotta do what you gotta do. I don't blame him and the fact he is having fun. Barney wouldn't have a chance.
He started modeling his grand daughters clothes as a joke? Suuuure he did.
Cool Grandpas LOVE making their Grandchildren Laugh! It doesn't matter what country or race! :-)
What's missing on this vine? Obviously, a sense of humor. This is a great, feel good, story. We read so much horror and disaster, it's wonderful to flush out the bad and instill some of the good.
You go, gran'pa! Maybe if a few more folks would think outside the box, we could help one another and solve more of our problems. Pull together, not apart. Happy Thanksgiving and Best Wishes to all.
Paris, here I come!
I think it all started when he got caught wearing his grand daughters clothes and this is way of justifying his actions. Old perv!
EEW those legs lol!!!