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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.
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Leave a Comment:
Kool, not kweer.
But probably considered immoral to the wacko jesus people in this country.
I don't consider it immoral, and I am a Christian. Certainly weird, but nothing wrong with it.
Every queer in San Francisco will have these "pinup" pictures on their gym locker doors.
Now let's see---If a woman wears men's clothing it is perfectly normal, but if a man wears women's clothes---- We have a problem Huston!
I think we have a problem when people can't distinguish between male and female. We can always count on MSNBC to be covering the big events.
I am not a homophobe by any means but am I the only one who thinks he looks stupid.
If he was a masculine farmer before the definitely made him a woman.
The shots look photoshopped anyway, notice the head is exactly the same in every pic.
I think you are!
Although I agree that our news organization don't report nearly enough national and international serious news stories, I found this article to be thoroughly delightful. I mean, would Gramps have done this wonderful thing for you? Happy thanksgiving, everyone!
cool!
awe, he is the nicest grandpa ever! i'm sure the love notes that are arriving at his doorstep, he has to reply with, "sorry, im not gay, just helping my granddaughter to expose her talent"
cute outfits too, they just look too animae, i don't think they would fly in the U.S., lol, only Paris Hilton would be seen wearing does types of outfits.
*anime
I don't really see them that way. As a cosplayer, these are way different style wise. It makes me cringe to hear Paris Hilton and anime in the same sentence! yech. I like the clothes, very fashionable no matter where you are from.
I think that he is an amazing grandfather that loves his granddaughter very much and would do anything for her. And heck, he has great legs!
Hilarious! What a great sport. He's having fun, his granddaughter is having fun, and the business is taking off. Frankly, as other posters have said, he's a great clothes horse: Oddly, after the initial chuckle, you do focus on the clothes. What's not to like? Go grandpa!
Not so hilarious if you are planing to take it easy after so many years as a goods producer.
And some job Creator, decides to call the fruits of your hard labor entitlement.
hey... Free advertising! The guy is a genius.
Not sure, it look they are brain washing theirs older population making they think they need not to retire.
look right hear at home, how they raced the retirement age and how they even starting to call retirement
entitlement.
why not use an 80 years old MacDonald employee, for a sign of prosperity?
Good example of the body type fashionistas want.
people will try to capitalize on anything , '' as long as it's legal ''. personally , i like '' medea '', and of a surety , it's '' only '' capitalism at its funniest , LOL !!!!
it would seem that anything remotely unwholesome and gender bending will be herald as cute and quirky in this once great country. Grandpa modeling teenage girls clothing is just to close to the edge, marketing wise i get it sensationalism sells, but at what cost.It is being pedaled off as Innocent fun but in a world becoming increasingly gay it becomes part of something more sinister. Grandpa please stay away from teenage girls clothing teach your grandsons how to wear overalls and grow crops to feed the people of the planet. fashion is superficial, and not worthy of a honorable man.
LGBT's at their best! Yep, China sure have US figured out - Thanks POTUS! Hey Bill, Hillery is just radiant! So, where were your kids last night? Impeach the whole lot! What have we become? Supporting, with our tax dollars, a country that kill's reporters for telling the truth? Yep, you Democrats should be proud, you will probably change your minds when you see what is to come this year! I never thought that Socialism would take hold in this country - but, it has, even though it has failed overseas - thanks Democrat's! {:-(}
What a beautiful change. Someone who's satisfaction is being to help his grand daughter. Much nicer news that reading about some egotistical clown who is worried about scratching his latest Rolls.
Good on grandpa! Loves his granddaughter, loves his humor, doesn't take himself too seriously. You know, from a marketing standpoint, perhaps some up-and-coming haute-couture designer employing only seniors for models would be a HIT during the runway shows. The fact that they're NOT Twiggy would be a selling point, but also since they're a large part of our population (read: demographic) would be enough to attract free media coverage. The gender-bending is only a bonus, and a hilarious one at that!
God Bless this grandfather for his sense of humour, his sense of play, and his unabiding love for his grand-daughter. It reminds me of a current PSA commercial playing in Chicago, that shows a big, burly Dad teaching his itsy-bitsy daughter how to do cheerleading songs. It brings tears to my eyes each time I see it.
My Grandpa was my personal hero and taught me what a man should be: honest, caring, silly, not afraid to cry, and supportive. Thanks to his love, I've had 42 incredible years of marriage to the same kind of man.
Keep on kickin' it HIGH in those Kinky Boots, Chinese Grandpa, and Grandpa's around the globe!
Drag queen at 72! Should we laugh, raise eyebrows or is this just one of those jokes that happened to do well in this world of "weird marketing"?
In todays America people need to get weirder and weirder to sell stuff! In Asia it is still sweet and innocent...though in America they get misconstrued. In the US there are a lot of weird people...and if you engage them they get weirder, and ask all kinds of questions that you respond to innocently, and then they try to use it against you in cunning ways. They are sick!
I don't think half of my family outside the US knows how weird some people in this country are...and that is why they are too stupid or clueless to understand when I talk about sexism, racism, abuse, etc. in this country. These are the morons that think US is the good ole days of Kennedy when they did not see beyond the photos. They did not go to Mississippi under Kennedy, and they don't step outside gated communities or college lecture halls or tiny circles when they are here. And immigrants who drink the Kool Aid there or here are stupid too!
In a country like China where they have a one child policy and boys are highly prized, I find it very refreshing to read this story about a Chinese grandfather. Most likely he was alive when they still bound women's feet, and yet here he is able to put gender differences aside to make his grand-daughter happy. I love it :)