You might have heard about the socialites’ pantyhose event.
In a Shanghai socialite group, over 60 people pooled together to buy a pair of Parisian stockings, resulting in 32 people contracting athlete’s foot…
Consequently, the group admin promptly kicked the individual out, stating the intention to completely blacklist her.
The price of those stockings was approximately 2000+, with 63 people pooling, averaging about 30 yuan per person…
For a little over 30 yuan, just to wear previously worn stinky socks, all for the sake of taking a flaunting photo…
Truly, no matter what, I couldn’t fathom such a thing.
The authenticity of this incident is questionable; after all, if the girl’s foot odor was really that strong, would the people who pooled afterward still continue to wear them…
However, in recent years, there have been increasingly surreal occurrences. So-called socialites in groups pooling for stockings, handbags, hotels, Ferraris, and afternoon teas, accompanied by captions in social media posts: “Economic independence is refreshing.”
After all, there are many girls who are attractive but lack ambition, attempting to find a high-quality rich boyfriend to achieve upward mobility through self-packaging.
To afford luxury items they couldn’t normally buy, they opt to meet photography requirements through group purchases.
Of course, in such groups, the girls generally know each other well. They openly share various experiences of dating so-called rich second-generation boyfriends, exchanging insights.
In the eyes of these people, not only can clothes be pooled, but even afternoon tea and hotels can be pooled.
Want to stay at the Bulgari Hotel? Just need 40 people each contributing 125, and you’re in. Then post the hotel location, along with an economically independent caption, to outsiders, these girls are undeniably “rich and beautiful.”
Of course, not everyone can become a Shanghai socialite; there are certain requirements for joining the socialite group.
Each person needs to pay a group fee of 500 yuan, plus provide proof of assets exceeding 100,000 yuan and their own beautiful photos. Only after passing the review process can they become a member.
Socialites don’t always have smooth sailing during pooling. Earlier, there were reports online of several girls arguing during an afternoon tea pooling because one girl, tempted by hunger, took a bite of a pastry, leading to uproar from those who hadn’t taken photos yet.
A girl complained to reporters that eleven fake socialites wanted to rent her sports car for a photo shoot.
The result was that two of these fake socialites who paid her in cash actually gave her counterfeit money.
A luxury car rental company received two elegantly dressed girls, and the owner enthusiastically introduced the cars available at the shop.
Thinking that the girls cared about style, he was surprised when they hesitated over the suggested rental fee of 500 yuan for a day, wanting it to be cheaper.
They even directly stated that they were just going out to take photos and not actually drive.
The experienced shop owner immediately understood the situation upon seeing the girls’ actions and realized they were fake socialites from Shanghai. Seeing their identities exposed, the girls just smiled faintly and said they saw through it but wouldn’t reveal it.
Pretending to be a socialite isn’t wrong, just embarrassing. Of course, if one is taken advantage of during the process, that’s a loss.
When fake socialites meet pseudo-rich, the game between them is truly intriguing. The girl orders dishes worth tens of thousands of yuan upon meeting, while the guy just slips away after taking advantage.
The girls, realizing they’ve been tricked, tearfully turned to the media to expose, claiming they were molested. Unfortunately, those who understand know; even if she tearfully narrates her story, few will sympathize with her plight.
Early socialites mostly came from prestigious families, receiving elite education from a young age. With their charming demeanor and refined upbringing, they could attract many literati and scholars.
For example, Lu Xiaoman, a famous modern female painter, married Xu Zhimo in 1926 and later held a solo exhibition in Shanghai in 1941. She participated in the first national art exhibition of New China and was ranked first among the four most beautiful women of the Republic of China.
Zhang Ailing began writing novels at the age of 7 and started publishing works in magazines at 12. Her major works include “Love in a Fallen City,” “The Golden Cangue,” “Half a Lifelong Romance,” “Red Rose, White Rose,” and others.
Ruan Lingyu left numerous classic works in the history of Chinese cinema, representing the highest level of performance during the silent film era in China. Often clad in a cheongsam, she was considered the spokesperson for cheongsam for 30 years.
In the past, being a socialite was definitely a commendable term, referring to wealthy young ladies living affluent lives. But nowadays, socialite has evolved into a pejorative term criticizing bad societal trends.
Some people, despite being penniless, attempt to squeeze into the circle of the rich, pretending to be something they’re not, akin to circus clowns. And some are priceless but can roam major luxury venues without spending a dime.
They don’t have the wealth, but they have the mindset of the rich.
If this life doesn’t have a good start, then the next step should be to use one’s solid efforts and daring spirit to shape a better future, rather than weave lies with lies.
Lacking scholarly knowledge, one can only become a decorative beauty.
If one only dresses up for vanity, such days will be short-lived.